Fire Chief Keith Scruggs addressed the Lafayette City Council and public present at the March 5 city council meeting. He said that it had been rumored that certain Fire Department equipment— the ladder truck specifically— was not being utilized outside the city or was not permitted to be used outside the city, specifically at recent house fires where it might have made a significant difference in the fighting of the fires.

Chief Scruggs emphatically stated that the Lafayette Fire Department could and would use any and all equipment at its disposal, as needed to protect the lives and property of the citizens of Macon County whether they be in the City or in the outlying County areas. He noted, however, that the ladder truck requires large amounts of water to be able to function and there are few hydrants in the county areas which are capable of supporting the ladder truck demands. Also there are simply many areas where the truck cannot be taken due to the physical size of the truck and limited road widths, overhead clearances and turning radii on some county roads.

Other business:

The Beer Board met at 6:30, with action on the application of El Mereadit Market at 1214 Scottsville Road for a permit to sell beer deferred until the business actually opens in approx. 30 days.

Public hearings were opened at 6:50 and 6:55 to hear public comment on the proposed annexation of 112.3 acres and other property owned by the City of Lafayette. There was no public comment.

Meeting was called to order at 7:00. Minutes from February 5, 2013 meeting approved.

Approved: resolution 03-05-2013A to adopt Plan of Service for the annexation of approx. 112.3 acres of property owned by the City. Also approved was Ordinance 637, annexing the City’s property in the New Technology Park on first reading.

Approved: Ordinance 638, amending Title 14, Zoning and land use control, Chapter 2 Residential districts, Section 2, R-2 High Density Residential District, Sub-section (5), Lot Areas, items (d) and (e) on first reading.

Approved: the appointment of Paul Thompson to complete Jeff Keisling’s term (expiring on 08/2015) on the Planning Commission.

Approved: bid for in-car video cameras for patrol units (to be paid for with police department grant money). The low bid was from Truckers Lighthouse for approx. $21,000.

Approved: March annual employee evaluations and salary increases for the following: David Cross, part time Fire Dept.; Dean Ellis, Water Dept.; Cheryl Huntsman, Administrative; Carolyn Bolton, Water Dept.; Barron Smith, Street/Parks Dept.; Denise Sutton, Police Dept.

Approved: The hiring of Derrick Gann for the vacant Patrolman II position at Level VI.

Deferred: The hiring of Bill Gordon from part time dispatcher to full time dispatcher was deferred to Personnel Committee for further review.

Approved: salary increase for Shane Reed (police dept) to $17.50 per hour. There is also an issue with back pay owed to Shane due to his not receiving the required 5% above the highest paid employee under his supervision since last April. Since his promotion, he has been making approx. 95 cents LESS than the highest paid person reporting to him. This process of back payment has been done in the past but in the absence of proper city ordinance to do so. Rather than continue the practice as has been done in the past, the council decided to amend/revise the applicable portions of the city code relating to promotions and back pay to legitimize the process and then to take care of the approx. $2100 owed to Reed.

Denied/amended: Stacy Williams addressed the Council and requested that the City donate additional monies above and beyond the $500 annual donation that the City already makes to the Little League field. He stated the County has put out approx. $24,000 for lights (the ball park is in the County), that the Little League itself has spent approx. $3200 for repairs to the fence/mowing and maintenance and another $1400 to repair water lines. He asked the City to give them $5000 to purchase/build 5 sets of new aluminum bleachers.

The Council stated that the City is already over or at budget for other expenditures this year and could not kick in the requested $5000. They suggested that the League solicit public support and donations to raise the needed monies. The Council did state that they would review the request and consider “upping” the annual $500 dollar donation to $1000. This increase is to be discussed and decided at later budget committee meeting.

Approved: action to authorize the Mayor to advertise for swimming pool lifeguards and managers for the coming summer.

Meeting adjourned.