Two resign from Lafayette council

By LAUREN L. DILLARD

Of the News-Register

LAFAYETTE - The Lafayette City Council ratified the dismissal of a city employee, accepted two city council resignations and one planning commission resignation at its Thursday night meeting.

City Councilor Lisa Heatherly resigned due to the "aggression of all sides of this," according to City Administrator Diane Rinks. Heatherly had told Rinks that being a city councilor was taking a toll on her and her family.

Councilor Jim Rue, a Washington County sheriff's deputy, resigned due to a shift change that made him unavailable for council meetings for another year. Kyle Hensley, a member of the Lafayette Planning Commission, resigned because he would not be available until October for a meeting and "I just don't have the time or the heart anyway," Hensley said via an e-mail to planning secretary Lori Labb.

The council confirmed Rinks' decision to terminate Jeff Biglin, a public works employee. Biglin remained unnamed during the meeting and his termination was "based on the confidential disciplinary memo given to the council," according to meeting information.

In other business, the council:

n Passed a resolution to adopt transportation system development charges and rates as compiled by Don Ganer and Associates. This rate study information is the basis for SDC charges on new building permits.

n Passed an ordinance finally adopting the new sign code for the city, and another ordinance to adopt a capital improvement plan amendment to the Transportation System Plan. The amendment updated capital improvement project costs to $11.1 million.

Because of a clause in the city charter, pointed out by City Attorney Andrew Jordan, the council was able to pass the ordinances without bringing them up again in a second meeting. The council was required to pass them unanimously and it was able to do so.

n Accepted a contract with Great Western Sweeping for street sweeping on all of Lafayette's curbed streets every other month. Information released at the July council meeting stated the contract would be in the amount of $5,250 per year.

n Backed up a decision to deny a request for a waiver of fees on city records, per the decision of the city administrator. Mary Heisler submitted this request on July 12, 2007; Rinks did not find "her assertion to have any merit and will deny the request for a waiver."

The council met in executive session regarding a number of change order requests received for work on Lafayette's new wastewater plant and took no action.