Center Street resident asks for help with drainage
A resident on Center Street brought water runoff issues before the city council Tuesday night and questioned whose responsibility it is to fix the problem.
Debbie Yates lives next door to Terry Davis, who was featured in the June 17 issue of the Adair County Community Voice after his basement wall caved in from flooding.
“I’m afraid if something isn’t done mine is going to do that,” Yates told council members.
Yates said several sinkholes have developed in her back yard. There are two 24-inch tiles under the roadway, she said, adding, “I’m not sure where they go.”
Mayor Pat Bell said the city had done some work in the Terry Street area last year. Terry Street connects to Center Street.
Yates said she applied for assistance with FEMA but her application was denied. She was told by two FEMA officials that fixing the runoff problem is the city’s responsibility, she said.
Bell said the city has to be careful about fixing issues that go onto private property.
“We’re skating on thin ice,” he said.
This is not the first time the city has been asked to fix water runoff issues. A similar problem on Williams Street has been brought before the council several times but remains unresolved.
Council member Charles Grimsley said he spoke with FEMA officials who said this would be a good time for the city to apply for assistance that is specifically available to public entities.
Bell replied, “If we can tie it into FEMA that would be alright.”
COUNCIL GIVES READING ON COMPENSATION PLAN
The council gave first reading to an ordinance setting a salary scale for city employees. The scale provided to council members sets a rate for minimum and maximum salaries based on a grade level for each employee. Council members were not provided with individual salaries or a list of grade levels of individual employees.
City Clerk Carolyn Edwards said the compensation plan is updated annually to address the increase in cost of living.
Council member June Parson said there was no increase in the cost of living this past year, but Edwards said there was. Edwards said the increase is based on the federal scale.
Councilman Edwin Taylor asked if the compensation plan provided for additional positions and wanted to know how positions are authorized. When he was city police chief, new positions were not added unless authorized by the council, Taylor said.
Edwards said it is not like that anymore. While the city’s ordinances establish the types of positions available, they do not specify how many people can hold each position.
According to the city’s “Employment Process” ordinance, the mayor has the authority to appoint all city employees. Council approval is only necessary for non-elected officers, such as the police chief and city clerk.
COUNCIL MAKES APPOINTMENTS
Carolyn Edwards, Andrea Staten, Mark Harris and Ann Marie Nixon were reappointed for three-year terms to Renaissance Columbia. Todd Wilson was appointed to replace Sharon Burton, who resigned.
Greg Thomas was reappointed to the parks and recreation board for a four-year term.
By Sharon Burton
snburton@windstream.net
