Blue Ridge City Council appointed applicants to the city’s Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals during a special called meeting Tuesday, October 20.
Councilman Nathan Fitts appointed Mary Fogel to the Zoning Board of Appeals and Angie Arp to the Planning Commission.
Although council members were not sure if a vote was necessary, Fitts suggested they do so “just to be safe.”
In a vote for Fogel, she received unanimous votes. Council members Mike Panter and Robbie Cornelius opposed Arp for the Planning Commission, but the motion passed 3-2.
Panter appointed Dana Hunt to the Planning Commission. Hunt’s vote was unanimous.
All full-time city employees received a dollar raise. This includes those at the police department who received a raise when no other employees did.
A cost-of-living and performance evaluations will be taken each year, Panter said, and will be used in considering wages in the future.
Although Fitts voted in favor, he said, “I just would like to add some feedback though. I’ve had a lot of residents to say stuff to me, and I’m all about taking care of the employees, but... I have had so many people say to me... ‘what are y’all doing for us, the residents?’ And I think we all need to be very conscious and aware of that because what are we doing for our residents?”
Bids are to be taken to place a small dumpster along the railroad tracks on Roberts Way along with a requirement that all restaurants in the Central Business District have trash picked up a minimum of five days a week.
At $8,208 per year, the city voted to provide short-term disability benefits for all full-time employees.
The pension plan was amended to allow retired city workers to come back and work for the city part time under contract labor.
An analysis for $1,175 is to be done to make the change.
The GMEBS Life and Health Program Employer Declaration was approved, which allows employees to choose from three different insurance plans.
The upgrade of 8-inch lines to 10 inch was approved for up to $30,000 on the Trackside Lane sewer rehab project.
Expanding the downtown restrooms, potentially making Summit Street a one-way street, and reducing the speed limit in front of the courthouse were all discussed.
The city plans to send a letter to Fannin County Co-Op advising them to move a transfer truck that’s obstructing Davis Street.
A salt spreader for $11,458 was approved.
Johnson Paving will be backfilling the retaining walls on Chastain and Mountain Streets for $10,200.
The company will also be paving and replacing sidewalks on Mountain Street, which will cost the city $76,928.
Pro-Stripe will be striping Orvin Lance Connector, Lance Drive, Collins Avenue, Industrial Boulevard, Mountain Street and Ada Street for $18,005.
A Carter & Sloope invoice for work at the water and sewer plant was approved in the amount of $1,955.05.
After executive session, the council voted to move Assistant City Clerk Christina Mortimer to full time, and two park employees were each granted a $1.50 raise.
Fitts was not present for executive session.