Jasper City Council Meeting- 11/22

By: Mark Nowotarski, News Reporter

Jasper- A number of items were discussed during the Jasper council meeting Tuesday.

Renee Kabrick, City Attorney reported her department in the past year drafted 31 ordinances and 37 resolutions. Most notably were the Food & Beverage Tax, the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), and the Storm Water Ordinance. Kabrick reported her department is continuing to prepare the legal work for the outdoor swimming pool. Other projects still in the works include the sale of the Camp Carnes property, the Northside Substation project, the Regional Sewer District, the Regional Wellness Center, and the 15th Street extension.

Cale Knies, Director of Personnel/Safety/Loss Control reported the department is currently working on the first alert system for city employees, working with the police department on mental health programs, Next Level job grants, and working towards a cyber security ready community. While complementing the work of the city employees, their dedication and passion, he emphasized that in the next 3-5 years the city will be different as it transitions toward the need to replace retiring employees. 

Several ordinances were on the agenda including an ordinance providing for a uniform code for traffic on public streets – truck routes and load limits. The proposed ordinance prohibits vehicles exceeding five tons in weight from using West 15th Street from Newton to Kundek, Green Street from 13th to 14th Street, and the Courthouse Square.

Other ordinances presented include approving and authorizing a loan of funds between the Electric Department and the Water Department for work on the 231-water line project. 

A first reading of an ordinance establishing user fees and policies for the Department of Stormwater Management were heard by the council. These concern construction site stormwater runoff updates to the City of Jasper Stormwater Ordinance. This ordinance is an update to bring the city to updated standards by IDEM and the EPA.

Ordinance 2023-37 revised the language in the Unified Development Ordinance along with the sign ordinance language and was read for information only.

An ordinance appropriating additional funds needed for the Holy Family Project, HRJ lane project and Dewey Street project was available for a public hearing. This was followed with the passing of a resolution for transferring money into the Community Crossings Fund to cover change orders. 

The final Ordinance approved was to transfer money between various accounts within a department.