Nicholson Council Meeting Minutes
Monday, July 3rd, 2023
6:30 P.M. Community Center
Attending: Mayor Jan Webster, Council Members: Lamar Watkins, Mike Barfield, Josh Burkhalter, and Thomas Gary. City Clerk Irma Robles, City Attorney Jody Campbell, and Library Manager Rhonda O’Keeffe. For public assistance, refer to the attendance sheet. Not present: Public Works Director Doyle Samples and Mainstreet News (emailed draft minutes to Angie on 7/5/2023)
CALL TO ORDER – 6:30 p.m.
APPROVAL OF JULY 3rd COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA: Councilman Thomas Gary made a motion to change the order of agenda items to the following: 1. Jackson County CLCP (Certified Literate Community Program) Contract for Services. 2 Citizens requesting to speak. 3. Librarians Report. 4. Mayor’s Report, and 5. Executive Session. Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded; all were in favor. Agenda has been reordered.
JUNE 5th, 2023 COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES: Council member Thomas Gary motioned to approve the June 5th, 2023, Council Meeting Minutes; Councilman Josh Burkhalter seconded. All were in favor. Minutes approved.
MAY & JUNE 2023 FINANCIALS: Council member Josh Burkhalter motioned to approve the May & June 2023 Financial reports; Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded. All were in favor. Financials approved.
- Jackson County CLCP (Certified Literate Community Program) Contract for Services. Council member Thomas Gary asked if this contract has to be approved each year, and City Attorney Jody Campbell replied that it has to be approved every year since it is considered a budget item, and year to year city council makes a decision to give them this amount of money. Councilmember Lamar Watkins motioned to approve the contribution of $926.50 ($0.50 per 1,853 population) to the Jackson County Certified Literate Community Program. Council member Thomas Gary seconded. All were in favor. Motion approved.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: N/A
CITIZENS REQUESTING TO SPEAK: Larry and Nancy Farmer from 765 Cabin Creek Dr approached Mayor and Council about a Conditional Use application he has filed with the City of Nicholson.
LIBRARIANS REPORT: Rhonda O’Keeffe, Library Manager
–Programs have gone well in June. Both paid programming and our in-house programming crafts.
-The library will have an in-house craft this Friday. The Summer Reading program ending day will be Thursday, July 13th, with our annual water party. Nicholson Library is adding foam this year!
-Children are picking up prizes. They are excited about the prizes.
-Nicholson Library is still getting requests for passport appointments.
– It has been a busy and hectic June.
-Jackson County Sheriff Department – Active Shooting training will be held at Benton facilities on June 21st, 2023
MAYORS REPORT:
-Mayor Webster thanked everyone involved with the Independence Day Celebration event in Nicholson last Saturday, July 1st, 2023.
-Mayor asked to bring water guns to the Nicholson Water War event on July 29th from 3 pm to 5 pm.
-Next Work Session is Thursday, July 27th, at 6:30 pm.
-Next Council Meeting is Monday, August 7th, at 6:30 pm.
CONTINUING NEW BUSINESS:
- At 6:49 pm, Council member Thomas Gary made a motion to go into an Executive Session, Councilman Josh Burkhalter seconded, and all were in favor. Motion approved.
At 7:12 pm, council member Thomas Gary motioned to come out of the Executive Session; Councilman Josh Burkhalter seconded, and all favored. Motion approved.
City Attorney Jody Campbell added that the Mayor and City Council of the City of Nicholson adjourned into Executive Session to discuss matters exempt from the Open Meetings Act specifically to discuss potential or pending claims or litigation made to the city. No votes were taken during the Executive session, and a copy of the Affidavit Resolution will be included with the minutes.
ADJOURNMENT:
- Councilman Josh Burkhalter motioned to adjourn the July 3rd, 2023 Council Meeting; Councilman Thomas Gary seconded, and all were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 7:13 pm.-
Announcements:
*Next Work Session – July 27th, 2023 at 6:30pm
*Next Council Meeting – August 7th, 2023 at 6:30pm
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________Approved by City Clerk for website