Lebanon City Council approves series of ordinances; municipal court changes given first reading

LEBANON — The Lebanon City Council approved several ordinances at its Nov. 12 meeting, adopting measures that include rezoning a property on Canole Street, renewing a billboard lease, contracting maintenance at the wastewater plant, replacing hail-damaged roofs on city buildings and paving at Ashley Park. The council also gave a first reading to municipal-court code changes suggested by the Office of State Courts Administrator, accepted a $1,550 check for FFA programming tied to airport hay rentals and asked staff to bring a report from the Civic Center operator to a future meeting.

The actions advance routine capital and contract work already budgeted or insured, and move housekeeping code changes toward a formal second reading. Council members voted unanimously on the final ordinances during roll calls called for second readings.

Votes at a glance

- Council Bill 67-81 (rezoning of 711 Canole Street from RS-2 residential to CL limited commercial): Motion to approve passed on second reading; ordinance 7,025 enacted. Mover: Councilmember Jordan. Seconder: Atkins. Vote tally: 8 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain. The property was described as a former rural fire station currently used as an activity space; rezoning was presented as enabling continued nonresidential use.

- Council Bill 67-82 (renewal contract with Lamar for billboard advertising on Route 66): Motion to approve passed; ordinance 7,026 enacted. Mover and seconder noted on the record at first and second readings. Vote tally: 8 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain. City staff said the lease extends city billboard advertising; one council roll-call exchange recorded a single dissent during an earlier vote call but the final second-reading tally was unanimous.

- Council Bill 67-83 (sandblasting and painting three clarifiers at the wastewater treatment plant): Motion to approve passed; ordinance (number reported on the record) enacted. Staff said the work had not been done in about 15 years and that failing paint and algae buildup were interfering with treatment; the low bidder was Clean Infusion LLC at about $150,000. Vote tally on second reading: 8 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain.

- Council Bill 67-84 (replacement of seven hail-damaged roofs): Motion to approve passed; ordinance 7,028 enacted. Staff reported three bids were received and Ivy Roofing submitted the lowest compliant bid of $147,550. Council confirmed the loss is covered by insurance. Vote tally on second reading: 8 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain.

- Council Bill 67-85 (asphalt paving for Ashley Park entrance and front parking lot): Motion to approve passed; ordinance 7,029 enacted. Project presentation said the work rearranges the driveway and repaves the front lot. Vote tally on second reading: 8 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain.

- Council Bill 67-86 (renewal of a "pillar partner" membership with the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce): Motion to approve passed; ordinance 7,030 enacted. The city will renew a $25,000 pillar membership to support the Chamber’s work in economic development and business retention. Vote tally on second reading: 8 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain.

Municipal court code changes advanced

Council gave a first reading to Council Bill 67-87, which updates the city code (Chapter 12 — Court) to match procedures followed by the municipal court after an audit by the Office of State Courts Administrator (OSCA). Staff said the court was following state law but that the city code required housekeeping changes. Examples presented include revised timelines for documentation (changing a 10-day requirement to 15 days), clarifications for handling an absent municipal judge and adjustments to how certain fees (such as those tied to peace-officer training) are collected and categorized. The first reading passed; the ordinance will return for a second reading at the next council meeting.

Presentation and requests

City staff said a $1,550 payment tied to an airport hay-agreement will be presented to the local FFA chapter; staff reported two hay cuts this year and said the program will be attempted again next season.

Councilmember Muchler asked staff to invite the person in charge of the Civic Center to report to the council, saying the facility is one of the city’s largest assets and that the council has not received a revenue or operations briefing in the time he has served. Mayor Carr acknowledged the request and said staff would arrange the presentation.

Logistics and calendar notes

Staff confirmed the next council meeting will be Monday, Dec. 9, which will be the city’s final meeting of the calendar year. The mayor noted upcoming community events: the mayor’s Christmas tree lighting on Nov. 21 (at the market, about 6:30 p.m.) and the Lebanon Christmas parade on Nov. 23 (starting at about 11 a.m., route down Jefferson and Elm).

Ending

The meeting opened with an invocation from Don Anderson, the city’s emergency services chaplain, and concluded after routine staff and council comments. Several agenda items were shortened by unanimous roll-call votes that adopted ordinances on second reading; other items (notably the court code update) will return for final action at the council’s next meeting.