Hope City Board

By Mark Keith, 09/20/22 7:51 PM

The Hope City Board met Tuesday for their second meeting of September.  Vice-Mayor Kiffenea Talley presided over the meeting in the absence of Mayor Still.

Vice-Mayor Kiffenea Talley read a proclamation proclaiming Construction Week.

Hope Fire Chief Todd Martin asked the board to increase the fire department “call out”  pay for off-duty and volunteer firemen from $25 to $75.  Board member Reginald Easter moved to approve the increase.  The motion passed.

Assistant City Manager J.R. Wilson made a presentation on updating city employee handbooks.  These included determining the definition of in-laws, travel regulations for city employees, omitting a policy which required the city manager to hand employees their paycheck once a year, adding “Juneteenth” to the list of paid holidays, bringing police up to the level of other employees on sick leave, and changes on Catastrophic leave.  Director Mark Ross says he would like to revisit the inclemate weather policy.  Wilson said he will bring more information about the policy in a further meeting.  The board is expected to decide on the matter in the future.

Parks Director Summer Chambers gave an update on the man, Mr. Pond, who wants to rent the hog barn to house 100 dogs for an event in October.  Chambers said she had visited with Nevada Fair Board President Neal Ridling who said Pond could have come back.  There was discussion if the regular cost, $100 per day, would cover the cost of cleaning the barn.  Also the problem of distemper was discussed.   Board member Trevor Coffee asked Chambers what staff thinks would be reasonable.  She said a $100 refundable deposit (depending on how they clean up after themselves) in addition to the daily charge.  J.R..Wilson said the dogs should have tag denoting it’s distemper shot status.  The city will convey the conditions on what Mr..Pond needs to do to rent the facility.

City Manager Catherine Cook noted the Housing Authority has been unable to meet with the city on their trash bag issue and has since asked if the city board wants to meet with them that they come to a Hope Housing Authority Commission meeting.  The Housing Authority is basing their response on a 1963 agreement between the city and the Housing Authority.   Cook noted since the last meeting they have passed out bags at the city shop to about about 50 or 60 housing authority residents.  Vice-Mayor Kiffenea Talley suggested the board look at the city’s policy at a future meeting and possibly vote on that.

Cook updated the city board on 6th Street and the Street Scape program.

There were no citizens requests and the meeting then adjourned.