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Byron council adopts stormwater ordinance, updates fees and job description; first reading set for fire protection fees
Summary
At its Oct. 14 meeting, the City of Byron council unanimously adopted a stormwater ordinance and a revised Building/Planning fee schedule tied to House Bill 461, approved a new Accounts Payable Controller job description, heard a resident question about goat ownership, and held first reading on fire protection fees.
Mayor Michael Chidester led the City of Byron council meeting on Oct. 14, where the council unanimously adopted a stormwater ordinance, approved an updated schedule of building and planning fees tied to state law, and approved a new job description for an accounts payable controller.
The meeting opened at 6:00 p.m. in the council chambers with an invocation by Council Member James Richardson. Mayor Michael Chidester amended the agenda to move a previously tabled item to a second reading for adoption, remove a landscape RFP, and add a first reading of Ordinance No. 2024-10 concerning fire protection fees.
Council members voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance No. 2024-9, revising stormwater provisions in the City Code. Rusty Adams moved for adoption and Chris Hodges seconded. The ordinance revises Chapter 40 (Utilities) and Chapter 16 (Environment) of the City of Byron code, as described in the ordinance text presented at the meeting.
The council also approved a resolution creating a new City job description for an Accounts Payable Controller. Chris Hodges moved the resolution; Michael Chumbley seconded, and the measure carried without recorded opposition. Council approved another resolution to amend the Building, Planning & Zoning Department fee schedule "in accordance with House Bill 461," effective Oct. 15, 2024; Alan Dorsey moved and James Richardson seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The resolution states that where a fee is set by ordinance, the ordinance fee controls over the schedule.
During the public-comment period, resident Bridgette Francis of 307 New Circle Drive asked whether goats would be permitted under the city’s livestock ordinance and said she was close to collecting required signatures. She described the ordinance as requiring signatures of all homeowners within a "500-mile radius" of her property. Chief Wesley Cannon said he would stop by after 4:00 p.m. the next day to review the signatures and advise on compliance. The distance cited by the speaker appears unusually large and may reflect a misstatement; council did not correct it on the record.
Mayor Chidester also recognized local Scouts: he congratulated Victoria Byrd for building a flag box as an Eagle Project, Avelyn Flyer for building picnic tables for Jailhouse Alley Park, and read a letter congratulating Rachel Whittington of Troop 919 for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.
The council held the first reading of Ordinance No. 2024-10 regarding fire protection fees as added to the agenda; no final action or adoption was recorded at the meeting. The session adjourned at 6:22 p.m. on a motion by Michael Chumbley, seconded by Chris Hodges.
Votes at a glance: Ordinance No. 2024-9 (stormwater) — adopted (motion: Rusty Adams; second: Chris Hodges; unanimous). Resolution approving Accounts Payable Controller job description — adopted (motion: Chris Hodges; second: Michael Chumbley; unanimous). Resolution adopting Building/Planning fee schedule (effective Oct. 15, 2024) — adopted (motion: Alan Dorsey; second: James Richardson; unanimous). Ordinance No. 2024-10 (fire protection fees) — first reading only; no adoption recorded.
