A lively discussion broke out at the Noel City Council meeting Tuesday night regarding people living in businesses on Main Street.
City Clerk Tina DePriest said a couple of concerned citizens came in to City Hall worried about what would happen if there was a fire in one of the buildings. This led the city to hand out ordinances to each business in town.
"People are breaking the law by living in these businesses," Mayor John Lafley said. "The ordinance states they have to have two parking spots per person for a boarding house. Also, they can't use public parking. It's not that we're going to kick them out -- it's that they're breaking the law by doing this."
He went on to say that the owners of the buildings or a manager can live there legally.
City Marshal Paul Gardner said a Somali man asked for help to get out of one of the buildings because of the squalid living conditions.
Members of the public shared their opinions of the matter and what should be done to correct the situation.
Alderman William Rose suggested getting Tyson Foods involved, because most of the residents of the buildings are workers for the plant in town.
A discussion arose about how the Fire Department used to perform fire inspections of businesses in town, but the council did away with them at some time in the past. The council voted Tuesday night to reinstate fire inspections.
Also Tuesday night, Judge Robert Barth discussed the possibility of constructing a judge's chambers in City Hall. He estimated the materials would cost $400 or less and said he would do the labor himself. He said the judge's chambers are needed for several reasons, including the fact that he has no place to talk to people in private about confidential matters.
"We've almost got a professional court, and this is the last stage to have it," he said.
Members of the council said they would talk with the treasurer to see if they could work out the amount in the budget.
Wastewater Superintendent Keith Harris told the council the mayor accepted a bid for $39,900 on a new truck for the department. He also reported the old truck had been given to the Street Department, as discussed at the last meeting.
Gardner told the council that Lanagan offered a police car on perpetual loan to the city, which Noel can use as a backup car, he said. The council voted to accept the loan pending the mayor's written approval.
Fire Chief Brandon Barrett told the council he had an ambulance due for a fuel injector replacement. He had budgeted $2,500 for the repair. Lafley told him to proceed.
Rose told the council that two miles of highway, starting in front of the bluffs at Main Street, are available to adopt in memory of Gerald Williams. The City Council would have to clean the adopted portion of highway four times per year, he said. The council wants to honor Williams' memory because of all he did for the city, Rose said.
In other business, the council welcomed Evelyn White as its newest member, replacing Tammy White.
General News on 01/12/2017