Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Administration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bluff City board hires outside counsel, approves brush-collection ordinance first reading and adopts financial report
Summary
At its regular meeting, the Bluff City Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously approved hiring outside counsel for Gardner v. Bluff City, passed the first reading of an update to the municipal brush-collection fee, approved the city's financial report and approved minutes for several meetings.
The Bluff City Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to hire outside counsel to defend the city in Gardner v. Bluff City, passed the first reading of Ordinance 2025-011 amending residential brush-collection rules and approved the city's financial report.
Town Attorney Fry opened an executive-session discussion about the lawsuit, and during regular session recommended retention of outside counsel: "I would recommend the motion being ordered to hire Aaron McKee and Associates to defend Gardner versus Bluffsy," Fry said on the record. A motion to retain what the minutes record as "Karen McPeek and Associates" to represent the city was made and approved by voice vote.
The board also took the first reading of Ordinance 2025-011, which amends section 17-113 of the Bluff City Municipal Code to change residential brush-collection rules and fees. The ordinance increases the per-load charge from $7.50 (the figure cited as dating to 2002) to $20 and adds standards for length and separation of brush. Alderman John Johnson moved the ordinance's first reading; the motion passed and a second reading will follow as required.
The board approved the August 2025 financial report. Sharon, the finance administrator, reported fund balances including the general fund (3,896), sanitation (15,896), special police fund (6,875), debt service fund (112,382), sinking fund (3,094), and water/sewer fund (847,600) and reported a total fund balance of 3,776,469. Vice Mayor Adams moved approval of the report; Alderwoman Payne seconded and the motion passed by voice vote.
The board also moved to approve a group of meeting minutes that had been circulated with corrections; Alderman Malone made the motion and Vice Mayor Adams seconded. The minutes were approved as a group.
Why it matters: The hiring of outside counsel formalizes the city's legal defense posture in a pending lawsuit recorded in the meeting. The brush-collection ordinance change affects residential service costs and what the city's public works crews will pick up; it will return for a second reading before it becomes law. The financial report provides the latest snapshot of municipal fund balances.
Board action details
- Hiring outside counsel for Gardner v. Bluff City: Motion recorded and approved by voice vote; the transcript records Town Attorney Fry recommending retention and an approving motion made by Alderwoman Payne (second recorded; transcript unclear about the full roll-call). The meeting transcript does not provide a full roll-call tally for the motion; vote recorded as voice approval.
- Ordinance 2025-011 (amending Bluff City Municipal Code section 17-113, brush collection): First reading passed on a motion by Alderman John Johnson; second reading to follow.
- Financial report (August 2025 fund balances): Approved on motion by Vice Mayor Adams, second by Alderwoman Payne; recorded as approved by voice vote.
All votes described above were recorded in the meeting transcript as voice votes; the transcript does not provide a complete, line-by-line roll-call tally for each motion.
