Civic Corner: Board of Aldermen Recap – March 5th Meeting
By Ricki Garrett, PhD, Alderwoman-at-Large
The Board of Aldermen met on March 5 with a very full house of constituents, interested in various issues on the Board agenda. Our Department Head report was provided by Police Chief Ford Hayman. Chief Hayman began with the good news that the Clinton Police Department had just been awarded re-accreditation, one of only thirty-seven police and fire departments accredited in the state out of a total of four hundred. He gave credit to officer Derrick Brown for his leadership role in the re-accreditation. Chief Hayman also reported that the Citizen Police Academy will be held April 22-27.
The first action item of the evening was to provide permission to readvertise for bids for the renovations to the Clinton City Hall and the Clinton Municipal Court Buildings. The motion was approved unanimously. The Board also approved one additional payment (cost of living check) to retirees of the City of Clinton Fire and Police Disability Fund.
WGK partner and engineer Greg Gearhart explained the next item on the agenda, which was consideration of a professional services agreement for the MCWI Force Main Improvements projects. Because the funding was provided to the City of Clinton, rather than to the recently-formed Clinton, Raymond, Bolton Water Authority (CRBWA), then the work of WGK would have to be through the City of Clinton. The Board approved the agreement unanimously, as well as accepted proposals by Tice Engineering for a total of $44,500 to provide professional services related to the Wastewater Improvement Project.
The Board also was able to finally approve the advertising for the Pebble Brook and Trailwood Drive storm drain replacement project improvements and the Quail Hollow Drive culvert replacement project improvements. These had been in process for a very long time, due to easement approvals.
The Board also approved for Mayor Fisher to request activation for the recently-awarded Federal Transportation Alternative Project to continue the lighting along the Arrow Drive Multi-Use Path and to execute all documents. $640,000 in MDOT funding will be matched 20% by the City of Clinton.
Clean-up work at the Department of Public Works yard will continue, with approval of a MOU between the City and Liquidity services, and the bathroom renovation at the Public Works Facility was approved in the amount of $15,250.
In a five-to-two vote of the Board of Aldermen, the City Pointe Centre on Pinehaven Road was approved. The development was proposed to include a convenience store, loft apartments, retail and office space. However, in a vote on the next item on the agenda, the conditional use to allow the convenience store, Arrow Post, to be built, the Board voted 4 to 3 not to allow the construction of the convenience store. Aldermen Garrett, Martin, Oliver and Lott voted no, with Aldermen Godfrey, Chatman and Wilbanks voting in favor of the convenience store.
In several other heavily-discussed conditional use requests, the Board of Aldermen approved a certificate of appropriateness for Colin Baird at 504 Jefferson for a renovation, including a carport.
A dimensional variance was awarded to Doug and Susan Williams for a hay storage building at their home on Kickapoo Road on a 5 to 2 vote, and a dimensional variance was awarded to Ted and Lorraine Gilbert for a metal storage building behind their home at 340 Fortner Cove on a vote of 5 to 1, with my recusal from the vote. Approval for a site plan for CrossFit Comeback was also approved.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Space will be provided in each issue of The Clinton Courier to the Board of Aldermen for a recap of each meeting. Aldermen are asked to volunteer to provide this recap for the Courier.
