Council Backs Up on Ordinances
City Council members spent some time at their last meeting discussing City guidelines for employees in view of Kentucky’s medical marijuana statute, which goes into affect January 1st. In the end, the decision was to bar any use of marijuana by any city employee.
By Greg Wells
CCN — Editor
The results of the Burkesville City Council meeting at the end of November were to reverse the actions in the middle of October.
The second reading of an ordinance returning to the control of livestock and other animals generally was withdrawn.
Second reading of an ordinance pertaining to control of livestock and dogs was tabled.
Second reading of an ordinance pertaining to nuisance abatement was tabled.
Second reading of an ordinance establishing a codes enforcement board was tabled.
Mayor Laurel Irby said, that leading into these issues that the language of the ordinances were confusing, and grandfathering the existing animals wasn’t fully covered. She explained that the intent was to address problems, not cause them.
Next up was tabling a first reading of an ordinance repealing the ordinance previously passed this year that set pay grades and celery range tables and presenting a new one. However, the new one did not include everything the mayor said it needed to include and so she asked if the table as well.
All motions to table were passed with everyone voting yes and all council members were present with the exception of Corey Cash.
The council went on to discuss whether changes were needed to the cities drug policy given the states approval of medical marijuana. In the end, it was decided that the policies would remain as they have been as many of the cities jobs expressly forbid, in higher statutes, any use of marijuana, adding that prescription cannabis was also not allowed.
Speaking to the council on a grant and bridge construction program was Amy Morgan. Morgan is a board member of the chamber, the Tourism Commission and leader of the Pride program. She updated the council on the construction of a bridge across from the parking lot on upper River Street to the walking track. And said Pride was pursuing a grant to concrete sidewalks from the trail town arch at the parking lot down toward the boat ramp.
Council approved paying for the electricity after Pride builds the bridge and has an electrician wire it.
Issues were raised, however, regarding the sidewalk as previously “engineers” had reportedly indicated a fence would need to be built if a sidewalk was installed.
Morgan indicated they would look into the matter with city staff and bring it back to the council.
City leaders would not commit when Morgan asked that since Pride was spending approximately $45,000 on this project could the city not provide the fence they were suggesting was required?
The reply boiled down to “we’ll see.”
In the police department report in October; 242 complaints were handled, 45 citations were written, 18 collisions were responded to, 13 arrests were made and four of the calls last month were alcohol related. Additionally, officers responded to 14 lockout assist request and six motorist assist request.
It was brought to the council’s attention that dispatchers handled the calls for Russell County’s 911 system a couple of times over the past month when they were having work done.
