Washington City Council meets

WASHINGTON – The Washington City Council met on 12-16, before the annual Christmas Dinner.  The previous meeting’s minutes were reviewed and approved.  There was a question from Joshua Williams about why sales tax was down.  Catherine Rowe answered that the amount the state gives the city varies from year to year.  Joshua Williams made a motion to approve the financials, with Mandy Trevillion giving a 2nd to that motion.

Mayor Paul Henley said that the animal control department in Nashville is back in service.  Catherine Rowe said that she had talked to the mayor of Nashville and they worked out a deal where the City of Washington will pay $250/month for animal pickup.  There was a water leak on Water St.  Mike Rogers says he is planning on fixing it this week.  Mike Rogers, the city’s water manager, recommended that they move a water meter onto Conway St. Barwick’s Electric sent the city an apology letter for cutting Washington St.  The mayor said that he thought the state told Barwick’s Electric to cut the road, as they assumed that the road belonged to the state.  

The City of Washington received a contract from Mike Rogers.  At the last meeting, Mike Rogers wasn’t there.  The contract that was received increases the price that the city would pay Mr. Rogers, which is $1,000.    Mr. Rogers states that the city needs a licensed plumber and there isn’t any licensed plumber near Washington.  He states that when he trains new plumbers, they end up leaving.  Mayor Henley said that they weren’t going to sign the contract right now.  

Jon Barry, the Washington Fire Chief, gave his report.  He said that there were two calls, both of them being alarm malfunctions.  The valves in the fire truck have been fixed.  The recent fundraiser for the fire department raised $1124 gross.  Jon Barry said that there were a lot of people who came.  Mayor Henley asked Mr. Barry what the fire department needed and Mr. Barry said they needed an extractor, which cleans the turnouts after a fire.  The Hope Department has an extractor, but most Washington firemen don’t use it.  Billy Nations suggested using a leased extractor.  Mr. Barry said he would look into it.

The city marshal was not present, and Mayor Henley said he didn’t know of anything.  Dr. Daniel Ford read an ordinance for the city about vicious dogs.  Hempstead County has a dog ordinance and there was some discussion about how the ordinance Washington is proposing would align with Hempstead’s.  It was decided to clean up Washington’s dog ordinance, then bring it back next meeting.  The meeting was then adjourned.