The Clifton City Commission met in regular session on Monday, October 25th, 2021. All commissioners were in attendance, including Mayor Mark Staggs, Vice Mayor Eva Ruth Warren, Layton Packwood, Stacy Huntingford, and Randy Burns. Also in attendance were City Recorder Barbara Culp and City Manager Doug Kibbey.
Mayor Staggs called the meeting to order. The invocation was offered by Austin Clark, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
A motion was made by Commissioner Burns to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Huntingford, and the minutes were unanimously approved.
First under old business on the agenda was an update on the splash pad. City Manager Kibbey said that construction on the splash pad site is set to begin in November, and will take 60 to 90 days to complete.
Next was Budget Amendment #2. Commissioner Burns made a motion to approve, and Commissioner Packwood seconded. The amendment was unanimously approved.
The first item under new business was a street closure resolution. Main Street will be closed from 12:00 noon until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 13th to accommodate the River Arts Festival.
Surplus property was next on the agenda. A 2012 Ford Escape was presented to be declared as surplus. Commissioner Burns made a motion to approve, and Commissioner Packwood seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
The last item on the agenda under new business was a resolution to approve the construction of new hangars at the airport that is being funded by a $250,000 USDA no-match grant. Vice Mayor Warren made a motion to approve the resolution. Commissioner Huntingford seconded, and the resolution was unanimously approved.
Departmental reports were next. Public Works Director Austin Clark said that the installation of infrastructure has begun for the new water and gas meters. He said that there will be one main data collector in town and other smaller data collectors in other locations. Clark went on to say that TVEC plans to start working to install power for collectors in rural areas on November 1st.
Clark went on to mention a few other items, including the fact that there is a nationwide shortage of a lot of things, including materials used to install water taps.
Mayor Staggs said that he had been asked if a pump could be installed to provide better water pressure at Wayne County Rock. Clark said that the city is required to provide 20psi water pressure to customers, and the water pressure at Wayne County Rock is 40psi. He also said that it would take about $8,000 to install the equipment that would be required to increase their water pressure even more.
Parks and Recreation Director Eddie Simmons said that his crew had been busy getting the washout problem and Davidson field fixed. A drain pipe has been installed, and they will finish by putting sod down before winter.
Commissioner Burns then asked if the walking trail will need to be closed due to the construction work being done nearby. City Manger Kibbey recommended that the walking trail be closed during the construction, and that the dip in the trail be repaired with fill dirt. Following a brief discussion, Commissioner Burns recommended closing the walking trail for the winter.
Police Chief Jerroll Henderson said that everything in the Police Department was running smoothly. He said that one officer had recently helped a citizen get up out of her floor after a fall, and the citizen later tested positive for COVID. The officer quarantined for four days and tested negative for COVID.
Chief Henderson said that he had monitored the area where the speed limit signs had been posted on the east side of town, and caught three speeders within a three-day period.
Chief Henderson went on to tell the commission that he had received a complaint regarding the fire hydrant at the end of Main Street near the Clifton Marina being blocked. Commissioner and Clifton Marina Manager Stacy Huntingford said that she would take care of the problem.
Fire Chief Lindsay Roberts informed the commission that the Tennessee Commission on Firefighting is now offering their Educational Incentive Program to volunteer fire departments, and Clifton will be participating in the program. Firefighters will receive $600 per year if they complete the mandatory training.
City Manager Kibbey informed the commission that there will be a Local Parks & Recreation Planning Grant workshop at City Hall on Monday, November 8th and Tuesday, November 9th at 5:30 p.m. each night.
Kibbey next told the commissioners that there would be a potluck luncheon to celebrate Thanksgiving on Tuesday, November 23rd at 12:00 noon. All commissioners are invited. The city’s Christmas party will be on Thursday, December 6th at Meo Mio’s at 6:00 p.m.
City Manager Kibbey then brought up his employment agreement. According to the agreement, the city manager must give 12 months’ notice in advance if he resigns. Kibbey then told the commission that he was officially giving his one-year notice of resignation at this time, with his employment to end on October 24th, 2022. He said that he had promised his wife that he would retire in the near future, and after 40 years in public service (including being in the military) he is ready to retire. He said that he feels that the current Board of Commissioners is better and stronger than ever. He went on to tell the commission about a program called the Veterans Local Government Fellowship that helps veterans transition into local government employment. Kibbey said that this program would be a good thing to consider when hiring someone for the City Manager position. Commissioner Packwood asked if Kibbey knew of any current employees that would be interested in the position, and Kibbey said that he did not. Vice Mayor Warren made a motion to go with the Veterans Local Government Fellowship that Kibbey had recommended. Commissioner Huntingford seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.
City Manager Kibbey said that he still has a lot of projects to oversee and complete within the next year, and if someone is hired before he leaves, he will be glad to help them learn about the job. Commissioner Huntingford thanked Kibbey for doing a great job as City Manager.
Commissioner Huntingford told the commission that the Clifton community had recently raised $5,097 for the family of Matthew Locke, the Savannah police officer who was recently shot and killed by a Clifton man, Todd Stricklin. She said that the family plans to match that amount and put it in a CD for Matthew’s young daughter to receive when she turns 18. Commissioner Huntingford thanked everyone that gave a donation.
Commissioner Huntingford then inquired about the rules and regulations for food trucks set up on city property. City Manager Kibbey said that the commission had voted in an ordinance two or three years ago that allows food trucks to set up in the city. Following a brief discussion, Kibbey said that he would add a discussion of the ordinance to next month’s agenda.
Next, Commissioner Huntingford asked if the city plans to do the Stroll Through Christmas event this year. Clifton Rotary Club member Shawnee Iacono said that Rotary will be sponsoring the event this year. The lights will be put up on November 6th and 13th, and anyone who is willing to help is invited to participate. The inmate work crew will not be available to help this year, so all volunteer help is needed. The Stroll Through Christmas will be held on Saturday, December 11th. Ms. Iacono said that the Rotary Club should be contacted by anyone who plans to participate in the Stroll.
With no further business to come before the commission, the meeting was adjourned.
