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Springfield board approves utility, fee and contract measures; city manager introduces new water director
Summary
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously approved a package of ordinances and resolutions on March 17, including utility policy changes, fee adjustments at the Legacy Golf Course, mattress collection removal from bulky-waste pickup, a five-year camera contract with Axon (first $400,000 funded by a VCIF grant), and formation steps for an electric authority; City Manager Ryan Martin introduced Brian Price as the new water and wastewater director.
At its March 17 meeting, the Springfield Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved a slate of ordinances, resolutions and administrative actions and heard a city manager report introducing the new water and wastewater director.
On second and final reading the board approved amendments to the Department of Utilities practice policies and a code change concerning noncompliant buildings; those motions passed 6-0. The council also approved a rezoning at 411 Memorial Boulevard (from Commercial Services to Core Commercial) and an ordinance updating the time frame for water tap installation, each by unanimous vote.
Council approved Ordinance 26-05 (amending Title 11 on noncompliant buildings), Ordinance 26-06 (rezoning at 411 Memorial Boulevard), Ordinance 26-07 (conditions of service manual for water taps), and other items by 6-0 votes. A proposed new fee schedule for the Legacy Golf Course (rescinding Ordinance 25-02 and establishing new fees) also passed after staff noted the proposed increases were to keep up with operational costs.
The board adopted Resolution 26-04 to support a state parks and recreation matching grant and took a separate step to begin forming the Springfield Electric Authority under the Municipal Energy Authority Act; City Attorney Christie Marti outlined that staff will return with details on membership and terms and suggested scheduling a work session to resolve those items.
The council approved a five-year agreement with Axon Incorporated for police body-worn and dash cameras. City staff said the contract is a five-year deal and that "the first $400,000 of the agreement are going to be paid out of the VCIF grant," with remaining costs spread over years two through five.
During the administrative report, City Manager Ryan Martin introduced Brian Price as the city's new water and wastewater director, described him as a professional engineer with utilities experience in Portland, and said Price started a few weeks earlier. Martin also reported the city's compliance agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority is now satisfied and a local rate adjustment will be effective April 1. He described a recent billing/mail delay — an entire billing cycle was lost in the mail — and said the city waived late fees for affected customers and is encouraging customers to sign up for e-billing.
Other administrative approvals included an interlocal agreement with the Springfield Industrial Development Board for a new fire station (design work and funding stages were described), approval of a parks master plan addendum, vehicle procurement for the police department, and small adjustments to electric and gas rates; motions on those items carried unanimously.
The meeting ended after routine announcements and no further votes on the previously failed rezoning request.
