Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Athens council approves updated city code, stormwater changes and a multi-item consent agenda
Summary
The council adopted a new city code and amended its stormwater ordinance and approved a consent agenda including capital purchases and grant applications after staff explained procurement methods and state professional-services rules.
The Athens City Council adopted a new city code (Ordinance No. 1137) and approved an amendment to the stormwater ordinance (Ordinance No. 1138) on second reading, and it approved a multi-item consent agenda that included capital purchases, professional services agreements and several resolutions.
At the start of the consent discussion, City Manager Dowling and staff described procurement approaches used for three notable consent items: the city will "piggyback" a competitive Sourcewell cooperative contract to buy a replacement leaf-vacuum machine for $146,000; the city is contracting with Kimberly Horn and Associates for a traffic-signal retiming plan ($34,600) and preliminary design work for historic downtown street improvements ($127,800). Dowling cited Tennessee Code Annotated a7 12-4-107 (as presented to council) to explain that previously selected professional firms may be continued without a separate competitive procurement when state law and local procedures allow continuation of a satisfactory professional relationship.
What passed in the consent agenda (vote recorded in roll call): - Purchase of replacement leaf vacuum machine (Jet Vac Equipment via Sourcewell) for $146,000 and declaring existing equipment surplus. - Service agreement with Kimberly Horn and Associates, Inc. for traffic signal retiming plan for $34,600. - Contract/quote to Kimberly Horn and Associates for preliminary design, environmental clearances and data collection for downtown street improvements at five Green Street intersections for $127,800. - Memorandum of Agreement with McMinn Regional Humane Society. - Resolution 2025-05 authorizing a grant application to the Tennessee Highway Safety Office. - Resolution 2025-06 authorizing application for a 2025 Community Development Block Grant for traffic and pedestrian safety improvements and Knight Park improvements. - Resolution 2025-07 adopting the City of Athens safety action plan and safety targets. - Resolution 2025-08 designating April as Fair Housing Month. - Resolution 2025-09 authorizing application to Tennessee Department of Transportation27s traffic signal modernization program. - Contribution of $650,000 from reserve funds to the pension trust fund.
The council approved the consent agenda by roll call with all members voting in favor.
Second-reading ordinances: The council opened the public hearing for Ordinance No. 1137 (adopting and enacting a new municipal code) and Ordinance No. 1138 (amending Title 14, chapter 5, the stormwater management ordinance). No public speakers addressed either ordinance at the hearing; both ordinances then passed on second reading by roll-call vote.
Council comments and public questions: Resident Glenn Whiting asked at the meeting whether the professional-services and equipment purchases had been competitively bid. City Manager Dowling explained the Sourcewell cooperative procurement mechanism and the applicable state law allowing continuation of previously selected professional services, and told the council that the city had followed applicable local ordinances and state law.
Speakers and roles referenced here spoke during the consent and ordinance items.
