THAT DURN CITY COUNTY MEETING...

Citizens had one heck of an experience at the City Council meeting tonight; of course, if you watched Channel 32 tonight, you would have seen the real action took place at the end of the meeting.

Mrs. Crump and Mr. Schmidt were not in attendance. Some City Council meetings for the following year: one will be held March 22, '07; another August 23, '07; and the other one Nov. 1, '07.

There were two abstentions on getting the minutes approved. Zurschmeide and Blevins abstained on the minutes because they were not in attendance and could not verify what "lengthy discussion" meant.

Several members of the public spoke; not sure why my words were quoted -- then the Mayor swung at me when he responded to the News; but hey, did you see him charge that podium and go after Jack Messer? Wheewee. Tim Dietrieck wanted to attack me rather than address the Council, which is what he was there for (I think), and it took a gentle reminder from me to address his comments to the Council and not me.

Tax Abatement's were granted to Woods Bay Lodging, R-98-40; Unanimous
S&H Properties were tabled (R-00-48 & R-99-15)
Retailers Supply Company, Inc. (R-04-33) Unanimous
Carlisle Family, LLC (R-99-17) Unanimous
Fire King International, Inc. (R-99-16) Unanimous
Community First Holdings, Inc. dba/ Tribune (R-97-37) Unanimous
Bill & Gloria Faith, dba Casino Cash & Lucky Liquors (R-00-22) Unanimous
Gordon & Jeffery Huncilman, d/b/a Huncilman Enterprises (R-96-03) Unanimous
ICIM Corporation, d/b/a Planet Telecom (R-01-01) Unanimous
Lukemeier Enterprises, d/b/a Limmco, Inc (R-99-06) Tabled
Lumley Enterprises (R-04-36) Unanimous
Robert & Brenda Sprigler d/b/a Sprigler Door Service (R-00-21) Unanimous
David Stemler d/b/a PC Building Materials, Inc (R-95-19 & R-04-31) Unanimous

R-07-09 Resolution to Use $500,000 from the EDIT for paving was defeated 4-2 until a list can be provided of the streets which are to be paved.

A Resolution to Fund Five New Police Cars out of Riverboat passed; which guarantees in writing they will not be taken out of the City and will keep mileage logs.

The Storm Water Ordinances passed.

The Firefighting Ordinance went back to Committee, presented by Coffey (G-07-03).

An Ordinance for Vacation of a Public Way by Marlin Andres granted.

Ordinance Amending Code of Ordinance of NA, Title XV, Chapter 156 (Docket P-01-07) Charlestown Crossing -- Gary McCartin - Passed.

An Ordinance to Amend 32-80 for Firefighters was also put to Committee, but did receive a 2nd reading, incase Committee can come out with a version which will stand up in Court. (G-06-21).

When I was preparing to leave, I heard some really bad charges leveled against the Fire Chief, Mr. Ron Toran. This would be the reason you saw the Mayor on TV charging the podium and fighting with Mr. Messer. He totally lost his cool. Being very much a believer in "civil decorum" inside those Council Chambers...if I had stayed -- I probably would have gone off on the Mayor for speaking the way he did to the Council...and I have to admit...it would not have been pretty in the long run!

Peace, NA.