Council approves Chevron liquor license, appoints school board member and clears multiple budget amendments

The Jasper City Council approved a retail liquor license for a Jasper Chevron package store planned at 475 Highway 195, appointed Theresa (Teresa) Sherrer to the Jasper City Board of Education District 2, and approved a set of contract actions and budget amendments during the council meeting.

Lieutenant Jeremy of the Jasper Police Department presented the liquor-license application and said the department’s investigation found the applicant had met state law and city ordinance requirements and that “the police department does not have any objections to this application.” The council held the public hearing, received no public comments for or against, and voted in favor of the retail liquor license.

Councilman Gambrell nominated Theresa Sherrer to fill the District 2 seat on the Jasper City Board of Education; no other nominations were made. The council closed nominations, and with a second and unanimous voice vote the council appointed Sherrer.

City procurement and administrative items approved or introduced include: a request from Jessica Cook to rebid a contract for emergency vehicle lighting after the department received no responses; authorization to solicit bids for medical services at the city jail and for on-call concrete services; and the city’s renewal of a one-year contract for grease, oil and lubricants with WH Thomas Oil Company under the same terms and pricing.

Kathy Jamies presented budget amendment number 10, which the council approved. Jamies told the council amendment number 10 provides $214,000 for a BBT truck, $13,000 for library HVAC work, and an additional $140,000 for workers’ compensation premiums. Separately, by unanimous consent the council approved an emergency purchase to acquire a garbage truck at a cost of $424,517.38 using an existing state contract; the mayor asked for immediate consideration and the motion carried unanimously.

Jamies also introduced budget amendment number 13, a first reading/introduction only, to provide $20,500 from the park improvement fund for HVAC work at the natatorium, fencing around that HVAC to deter theft, and two lifts for outdoor pools.

Council members also proceeded with ordinances and administrative items later in the meeting, including adopting an ordinance to declare the City Hall annex property at 18 Fourteenth Avenue as unneeded property as part of a property exchange, and introducing an ordinance to establish use of electronic vote counting devices for upcoming elections (the city intends to use equipment consistent with the county). Those measures were carried or introduced by unanimous votes or unanimous-consent procedures on the agenda.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes for the regular February 4 meeting: approved by voice vote. - Approval of meeting agenda as printed: approved by voice vote. - Retail liquor license (Jasper Chevron, 475 Highway 195): approved; police department reported no objections (Lieutenant Jeremy). - Appointment: Theresa Sherrer to the Jasper City Board of Education, District 2: appointed by unanimous voice vote (mover/name not specified). - Rebid emergency vehicle lighting contract request (no bids received): motion to rebid approved. - Authorization to solicit bids for medical services at the city jail and on-call concrete services: approved. - Renewal: WH Thomas Oil Company (grease, oil & lubricant) for second year under same terms/pricing: approved. - Budget amendment #10 (BBT truck $214,000; library HVAC $13,000; workers’ compensation $140,000): approved. - Emergency purchase (garbage truck) $424,517.38 via state contract: approved by unanimous consent. - Introduction: Budget amendment #13 (park improvements $20,500): introduced (no final action). - Ordinance declaring City Hall annex unneeded property (18 Fourteenth Avenue) and closing related transaction: ordinance approved by unanimous vote. - Introduction: ordinance to use electronic vote counting devices: introduced; no final action taken at this meeting.

Why this matters: The liquor-license approval clears the way for a new retail liquor vendor at a high-traffic Highway 195 intersection. The board appointment fills a local school board vacancy for District 2. The budget amendments and emergency purchase commit significant equipment and capital dollars ($214,000 truck, $424,517.38 garbage truck) that affect city operations and budgets this fiscal year.

What council members said: Lieutenant Jeremy summarized the police department’s review of the liquor-license application: “we have discovered they've met all the requirements of state law and the city ordinances, and the police department does not have any objections to this application.” Jessica Cook said the city received no bids for the emergency vehicle lighting bid and asked permission to rebid the contract. Kathy Jamies summarized budget amendment #10: it “provided the funding for a BBT truck in the amount of 214,000 and it also provided the library funding of 13,000 for an HVAC system compounding. An additional hundred and $40,000 for workman's compensation premiums.”

Next steps: Items introduced (budget amendment #13, election equipment ordinance) will return to the council for further consideration or final vote on a later agenda date. The city will rebid the emergency vehicle lighting contract and solicit bids for the jail medical services and on-call concrete services as authorized.