By Terry Schrimscher, For the Tribune
ARGO – The Argo City Council met Monday night June 26 for the second regularly scheduled meeting of the month and its third public meeting of June. The Council held a public forum on zoning proposals last week on June 20.
After a more contentious zoning hearing in April, Mayor Betty Bradley said the second meeting went much better.
“It went great,” Bradley said. “Everyone is starting to understand that everyone’s land is going to remain the same until the property is sold, then it will have to conform to ever how it’s zoned.”
The city created its first Planning and Zoning committee and a Board of Adjustments earlier this year. A proposed map is posted online at argoalive.com but no zoning ordinance from Planning and Zoning has been approved by a vote of the Council.
The Council covered much of the agenda during the work session and moved quickly through the regular meeting, which began immediately following the work session. Three of the main items on the agenda involved personnel for the city.
The hiring of Tommie Ebner as the new city clerk was unanimously approved by the Council. Former clerk Tiffany Westbrook turned in her resignation effective Friday, June 2. Additionally, Greg Stewart was unanimously approved as the city’s new maintenance worker. Both Ebner and Stewart have already begun working for the city.
The Council also approved a temporary $2 per hour pay increase for Court Clerk Casie Bethune. The increase will be in effect for three months while Bethune assists training new clerks for the city. Bethune also represents the city with a position on the Planning and Zoning board.
The Council approved moving three police vehicles to surplus to be sold. The cars, which are no longer in use by the city, include two 2015 Dodge Chargers and one 2008 Ford Crown Victoria.
In other business, the Council approved:
- an insurance policy contract for cyber insurance in the amount of $10,000
- an invoice from Goodwin Mills Cawood for $16,250 for work to date on the Hwy 11 turn lane
The Council voted to close City Hall on Monday, July 3, to give city employees an extra day for the Independence Day holiday.
The next meeting of the Argo council is scheduled for July 10, with a work session at 5 p.m. An agenda for each meeting is posted in local businesses including Hill Top Farms, Argo Hardware, Liberty Automotive, Shell, Southland BBQ, Fox’s Pizza and Buckeye Grocery. Agendas are also posted on the city’s Facebook page.