City of Aiken, SC City Council Meetings, 12 Mar 2018

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From YouTube: Aiken City Council Meeting March 12, 2018

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Watch the livestream of the Aiken City Council Meeting, March 12th at 7:00p.m.

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Good evening.

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Our invocation will be by mr. richard johnson and our pledge will be led by.

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The chief good evening, mr. johnson, may we pray oh.

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Gracious full and merciful, heavenly father. Once again, we come before that.

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Throne of mercy, we come lord, given thee thanks for all of the blessing that I.

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Have bestowed upon us and we're asking our father if it is not, will that I.

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Would continue to go with us stand by us, lead, guide us and direct us in the way.

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That you would have us to go. Thank you, father, for the way that you have brought us. Thank you, my master, for the efforts being put forth by the leaders of the city of aiken. We pray lord, that you continue to guide them. Direct them. Give.

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Them the right spirit asking lord to bless the citizens of the city of aitkin.

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These blessings we ask in the name of your son and our savior jesus christ. We.

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Before we go further, this is a portion in our agenda where we like to go over the.

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Guidelines for the aiken city council meetings meetings are public forms in.

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Which opinions are expressed and the business of the city must be conducted as such discipline? Honorable and professional professional decorum is.

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Paramount courteous and respectful communication is expected during public.

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Public hearings, all questions and statements from the public shall be.

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Directed to the chair, if you wish to speak, raise your hand, and I will.

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Certainly recognize you, please approach the podium and state your name and.

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Address in order to allow an opportunity for everyone who wishes to address.

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Council speakers should limit their comments to the subject being discussed.

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Each speaker will be given five minutes to address an issue. It may only address.

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An issue once unless questions from council are posed to the speaker that I.

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Would like to recognize our mayor pro-tem, ms. gail diggs, for the additions and deletion to the agenda state. Thank you.

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Mr. mayor I'd like to make a motion to amend the agenda, I'd like to continue.

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Old business item number six.

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And add a section six for an executive session, very good. Okay, we have a motion.

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With those changes, there are a second second thank you, councilman waltz all.

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Those in favor and that's unanimous thinking the council members prior to.

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The meeting for their review is there a motion to.

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Accept the minutes as presented I so move, can we have a motion? Is there a.

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Second, second, okay: I have a motion in a second all, those in favor and that's.

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Unanimous. Thank you. Moving down the agenda to old business item number one.

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Enrolled businesses, approval of appointments and discussion of appointees to various city boards, commissions and committees. I look to our.

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Interim city manager, mr stuart bedenbaugh, bought for comment getting a sewer good.

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Evening mayor, thank you tonight we have one appointment for councils.

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Consideration and councilwoman gregory has recommended the appointment of mr.

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Robert brookshire to the planning commission to fill the position of mr.

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Kent coverage for a term that will expire december, 1st 2018 and those are.

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All the pending appointments at this time, mr. mayor cool, very good, so we have.

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One appointment for consideration um is there a motion. We have a second.

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And that's unanimous and I think mr. brookshire is here tonight- wow welcome.

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Welcome to an important board for our city. Thank you for your service.

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Are there any names at this time to be moved forward for consideration in our.

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Next council meeting mr. mayor I'd like to nominate mr. will lin for the energy.

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And environmental committee, any others I'd like to move to nominee katie.

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Lipscomb to the design in.

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Very good any other considerations for our next meeting. Okay, very good. Thank.

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You moving down old business and number two. This is second reading of public hearing.

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Of an ordinance to amend the city code to include the appointments to the.

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Equine committee to city council by title this is an ordinance amending.

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Section 2-1 for to a of as akin city code to add the equine committee to the.

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Listing of city boards and commissions, is there a motion? Second, by councilwoman.

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Price all right comments for staff. Mr. mayor.

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Thank you that coin committee has served as an ad.

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Hoc committee, advising for the council on that quine issues since 2000 and.

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Tonight we're presenting second reading to formalize that one committee in our.

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City code with other standing boards and commissions membership would be seven.

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Individuals with each council member appointing one member to represent with.

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An attempt to represent various a quine disciplines, our equestrian disciplines,.

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Found in our equine community and would meet at least annually and more often, if.

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The need arises, we've made several wording, changes and corrected several.

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Several scriveners errors since first reading and I want to go through those.

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In the ordinance briefly, first, we changed the term that we corrected the.

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Term for the housing authority to five years, and that's noted on the second.

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Page of the ordinance we've changed the name of the historic preservation.

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Commission to its current name, design, review board. We changed the name of the.

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Environmental committee, to its current name, energy and environmental committee,.

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We added we also added the housing authority to the board list and we've.

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Added the senior commission also to the ordinance to formalize this. This section.

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Of the city code, in addition to putting the equina committee as a standing.

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Committee very good, thank you. Those changes will.

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Point it out, I guess, between first reading and second reading, any comments.

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From the audience comments from council all those in favor, emotion and that.

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Sheen animus, thank you moving down to old business number three. This is second.

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Reading a public hearing of an ordinance to approve the sale of 905 alfred street.

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Northeast and crawls, apart by title, an ordinance approving itself 905 alfred.

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Street northeast and crawls and park subdivision. Is there a motion.

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Thank you, councilwoman diggs. Is there a second beckett? We have a second comments.

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To staff mr. mayor 905, alfred street is being presented for second reading for.

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Sale tonight for $54,000 and will be occupied by the buyer, the buyer did ask.

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For closing costs, as well as a basic 1 year, home warranty.

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One thing that was asked at first reading was to note the cost that has.

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Been put into the home since it was purchased, and that is put in the cover.

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Memo, including the purchase price of 50 thousand dollars, we spend one hundred.

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Nine thousand seven hundred ninety dollars on this home since purchased in.

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April 2009 and for council consideration on second reading is that to approve the.

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Sale of 905 alfred street in crossland park. Thank you, stuart comments from the.

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Audience comments from council. That's unanimous! Thank you.

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Moving down old business number four: this is a second reading and public.

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Hearing of an ordinance, amended 2017-18 budget to include revenue and.

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Expenditures for purchase of a freightliner road tractor by thailand.

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Ordinance amending the budget of the city of aitkin for the fiscal year, beginning july, 1, 2017 and ending june 30 of 2018. Is there a motion so moved.

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We have a motion. Is there a second thank you councilman to work, comments or staff.

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Mr. mayor, we do present this ordinance to amend the budget to purchase this.

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Road tractor lost in a rollover accident between insurance proceeds and the.

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Depreciation funds allocated for the asset we are able to purchase it for the.

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State contract price of 123 thousand 540 this there were several questions at the.

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First reading back on february 12th, the tractor was 16 years old at the time of.

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The rollover incident and the available depreciation and insurance payment funds.

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Are listed, 77030, 1750 and 48 365 respectively, and we have a total of.

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125,000 680 250 available for purchase the remaining or the difference will.

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Just be put in disposed assets for depreciation for other capital equipment.

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That might need to be purchased at a later date. The the difference of $2,100.

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Thank you any comments from the audience.

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Comments from council all those in favor, that's unanimous. Thank you.

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Moving down an old business to number five, this is a second reading of public.

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King of an ordinance to rezone property at 2:54 buford street northeast from an.

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Industrial eye to general business gb by title in order to rezone certain.

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Property located 250 for buford street northeast from industrial I to general.

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Business gb: is there emotion, okay, okay, thank you. Councilwoman diggs. Is there a.

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Second, thank you. Okay, second comments from staff. Mr. mayor, our january, 8th.

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Meeting we considered first reading of this ordinance to rezone property at.

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This address from industrial to general business to allow office use the kumbi.

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Center to assist abused persons would like to relocate their administrative.

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Offices there, but the zoning of I her industrial currently would not allow.

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That but changing the zoning to g b would it made sense to zone at g b since.

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Property across b for street to the west is zoned general business. The planning.

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Commission took this matter up at their february 13th meeting and unanimously.

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Recommended that it be reason to g b, so it's back to council tonight for second.

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Reading to consider the rezoning request, thank you any comments from the audience.

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Comments from council all those in favor of second reading, that's unanimous.

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Number six was continued. I just like to say on that item. This is an annexation.

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And I wanted to appreciate councilman do and recognize councilman devar, who.

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Brought to the attention that we wanted to make sure that the letters to the contiguous property owners were fully informed, informative to the matter of.

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What being contiguous with city property means we're not trying to rush anything.

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On this, so so we've asked staff to continue this until told those letters.

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Can go out and information can be, would be given to other property owners.

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Contiguous with this property moving down the agenda to section new business.

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Number 100 is a resolution authorizing the city of a container into a contract.

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With aitkin county for 911 services by title or resolution authorizing the city.

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Of aitkin dinner into a contract with aitkin county for 9-1-1 addressing services, is there a motion so moved? Okay, thank you. Councilman guar. Is there.

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A second second, thank you, mr. gregory comments from staff. Mr. mayor.

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Back in august 2017, we had a presentation from aiken county to.

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Discuss next generation 911 going online later this year, it will greatly improve.

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The 9-1-1 service and reliability, the area will allow more ways to contact 911.

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Including but not limited to voice and text messages and other things and one.

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Of the things we discussed was aren't, we have had a gis system since the 1990s is.

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Primarily currently utilized by our public works division for location of.

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Infrastructure they do addressing as well, but the county has a much larger.

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Gis staff and addressing staff to handle this one of the main concerns we had.

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When we began this process back in august, was we wanted to ensure that.

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Existing city addresses would not be, I mean.

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Could not be unilaterally changed by the county and they have made a lot of.

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Effort to note that any should any address changes be considered a.

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Recommended by them for 911, it will have to ultimately be approved by city.

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Council, it would not be, they would not have the.

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Power to unilaterally make the changes, but again, this is something to that. Our.

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Staff- and I think those on council at the time we're very much in favor of.

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Staff is certainly in favor of it. Given the cap at the limited gis capacity, we.

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Have in terms of staff, so we had tourney our city attorney. Mr. smith, work with.

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City attorney mr. hawley to draft appropriate an appropriate resolution.

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The county has passed an ordinance in an agreed. We have an agreement also that if.

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Approved we would execute to begin the implementation. Thank you, sir. Any.

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Comments from the audience.

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Any comments from council just to thank taken county administrators for being.

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With us tonight, clay thank you for being here tonight.

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And also sherry, moritz is also here and she's, been a big help in putting this.

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Package together as well from vacant county information technologies,.

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Department, absolutely all right, all those in favor. That's unanimous. Thank.

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You moving down to number 200 new business. This is a first reading of an.

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Ordinance 10x15 17, pine log, road and zone at rs.15.

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Single-Family residential by title and ordnance, annex property located at 1517.

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Pine lodge road consisting of 0.96 acres of land, more or less owned by larry.

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Curry and his owns the same residential single-family are as 15 is there emotion.

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Okay, thank you. Comments was down mr. mayor pursuant to our water sewer.

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Annexation policy, this the property owner, is requesting annexation of 1517.

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Pine log for rezoning to rs 15, the planning commission met on february.

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13Th and considered this request and he'd animus lee recommended the.

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Annexation. Thank you any comments from the audience comments from council all.

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Those in favor.

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Moving down you business in number three, this is first ring of an ordinance to.

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Approve the sale of 902, alfred street northeast and crawls in part by title, an.

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Ordinance approving the self 92 alfred street northeast and crawls and park subdivision. Is there a motion? Is there a second second? Thank you. Councilman.

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Jeredy comments from staff: yes, we have before us a first reading to consider.

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Approving the sale of 902 alfred street for fifty five thousand five hundred as.

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An owner occupied residence, the buyers asking the city to pay for a home.

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Warranty and closing cost not to exceed 3% of the purchase price. We went ahead.

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And calculated how much we've invested in the property since its purchased in.

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June of oh nine and including the forty five thousand dollar purchase price.

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We've spent a hundred ten thousand three hundred fifteen dollars on this property.

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We review this purchase and recommend that we council consider approving or.

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Proceeding with the first reading of this ordinance for the sale for fifty.

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Five thousand five hundred or appraised value. Thank you. Mr. bean ball. You.

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Comments from the audience comments from council.

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Okay, all those in favor on first reading, that's unanimous! Thank you! Moving down.

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To number four, this is a first ring of an ordinance to approve the sale of 1517.

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Wine and street northeast and crawls, apart by tile, an ordinance approving the.

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Sale of 1517, wyman street northeast and crosland park subdivision is their.

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Motion councilman price: is there a second councilman dick's comments from.

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Staff, mr. mayor 1517, wyman street, we received an offer for this property for.

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$55,000 for an owner-occupied sale and the buyers asking the city to pay simple.

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Home warranty for 95 and to pay closing costs to not exceed three thousand two.

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Hundred forty dollars, this home was purchased in june 2009 for forty five.

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Thousand dollars and including the purchase price, we've spent one hundred three thousand one hundred seven dollars on this.

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Property since we've owned it for the last and almost nine years, staff reviews.

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The purchase and recommends that we proceed with the sale of fifty five.

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Thousand dollars or appraised value.

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Thank you speedball comments from the audience comments from council. Okay, all.

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Those in favor I'm first reading, that's unanimous thinking.

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Question to ask our city manager with this, although this is first reading of.

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This descendant previous ordinance, this just mean that these are all of our.

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Homes there there is one home left and it's on.

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Vincent and we may have an offer on that- I've been spoke with mr. ramseur. We.

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Had first reading to transfer that to second baptist, but in the interim we had.

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An offer so we we may either will either come back with second reading to.

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Transfer the house, the second baptist or have first reading to for the property.

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Owner to owner occupy, purchase, okay, and then that will be it.

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Okay, moving new business number five, its first ringing of an ordinance to.

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Designate the hotel aiken as a historic site to the aiken historic register, an.

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Ordinance that my title and ordinance designate la kenaz, a historic site under.

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The city of aiken historic preservation, ordinance. Is there a motion motion.

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Second, second comments from staff: mr. mayor, the design review board met.

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January, 2nd 2018 to consider requests from the property owners shaw.

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Investments llc to designate hotel aiken at 235, richland avenue west to the aiken.

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Historic register as a historic site and the after review drb recommended that it.

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Be listed on the historic register, the planning commission subsequently.

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Received the recommendation at their february 13th meeting and unanimously.

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Recommended approval of the hotel aiken as a historic site. One thing: the council.

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Has before you is, we would need to council would need to consider whether.

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The hotel, a can will be considered a landmark structure or a contributing.

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Structure, staffs and- and this is not covered in the cover memo- my apologies.

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But staff would recommend it be designated a contributing structure due.

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To the fact that the the property it's been altered, I guess, since it was.

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Initially built, but staffs recommendation of the two would be it be.

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Designated a contributing structure, not a landmark structure and for council.

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Consideration its first reading to designate the hotel aiken as a historic.

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Site council just a questions, as the motion need to include the fact that it.

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Would be contributing, so we need to redo the minimize the motion. We need to be.

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Amended for council to decide what's going to be contributing, I'm learning.

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All right, well, let's say the motion who made the motion on this. Would you be one.

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Of them in the motion to reflect that.

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Tell me: could this be considered contributing structure? I make a motion.

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That we do what you just saw: okay and the second was bond right, very good.

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Okay as emotional, it was a was amended, then, with all those in favor, very good.

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Thank you. We have mr. neil shaw with us tonight ii, so yeah. We look forward to.

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This project, thank you. Moving down new business in number six. This is a first.

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Reading of an ordinance to amend the 2017-18 budget by title noren, submitting.

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The budget of the city of aitkin for the fiscal year beginning july, 1 2017, ending.

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June 30 of 2018, because their emotions.

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Thank you. Second. Okay, comments from staff. Mr. mayor, we have several items.

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For consideration for amending the budget first, we did here in a work.

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Session about the solid waste fund running a deficit that would be.

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Addressed, secondly, we received a grant from south carolina dhec for mosquito control.

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Of approximately 23,000 dollars- and this would allow us to purchase some.

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Equipment and we would need to adjust, do a budget amendment to adjust the revenue.

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To reflect the grant, as well as the corresponding expenditures and finally,.

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You may have noticed it was a little warm in room 204. That is because we've.

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We've done some minor: we've done some maintenance on the hvac unit, but it.

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Finally, has met its demise and the cost for replacement is ninety four hundred.

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Dollars which can be paid for out of depreciation funds, but that would also.

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Require a budget amendment as well, so its first reading of an ordinance to.

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Amend the budget to reflect the shortfall in the solid waste budget as.

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Well as to reflect the revenue and it corresponding spin to church from the.

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Dhec grant for mosquito control and to replace the hvac unit and the that one.

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Hvac unit in this building very good comments on the audience comments for.

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Council, typically, we asked him to come up and identify I'm I'm not sure if you.

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Can see him or not welcome to the meet, would you would you mind that we'd love.

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For you to have an opportunity to come up, introduce yourself if you wouldn't tell us what troop you're with that'd be perfect. Thank you for being here. Welcome.

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To the meeting tonight, what's your name mr. duncan appreciate you being with us.

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What troop were you with 146? Where is that.

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Okay, we appreciate you being here and being a part of the city government.

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Today, thankful for that, you getting a merit badge for this. Okay.

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Good, I'm glad we solidified that good for you, let's go to you attend okay,.

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Thank you! What a great school, no darts! Okay! Thank you for being here absolutely.

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This is exciting. Thank you, councilman, two more people. I.

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Did not see him bay there yeah, I didn't think you did.

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Okay, moving down to petitions and requests number one: this is a request.

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For banners in the downtown area for national day of prayer, is there a motion.

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I said: move second, okay, recognize staff in this town sure there is a request.

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From roger rollins, a member of the national day of prayer committee to hang.

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Banners the downtown between april 19th and may 3rd to banners at the.

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Intersection of park avenue and lawrence street they're very good. Any comments.

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From the audience comments from council all those in favor and that's unanimous.

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Thank you, number 200 petitions and requests. This is a request for banners.

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And downtown promoting the strawberry festival. Is there a motion so moved.

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Through thank you, counsel, counsel. One price is there a second.

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In a second stewart, yes, diane gibson of meat hall pto is requesting permission.

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To hang, banners to promote the strawberry festival, two banners one at.

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The intersection of whiskey and south boundary, and one at the intersection of.

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Park and lawrence between april 16 and april 21 to promote this event on april.

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21St all right, thank you comments from the audience comments from council all.

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Those in favor and that's unanimous, thank you and thirdly, request. This is.

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Number 300 petitions and requests: this is a request to place great ribbons in.

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The downtown during the month of may for brain cancer awareness month is there a.

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Motion second, yes, mr. mayor dr., rebecca harper's, requesting permission to place.

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Gray ribbons in the downtown area during the month of may to bring awareness to.

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Brain cancer awareness month and the gribbins will be placed along knit.

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Laurens and newberry, as well as along richland and park avenues, and this is.

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The motion is to place the gray ribbons in the downtown area during the month of.

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May for brain cancer awareness month. Thank you any comments from the audience.

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Comments from council: this is the first time we've done the great isn't it thank.

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You all those in favor do unanimous. Thank you.

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Long johns next item is information issues and updates information. We can.

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Have I would like to point out that we had a very nice groundbreaking that the.

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The rain stopped coming long enough at 4 o'clock today at our he uses part.

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Facility and excited to get that project underway, you know also we have. I was a.

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Contact by citizen who wish to address council tonight so we're going to add.

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That before we go into our executive session, so I'd like to welcome up at.

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This time virtual saw virtual, thank you for being with us tonight.

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Virgil good evening my name is virgil saul's. I live at 907, magnolia street.

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Here in the city, I appreciate y'all taking this time to discuss that listen.

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To me, and what I'd like to do is I'd like to ask you some questions regarding.

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Payments being made to the former city manager, I've been following the.

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Resignation of the city manager, since it was first announced in february, I've.

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Exchanged emails with some of you, I've talked to some of you and I still have.

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Questions specifically about why the city of aitkin is pay almost $200,000 in.

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Severance pay to an employee who voluntarily resigned the resignation.

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Resolution signed by all of the parties here specifically refers to this as a.

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Voluntary resolute resignation, as the aiken standard said in this editorial.

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February 23rd 2018. It appears that there is bored of this than a simple.

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Resignation, I've got five questions. I can give the five questions to you and.

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You can answer them or not answer them. I can give them to you one by one or we.

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Can go over all five of them at one time your choice. Well, I mean it's certainly.

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Your time mr. saul's, but okay, I would just give them all if you like. I will.

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Give them all to you one time sure. First question: I've reviewed the city.

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Manager's contract and I can find no place.

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Where it is specifically stated that if he voluntarily resigned, he would be.

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Compensated for additional time not worked, I understand about paying for the.

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Annual leave and the sick leave and even paying the 60 days termination leave, but.

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Where does it specifically say or imply that he would be paid for additional.

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Time in this case, one year, given a corporal allowance and a relocation.

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Allowance second, the resignation clause of the contract as clause 6 d is silent.

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Regarding additional compensation, but the last section of section 6 8 of the.

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Contract specifically states severance pay shall only be payable to an employee.

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In the event of termination, pursuant to this subparagraph, a subparagraph a this.

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Rules out severance pay, do you pay for voluntary resignation, since there's no.

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Specific language in the cassini managers contract requiring compensation.

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For voluntary resignation, why, then, is the city paying out approximate almost.

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$200,000 to former city manager, question 3: if the notice required termination.

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Clause had been used, would not the city have saved over $16,000. You are not.

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Having to pay cobra and relocation.

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Question 4.

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Would I be in error if I drew the conclusion the city council wanted to.

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Terminate the contract with the city manager and that a quote voluntary.

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Resignation, unquote, agreement was not in accordance with the contract was worked.

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Out as a way to do this, rather than voting, the notice required termination.

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Clause of the contract question five: why was the notice required termination.

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Clause not used. Those are my questions, I think, as a taxpayer and as a citizen of.

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Aiken I deserve an answer all right all right. Thank you, mr. mayor. Thank you.

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Counsel, I look forward to your answer. Thank you for that. Thank you.

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All right we're gonna, move down the next item, which was added and amended to the.

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Agenda, which is the executive session city council, will go into executive.

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Session pursuant to section 30 4 78 to discuss negotiations incident to.

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Proposed contractual arrangements and proposed sale and purchase of property.

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Specifically, city council will discuss a possible sale of real estate owned by.

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The city of aitkin council will also receive legal advice where the legal.

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Advice relates to a pending threatened or potential claim or other matters.

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Covered by the attorney-client privilege, settlement of legal claims or the.

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Position of the public agency and other adversary situations involving the.

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Assertion against the agency of a claim, specifically city council, will receive a.

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Legal briefing is there a motion to go into executive session? We have a motion.

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And second, all those in favor and I'll just state there's no no expected or.

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Intended action to be taken after executive session other than to other.

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Than to adjourn so we appreciate those as you once they are welcome to, but it.

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Not we appreciate you being with your city council tonight.

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