Board approves rezoning, budget amendment, property disposals and multiple contracts in unanimous votes

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen met Jan. 21 and approved a series of ordinances, resolutions, rate adjustments and contracts, most by unanimous votes.

The board passed Ordinance 24-21 rezoning property at 327 North Main from R10 (medium-density residential) to CC (Core Commercial) following a public hearing in which Wesley Reed, representing property owner Harvey Combs, said the parcel is “the only residential house in that whole block” and that rezoning would make the site consistent with surrounding core commercial uses. The ordinance passed on second and final reading, motion recorded as passing 7 to 0.

The board approved Ordinance 24-22, a fiscal-year 2025 budget amendment that included a $260,000 amendment to address golf course irrigation and pond repairs, after the board approved a motion to amend the ordinance. The amended ordinance passed 7 to 0.

Other formal actions approved included: - Ordinance 25-1 (first reading): abandonment of the first 300 feet of a tax-map-designated right of way between Tom Austin Highway (State Route 65) and South Main; the request came from MBG Property Management and is intended to accommodate development of an auto dealership. Motion passed 7 to 0. - Resolution 25-1: declaring certain city property surplus and authorizing disposal. Motion passed 7 to 0. - Resolution 25-2: authorizing the city’s participation in a cybersecurity matching grant program offered by Public Entity Partners to support multi-factor authentication. Staff described the grant as assisting the city’s move to multi-factor authentication; the resolution passed 7 to 0. - Adjustments to Springfield Electric Department rates tied to a Tennessee Valley Authority wholesale fuel-cost change; motion passed 7 to 0. - Adjustment to monthly gas rates for the Springfield Gas Department; motion passed 7 to 0. - Engineering services agreements for the Electric Department with Allen and Host Hall Incorporated (Nashville) and with Fisher and Arnold Incorporated (Memphis). Both agreements were approved 7 to 0. - Change order No. 2 to the Moss Welding contract for the Adams Gas Main Extension Projects, ratifying additional costs from field changes and a missed quantity in the bid package; the board voted to approve the change order (transcript records the tally as "Motion passes 7 to 6"). - Consent agenda items were approved as a block following a motion by Vice Mayor Harris and a second by Alderman Hubbard.

Several items recorded staff explanation but no further public comment. The city manager used the administrative report to remind the board of a Feb. 4 strategic planning session and to note upcoming development activity (see separate article on Vesper Village below).