Public Works Director Craig Oakley shed light on a difficult Memorial Day weekend during Tuesday night’s Cadiz City Council meeting — as heavy storms roared through Trigg County, and caused infrastructure hangups and damage throughout.
That Sunday alone, he said more than 120 manhours were logged by he and his staffers — trying to deal with uprooted trees, disemboweled water mains, downed power lines, and other serious concerns.
Oakley called Barkley’s assistance “pivotal” in keeping things flowing two weekends ago, especially since the sewer plant was out 13 hours, and several lift stations were out several days.
Storm debris, he added, could take a month or longer for a pickup — and there will be a focus on Main Street this weekend with the 400-Mile Yard Sale on the docket.
Power was never lost at the raw intake of Little River, and there is quite a bit of storm damage remaining in the East End Cemetery, Nunn Boulevard, Hospital Street and elsewhere.
Both he and City Clerk Connie Allen confirmed that FEMA reimbursements will be sought during this process.
In other council news:
— Oakley also brought forth that an unnamed interested party was curious about the purchasing cost of an “L-shaped” property just behind the old log cabin in downtown Cadiz. It was recommended to not sell the land because a 12-inch city water main exists in its heart, meaning it would still need to be maintained by Cadiz officials, and council members unanimously agreed.
— Following a report from new Fire Chief Josh Holley, council members unanimously approved for the old ’75 model fire truck to be surplussed. It has been replaced with the new arrival from Pennsylvania, which Holley once again noted came “far and beyond” all expectations.
— Linda Rhudy, beloved retired teacher in Trigg County, was appointed to the Cadiz-Trigg County Planning Commission, as a replacement of Josh Adams following his resignation.
— Calhoun & Company’s Debbie Fuller, CPA, delivered a comprehensive audit report to the council, noting this year’s efforts were “clean” and “drastically improved” from the last fiscal year.
She also noted there were three “non-severe” findings from the last 12 months, all of them follow-ups from the previous calendar:
1) Of 60 payroll files within the city, there were still two instances of non-documented pay rates inside personnel dossiers.
2) Of 60 payroll files within the city, there were still two instances of time sheet approval deficiencies — which must be controlled by a supervisor.
And 3) all checks cashed and banked by the city must have two signatures. This, she said, has shifted into compliance.
The City of Cadiz also had a net income of more than $112,000 last year, down from $961,000 in 2022. Fuller said this dramatic shift was due to grant funding, mostly through ARPA, provided two years ago.
— City Attorney Allen Wilson also brought medical marijuana to attention. No action will be taken until the July meeting, but for the next month, council members will review one of four paths Cadiz leadership can take before state law goes into effect January 1, 2025.
Choices are identical to the county discussion:
+ Do nothing.
+ Enact an ordinance regulating the time, place and manner of medical cannabis sale, use and ownership.
+ Prohibit all facets within the city limits.
+ Or put it to a public option vote this November.