Monroe City Council affirms emergency declaration after December flooding; approves temporary paid‑leave rule and waives permit fees

The Monroe City Council voted unanimously to confirm Mayor Jeffrey Thomas’ declaration of emergency stemming from the Dec. 11, 2025 flooding event and approved emergency measures intended to ease recovery for residents and municipal employees.

Administrator Deborah Knight read supplemental language the council added to Resolution "0 2 8 20 25," directing that "for the duration of this declared emergency arising from the December 2025 flooding event beginning on 12/11/2025, City of Monroe employees who are directly impacted by flooding, evacuation orders, road closures, or other disaster‑related conditions may utilize accrued paid sick leave in lieu of vacation leave when they are unable to report to work or perform their normal duties as a result of the emergency." Knight stressed the authorization is temporary, limited to absences reasonably related to the emergency, may require reasonable documentation consistent with city policy, and is not intended to create a permanent change to city leave policies.

Following the reading, Councilmember Hanford moved — and Councilmember Gamble seconded — a motion to approve the resolution with the additional language; the council adopted it by voice vote (motion passes six‑zero). The transcript records the final tally as "six‑zero," and the minutes identify that Councilmember Walker's absence was excused.

The council also added a new business item, voted to waive the council rules requiring two readings for ordinances, then approved an emergency ordinance (moved by Councilmember Gamble, seconded by Councilmember Hanford) that temporarily waives building permit fees for repair and replacement of structures damaged by the December 2025 flooding event. The ordinance was described in the motion as declaring an emergency, providing for severability and establishing an effective date and an automatic expiration date; the transcript records a 6‑0 vote to adopt the measure. The motion language in the record used the phrasing "ordinance 0 twotwenty 25," and the record does not specify the exact expiration date within the spoken motion.

City staff and councilmembers repeatedly thanked Emergency Operations Center staff, public safety personnel and public‑works crews for their response; Administrator Knight said staff would return with additional updates at an upcoming meeting. The actions now on the books provide temporary emergency leave flexibility for affected employees and reduce up‑front permitting costs for property owners repairing flood damage, subject to the ordinance's language and its stated automatic expiration.

Next steps: staff will implement the temporary leave directive and the fee waiver consistent with the adopted resolution and ordinance; council and staff will monitor recovery needs and report further details at an upcoming meeting.