City Council Attorney Issue Dominant Topic At Meeting
December 17, 2019 at 2:15 a.m.
By David [email protected]
Councilman Ron Shoemaker also was recognized for his four years of service.
Almost 50 minutes into the council’s discussion on legal counsel, Mayor Joe Thallemer told the council, “I’m going to direct the city attorney to create an amendment that addresses concerns. We can amend the resolution that you all passed, and you can amend the resolution, to your satisfaction. At the same time, have (city attorney Scott Reust) look at this agreement that you proposed.” Thallemer said the proposal looked “pretty simple and basic” and that after the resolution is amended, that contract will go to the next Board of Works meeting. At that time, it would be “kind of a blanket contract that, following those procedures, as amended in the resolution, you’re ready to go,” Thallemer said.
The resolution was passed in October and provides that the council can have legal counsel on an as-needed basis.
City attorney Scott Reust told the council state statute provides for the council to have its own legal counsel, but the council must publicly vote on using it and it must be a majority of the council. Legal counsel would be for the whole legislative body and not an individual councilman.
At the end of the meeting, Little Crow Lofts resident Mike Holloway said, “We’re still having ongoing problems at Little Crow Lofts. They moved our handicapped parking in the rear of the building and handicapped entrance is in the front of the building. What can we do about it?”
He also said there’s getting to be an issue of “dead cars” being left in the parking lot, but the regional apartment manager told him they can’t be towed.
Thallemer said he’d be happy to contact the manager and discuss those issues.
“Those aren’t things we have any control over, but we can certainly (bring them up),” Thallemer said.
Little Crow Lofts has been before the city’s code enforcement hearing officer for the past two months about various interior and exterior violations.
Before that discussion, Councilwoman Cindy Dobbins presented Shoemaker, District 2, with a plaque for his service. A caucus appointed Shoemaker to the council in 2015 after Councilman Charlie Smith died in an airplane crash with three others. He did not seek re-election this year, but challenged Thallemer in the mayoral primary, and lost. Josh Finch was unopposed in the Republican primary for District 2 and defeated Independent Chris Plack in the November general election.
Shoemaker said it was a pleasure and honor to represent the citizens of Warsaw, and God bless Warsaw and this country.
Finally, Thallemer said he wants to have strategic planning discussions in 2020 for the city. It will be led by bakertilly. Previous discussions were held in 2012 and 2016. Thallemer said they are critically important in planning for the city’s future.
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Councilman Ron Shoemaker also was recognized for his four years of service.
Almost 50 minutes into the council’s discussion on legal counsel, Mayor Joe Thallemer told the council, “I’m going to direct the city attorney to create an amendment that addresses concerns. We can amend the resolution that you all passed, and you can amend the resolution, to your satisfaction. At the same time, have (city attorney Scott Reust) look at this agreement that you proposed.” Thallemer said the proposal looked “pretty simple and basic” and that after the resolution is amended, that contract will go to the next Board of Works meeting. At that time, it would be “kind of a blanket contract that, following those procedures, as amended in the resolution, you’re ready to go,” Thallemer said.
The resolution was passed in October and provides that the council can have legal counsel on an as-needed basis.
City attorney Scott Reust told the council state statute provides for the council to have its own legal counsel, but the council must publicly vote on using it and it must be a majority of the council. Legal counsel would be for the whole legislative body and not an individual councilman.
At the end of the meeting, Little Crow Lofts resident Mike Holloway said, “We’re still having ongoing problems at Little Crow Lofts. They moved our handicapped parking in the rear of the building and handicapped entrance is in the front of the building. What can we do about it?”
He also said there’s getting to be an issue of “dead cars” being left in the parking lot, but the regional apartment manager told him they can’t be towed.
Thallemer said he’d be happy to contact the manager and discuss those issues.
“Those aren’t things we have any control over, but we can certainly (bring them up),” Thallemer said.
Little Crow Lofts has been before the city’s code enforcement hearing officer for the past two months about various interior and exterior violations.
Before that discussion, Councilwoman Cindy Dobbins presented Shoemaker, District 2, with a plaque for his service. A caucus appointed Shoemaker to the council in 2015 after Councilman Charlie Smith died in an airplane crash with three others. He did not seek re-election this year, but challenged Thallemer in the mayoral primary, and lost. Josh Finch was unopposed in the Republican primary for District 2 and defeated Independent Chris Plack in the November general election.
Shoemaker said it was a pleasure and honor to represent the citizens of Warsaw, and God bless Warsaw and this country.
Finally, Thallemer said he wants to have strategic planning discussions in 2020 for the city. It will be led by bakertilly. Previous discussions were held in 2012 and 2016. Thallemer said they are critically important in planning for the city’s future.
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