After an executive session, Marion City Council members appointed Patricia Speth as Municipal Judge. The majority vote came from council members Betsy Atkinson, Ronald Atkinson and Ralph Atkinson, along with Mayor Rodney Berry’s tie-breaking vote. Council members Poiette-McGill Bromell, Michael Baker and Bobby Davis voted in favor of Levone Graves.
Five candidates were interviewed for the position that was vacant after former city judge Williams H. Seals was named by legislators as a U.S. District Court judge. At a previous meeting, attorney Kenneth Davis said a council of seven members was required to have a four-vote majority in the election.
Council approved second reading of an ordinance to authorize the issuance of a general obligation bond to borrow $50,000 for the new fire substation along Sen. Gasque Road. Fire Chief Alan Ammons said construction of the facility could begin some time after October.
“With the new substation, it would secure the city’s Class 4 ISO rating, saving homeowners money on insurance,” he said. Council also approved a public grievance procedure to comply with federal grant requirements.
City Administrator Bob Anderson reported to council the importance of officially closing the city landfill sixth months after the May 23. Anderson added that dirt was needed to cover the 40-acre site, adding that two city workers would be needed to work on the process.
In other business, Council member Bobby Davis called for an amendment to a section of an ordinance authorizing the use of fireworks. “For Christmas, the city always has fireworks and I think everybody enjoys doing that and would never ask council to do anything to ban people from doing the same,” he said.
The Rev. Marvin Hemingway discussed his plans for the annual Youth Day event in the city on Oct 17. Hemingway said a financial request was submitted for consideration to help fund the event.
Anderson said it would take sometime to identify where funds could be found within the budget.
“I think that we would be in order to approve,” Davis said, adding the funding could from the city’s hospitality tax budget. Council voted to approve the use of the C.D. Joyner auditorium free of charge for the Youth Day activities.
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