PRODUCTIVE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
June 11 2020

  June 11th at 5:30 pm, Clay Town Council (minus council persons Jerry Stover and Denise Holcomb) dealt with sanitation updates, parking regulations, and more.
   Money wise.... The town account closed with $42 thousand, water account with $73 thousand, and sanitation $52 thousand last month. A few thousand down, but with schools being closed, there is less water usage than usual this time of the year.
   Dunn was in for an update on the sanitation project. There is around $8 thousand left over from the project emergency funds, and they will be sitting down soon to go over some other immediate actions that could take place. They expect construction to begin in 2021 while all the planning and mapping happens during the winter. Congruently, they will be using smoke machines to find all the piping with holes. $4.1 million will be going into rehabbing the main station.
   The water storage tanks are ready to begin, but are now waiting for deals with the property owners associated.
   The council voted to purchase all new American Flags to be hung up in place of all the old, torn flags. They will be a little smaller to keep them from getting ruined from wrapping around the poles, and tractor trailers driving by. Some may be getting new mounts.
  Council person  Jack Brown, asked about the broken parking meters that need taken down. He wants the meters removed, but the post to remain in place to keep drivers from parking up on the sidewalks breaking them down. The entire council agreed, and they will put reflective tape around the tops for visibility.
  
Shay Edgar

   With new businesses opening up in town, much change will be occurring in town. Shay Edgar opened up a new boutique in town across from the Clay County Bank. Ms Edgar came to the public meeting  and expressed concerns about her unloading her vehicle to stock her shop. There are vehicles always parked along the street, which has forced her to carry everything across the street, even her two little ones. It’s a safety and time concern. She requested some kind of parking in front of the shop she could use for unloading, then allow customers to park there after she’s unloaded.
   A visitor of the room suggested time certain time constraints for her to unload her inventory. After discussion, the council will be working with her, and others about parking signs specifically for the businesses that reach out about timed parking slots. They will be looking into the legalities of towing at owners expenses. No decision was locked in stone but look for new signs indicating 30 min or less parking in fron of store fronts.
   Mayor Josh Shamblin apologized to the council for making hasty decisions lately with the senior parade, and the cruise in this weekend. He stated it would not be an occurring problem where people just comes to him, and he allows whatever to happen. The council only wants to be notified at least instead of finding out on social media about happenings in town. They also set into motion that anytime anyone wants to do anything in town that could impede traffic (ie parades, cruise ins, etc) that the individuals come before council.
   After the auditors were at town hall for a few months, we finally have an update. The council had underestimated revenue, and some items were readjusted. Without any say at all, they all approved. The only discussion was the estimates for the street lights in town being paid for. Black Diamond seems to have no record at all to which street lights are turned off or burnt out for proper estimates.
   In the past, others have requested from the council to dump their waste into the sanitation plant, and all have been denied. Randy Holcomb had requested this time around, and the answer was no different. However, it was not on the agenda as it was not requested in time, but may show up next month for a proper vote.
    The sanitation building will be ordering a new storage unit to store replacement parts and other items. In the future, the water plant will be receiving one as well so that items are not getting lost within rubble and mixed in with each other.
Next council meeting will be held on July 7, 2020 at 5:30 pm. Want to see first hand what happens in your town, attend a meeting.
  
  


Now a full three months into the pandemic, for the first time in Clayberry, nearly all the elected officials were wearing protective face masks. No other agency is doing so. Note: Town Hall remains closed to the public at this time.
JM