Image courtesy of city of Jefferson

The Jefferson City Council met Tuesday night in regular session.

During open forum, a resident re-addressed the Council about an ongoing issue that he claims his neighbor is keeping junk items outside of his house. Code Enforcer Chad Stevens said he talked with the homeowner, but due to the nuisance ordinance not outlining trailers, boats and campers that are not running as junk, then those were legal to have on the property. The Council agreed to look into the matter further and possibly adjust the nuisance ordinance.

Then, the Council approved a request from resident Bryan Helmus about setting up a process for the animal shelter committee to review and the Council to give final approval of dog or cat sculptures that people want to donate to the dog park. The Council also approved a development agreement with The Centennial for the Community Development Block Grant Upper Story Housing project, a forgivable loan of $116,426 to Jen Badger to complete renovations to the building next door to her business at 106 East State Street, and they accepted the 2023 fiscal year audit.

Additionally, the Council approved terminating the old 28E agreement with Greene County on the animal shelter, a conditional hire of Trevor Hansen as a patrol officer, pending post test results that were taken; amending the city administrator contract to increase the annual salary to $120,000, a 28E agreement with Greene County to cost share an administrative assistant at the law enforcement center with the Jefferson Police Department, and re-approved the final nuisance schedule of assessments and abatements, due to correcting some clerical errors. The Council also approved Chad Sloan to keep livestock, including chickens and ducks, as 1217 West Wall Street by a 3-1 vote, with Sloan abstaining and Council member Pat Zmolek voted no because he was concerned with setting a precedent for other landowners to request something similar, and they approved a proposal from TextMyGov for $4,200 each year for three years to help push notifications to city residents, as well as allowing residents to interact and report certain items such as potholes that are found.