BY MELISSA PYLE
Special to the Telegraph
All members attended the Oct. 7 Lawtey City Council meeting applying pressure to address unfinished business from prior meetings.
One item has been on top of Councilmember Amy Blom’s list and that is the city’s policies and procedures.
“We don’t need to wait around any further,” Blom said. She suggested council members bring a list of items of concern to an upcoming meeting so the city can move forward with new policies, including an employee handbook, and policies for the previously proposed economic council.
Blom said they also need to discuss the city’s pressing need to create a website. City Clerk Lisa Harley said she has called around but needs to get bids to create an official city website.
Blom stressed the importance of getting these items finished. At Blom’s urging, members set a workshop Oct. 29 at 6 p.m.
Fire and police
Council members are in the final stages of a memorandum of understanding for the fire department with Bradford County. Councilwoman Emily Hoffman reported the agreement was complete, but she was waiting on members to read the updates and approve it at the next meeting.
In response to a public comment from a citizen about police vehicles, Chief Jerry Feltner and Officer Todd Jordan updated the board about two vehicles in the department’s fleet that have been in and out of the shop. Jordan said both vehicles have over 120,000 miles on them and Feltner added that the cost to continually repair them is becoming more than the vehicles are worth.
Police Capt. Nathan Blom reported that he had completed the “Train the Trainer” seminar for crossing guards. He is now a certified trainer and can train new hires. The city still needs to hire three crossing guards. The part-time hours include an hour in the morning and afternoon on school days.
Capt. Blom said if the city can’t find enough hires, they are contemplating contracting it out and the cost will be covered by speeding citation revenue.
Strategic planning
Other unfinished business included the economic planning committee proposed for the future of the recreation building project on Old Middleburg Road. There were several citizens interested in joining the committee to help form a vision for the future of the property.
Mayor Jimmie Scott had agreed to move forward with the committee but as of October, no board has been formed. Scott expressed thanks for the reminder. Scott said he will have the proper procedures to begin the committee by the end of the year.
The outdoor play areas and fields at the Middleburg property are currently being utilized for practice by some of the pop warner football teams.
A suggestion was also made by a citizen to cover the existing holes in the roof of the recreation center with tarps to reduce further damage by storms. Council members said it wouldn’t be safe for anyone to climb on the roof.
Recreation rules
An ongoing problem that has plagued the recreation department is finally coming to a resolution. The recreation board has been requesting changes to the requirements of having seven members present at meetings. The department has been unable to have a quorum where all seven members are present. They requested an ordinance to make the requirement five members. Hoffman made a motion to allow attorney Dan Sikes to draft an ordinance amending the policy. Council approved her motion to change it from seven to five members.
Community connections
Residents, including Officer Jordan, thanked Councilwoman Debra Norman for her efforts to create “Come Together Day.” Jordan said these types of events helped to encourage unity in Lawtey. He said that as a citizen he takes pride in the city and loves the citizens coming together. Jordan also made suggestions that the city create a better social media presence to keep everyone up to date on progress the council makes on improvements, spotlight events, and local announcements.
Jordan proposed having a BHS student intern to help with this project. Any interested media student can reach out to Officer Todd Jordan at the department.
In other business:
—Councilwoman Blom proposed, and board members approved, hiring a new maintenance person at $17 an hour.
—the next meetings are the Oct. 29 workshop at 6 p.m. and the Nov. 4 council meeting at 7 p.m.
