Opp Council appoints Board of Adjustments

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 17, 2013

The Opp City Council, by a vote of four to one, appointed five new members to the city’s Board of Adjustments during their regular meeting Monday night.

Mayor John Bartholomew said the board had dissolved during the former administration, adding new appointments were needed for the sake of accountability.

“The previous board members’ terms had expired and we sort of had to start over,” Bartholomew said. “The board provides accountability for the city and city officials. It’s important that we have it.”

The council approved the appointment of: Stephanie Rodgers – expiring in Dec., 2016; Dwight Bryan – expiring Dec., 2015; Melinda Hall – expiring Dec., 2015; Jay Spurlin – expiring Dec., 2014; and Tina Register, expiring Dec., 2014.

Bartholomew said the new board members’ terms were “staggered” in order to ensure all five members would not need to be appointed or reappointed simultaneously.

City Councilman for District 2 T.D. Morgan was the only “no” vote for the new board members’ appointment. Morgan said he voted against the resolution due to a lack of representation from his district.

“I said no because there isn’t anyone from my district and there are several from other districts,” Morgan said. “I know there are several from District 3.”

Bartholomew said the board members were appointed through recommendations and volunteers, and were selected based on their merits, and not on their districts.

“I don’t even know which districts they are from,” Bartholomew said. “That really doesn’t  have anything to do with it. We wanted people who were willing to sacrifice and would help the city grow.”

In other business the council:

• approved an amendment to the budget to purchase a 2014, four-dour pick-up truck for the Parks and Recreation department for $22,112;

• declared a property surplus including two radar trailers, a leaf machine, a 1990 freightliner and a 16×6 trailer; and

• approved the appointment of Chuck Patterson to the Industrial Development Board of the City of Opp.