By Sandra Richards
TCNS correspondent
GROVETON — The Groveton City Council Aug. 26 meeting before a standing room-only crowd saw concerns about city services.
Several residents voiced concerns about high water bills, a lack of trained city employees for street upkeep, street conditions around the school, lack of city employees in general, lack of animal control (specifically dogs running in packs), and lack of cooperation from the city office.
In a related discussion regarding the creation of a job description for city secretary position, Council member Joe Don Kennedy stated that the city’s guidelines are specific: the City Council hires the City Secretary, not the mayor, and the vacancy of the utilities secretary must be filled by Sept. 27, when City Secretary Melanie Smith’s resignation is effective.
Discussion on that issue included the high rate of turnover of city employees. Council Member Casey Anderson said people have reported to him that a hostile work environment exists and contributes to the turnover. He went on to suggest that a committee of at least three council members and others be formed to investigate and to generate job descriptions for all paid employees.
Anderson said that in the spring there was a full replacement of city staff, and it seems to be happening again.
Mayor Ralph Bennett said that the new software was too much for the staff to handle; Anderson said that hiring replacements would keep the city spinning its wheels if there was not a good work environment.
Bennett said that the complaints of poor working conditions were not valid.
Regarding street concerns, the council adopted a Blighted Area Resolution to further a grant application for street repairs.
In other business, the council:
•discussed bids for updated software for the city’s fees and fines, and that only one bid was received;
•approved an amendment to an engineering agreement with KSA regarding the construction of a 75,000-gallon storage tank and small pumping station for water the city purchases from Pennington Water Supply;
•approved the city property tax roll, but tabled a vote on setting a new tax rate;
•approved Groveton Economic Development Corporation Treasurer Randi Johnson as a signatory on the GEDC accounts, and approved Allen Klare as a new member to the GEDC Board;
•approved the monthly bill of $14,191.81 for Inframark’s work on the city water and sewer systems; and
•approved a request from Tim Coker of the Groveton Ex- Students Association to block city streets for a street dance following the Sept. 27 football game.
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