Gallatin City Council waives school facility fees in 6–1 vote; approves routine appropriations and resolutions

The Gallatin City Council on March 18 approved a series of ordinances and resolutions, including a 6–1 vote to waive engineering and planning application fees for athletic-facility improvements at Station Camp High School and Gallatin High School.

The vote on Resolution R2503-13, presented by Councilman Carter and seconded by Vice Mayor Hayes, passed 6 to 1 after discussion among council members. Councilman Juhans questioned whether prior fee waivers for airport projects were comparable and said he had called a staff member, noting he had received a document about surety waivers. “Like I said before, I came once from the body asking the same thing for the airport, and I got I got told we don't do that. That's done by Sumner County School, and I've been following that,” Councilman Juhans said. The motion passed 6–1; the record does not identify individual roll-call votes by name.

Other items on the agenda were handled largely without debate. On second reading the council approved Ordinance 2502-11, appropriating $50,000 from the stormwater unassigned fund balance for stormwater drainage materials. The council also approved Ordinance 02503-13, appropriating $25,770 from the drug fund unassigned fund balance, and held first reading on Ordinance 02503-14 to appropriate funds for completion of the Ball State Gap Trail Phase 1B multi-use path; those measures drew routine approvals.

The council approved several resolutions by unanimous vote: R2503-8 donating surplus gear washes to the Southeast Gallatin and Oak Grove volunteer fire departments; R2503-9 revising the city's adopted utility easement acquisition procedure; R2503-10 amending the City of Gallatin personnel rules and regulations (rule 17, section 17.22); R2503-11 updating the title and job description from MA crew leader to general labor crew leader in the public works department; R2503-12 authorizing the Gallatin Police Department to apply for the THSO safety grant; R2503-14 authorizing donation of a vehicle to Stewart County Fire Rescue; and R2503-15 appointing a representative to the retirement plan committee. Motions and seconds were recorded for each item; vote tallies for those resolutions were unanimous as noted in the meeting record.

Council members also approved a waiver of engineering-division and planning-department application and permitting fees related to athletic-facility improvements at Station Camp High School and Gallatin High School (Resolution R2503-13). Discussion on that item included questions about prior waivers and whether airport-related waivers were comparable; a staff document about a surety waiver was referenced but council members noted differences in scope.

In other business, the mayor announced upcoming community events and a brief executive session scheduled at the end of the agenda. During nonagenda public recognition, Chris Gregory introduced himself to the council and audience as the new editor of the Gallatin News and said he looked forward to working with local leaders. “I'm the new editor of the Gallatin News, and I just wanted to attend and introduce myself to everybody,” Gregory said.

After completing the regular agenda and returning from executive session, the council adjourned at approximately 6:20 p.m.