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City Council Holds Tuesday Meeting

By Sue Curry Jones

The Ava Board of Aldermen met on Tuesday this week and approved the renewal of a lease agreement with the Douglas County Fair Board. The agreement lets the fair board rent the fairground site on the west side of town for one year, at an annual rate of $150. As part of the lease agreement the fair board must provide proof of insurance.

Aldermen David Norman and Keith Jones offered motions to adopt the lease renewal agreement, and council voted 4-0 in approval. The renewal runs from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015.

Councilmen also reappointed two candidates to serve the Ava Housing Authority. Accepting the mayor’s recommendations, council voted to reinstate Jim Thurman and Dale Duckworth to the governing board.

Aldermen David Norman and Burrely Loftin proposed the motions to accept, and the vote carried 4-0.

The Municipal Court Docket for April 18 was approved as presented, with motions from aldermen Keith Jones and Bill Long.

During closed, council approved a list of proposed employees to serve as staff and lifeguards at the City Water Park for the ensuing summer season.

In other business, council briefly discussed options for resolving a provisional misunderstanding that has developed over the years with several property owners that live on Girdner Road, just outside the city limits. According to city officials, in 2003, three of six property owners at the location paid for materials to install water lines down the road. On Tuesday, council appeared to reach a consensus that since only three of the homeowners actually paid for the line materials, a partial refund would be appropriate. Councilman Burrely Loftin noted that the homeowners who paid for the line should only be charged a tapping fee for the access, and cost differences should be refunded.

However, prior to making a final decision, the aldermen asked for a better understanding of contiguous, and how the word is being used as a legal term in conjunction with the Girdner Road properties and issue. Councilmen also requested input from the city attorney, as they hope to resolve the issue during the next meeting.

In response to complaints made last summer, a homeowner appeared be­fore council to offer explanations about taller than normal vegetation in the homeowner’s front yard. The resident noted the vegetation is a planned project, and the plants are culti­vated for food or other uses, such as natural remedies. During the discussion, Councilman Keith Jones asked the homeowner to clarify her timeline and objectives for nurturing and harvesting the orchard grass and red clover; however, a timeline was not given. Mayor Eddie Maggard thanked the property owner for attending the meeting and updating council about the yard. No other considerations were forthcoming.

Councilmen attending were Keith Jones, Burrely Loftin, Bill Long and David Norman.

City officials and aldermen will reconvene Tuesday May 27, at City Hall.  The meeting starts at 5 p.m.