Cloverdale Town Hall lot changes take heat

CLOVERDALE -- After a tense half-hour discussion during the April meeting, the topic of parking lot changes at the Town Hall saw heat again at the end of the May Cloverdale Town Council meeting.

"Why are we spending so much money on this place and letting everything else go?" Dave Lyons, the only speaker, asked.

Cindy Hofman responded, "We have to take care of this parking lot."

Lyons said that the town shouldn't be spending $60,000 to move the deposit box, but President Coweta Patton said that they weren't spending $60,000 or moving the deposit box.

Lyons also brought up the high utility bills citizens are paying.

"And you don't agree that's part of the problem with development in this town?" Lyons asked.

The council said it did not.

"It's closed," President Patton said. "We voted on it last month."

Lyons ended his time with, "I spoke my peace. And for the rest of the town."

In other developments:

-- Town Manager Wayne Galloway said the cost estimates for repaving all 19 miles of the town will be ready for next month's meeting.

He also reported that there are two ways Cloverdale can address accumulating leaves this fall: Purchase a leaf truck, which he said costs $22,000 used, or hire a company to do it. If the town purchases a leaf truck, he said, it will also have to have a place to dump the leaves.

-- The council is set to consider final approval for making the U-drive on Logan Street one-way at the next meeting.

-- Building Inspector Mark Cassida reported that he received a complaint about a handicap ramp built by SAWs (Servants at Work). Building Inspector Cassida said that the ramps do not require a building permit because they are completely portable.

He also reported receiving complaints about Ordinance 1995-4, which deals with the height of grass. While this ordinance claimed it could be 12 inches, another claimed that it could be six. The council approved correcting it to say six inches.

The council also approved vacating and demolishing a garage on South West Street "so it doesn't fall on some kid."

-- The council was introduced to Ordinance 2016-6, "Adopting a Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Plan." The ordinance would be compliance with the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which states that communities receiving federal financial assistance must have a Title VI Plan. Final action will be considered at the next meeting.

-- The council was also introduced to Ordinance 2016-7, which sets forth "internal control standards" dealing with reporting theft, misappropriation or other abnormalities to the State Board of Accounts.

-- The council approved Resolution 2016-8 in a 4-1 vote. The resolution concerned the use of the Food and Beverage Fund to pay for lining a manhole and video recording the wastewater lines from Robert Wiest Street to Lafayette Street; Brown Avenue to Weber Street; Logan Street to Lafayette Street and Lincoln Street to Railroad Street.

Total cost for the project was $24,466.77, leaving $139,704.86 in the Food and Beverage Fund.

Gary Bennington was the dissenting vote.

-- The council approved Vice President Don Sublett's beginning talks with a realtor for the purchase of 1.18 acres for a pocket park in Cloverdale. The property was appraised at $45,000.

-- The council approved reimbursing two citizens who had popped their tires after encountering a sinkhole on Stardust Hill.

In other business:

-- The council approved the May claims at a total of $348,493.45, a $17,371.31 decrease from April's total claims. The average claims total so far this year is $311,505. 41.

-- There will be a public hearing June 14 at 6:45 p.m. about the Revitalization Grant.

The next Cloverdale Council meeting will be June 14 at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall.