(Editor’s note: This post originally gave an incorrect length for the term of Jackson’s appointment. He will serve until the canvass of the November city election.)
Greene County high school social studies teacher Darren Jackson will bring years of experience on the Grand Junction city council as the newest member of the Jefferson city council.
Jackson was appointed at the April 23 city council meeting to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Larry Teeples in March. Jackson was mayor Craig Berry’ recommendation. Council members Dave Sloan, Harry Ahrenholtz and Matt Wetrich voted in favor of a motion to appoint Jackson; Matt Gordon voted against the motion.
Berry had received letters of interest from Michael Mentzer, Mark Wright, Sean Sebourn, Sue Bose and Amelia Carman along with Jackson’s letter. The letters varied in length from 34 words to a full single-spaced page. Mentzer has served on the Paton city council. He and Jackson are the only two with previous city council experience. Jackson, Sebourn and Carman listed community involvements. Sebourn and Carman are the only ones of the six who have attended recent Jefferson council meetings.
Jackson has taught in the school district for longer than 10 years. He was first appointed to the Grand Junction city council and was later elected. While in Grand Junction, he was part of the Horizons community development group. He resigned from the council when he purchased a home in Jefferson.
Gordon said following the meeting that he voted against Jackson’s appointment out of dissatisfaction with the process Berry used. Berry said he hadn’t talked with or interviewed any of the interested persons because he already knew all of them.
Gordon remembered Berry saying he’d talk with each of them. “The council agreed we didn’t want to take up meeting time. We knew who had sent letters, but with so many of them, there wasn’t time for us to do our own research on each person,” Gordon said.
“We didn’t find out until this morning who the mayor picked, and then it was too late to do our research. I don’t know Darren Jackson. I don’t have anything against him. I just thought there’d be more of a process in making the appointment,” Gordon said.
Berry said it was Jackson’s experience on the Grand Junction council that set him apart from the others. “I wanted someone who can hit the ground running. I’d encourage the others to run for the council in November,” Berry said.
Jackson will be sworn in at the council’s May 14 meeting. He’ll serve until the canvass of the November general election.
In other business, the city council approved waiving a building permit for the construction of the new Greene County high school and career academy. The permit would have cost the school district $58,473. City building/zoning official Nick Sorensen explained that one taxing entity generally waives building permits for other taxing entities, and that the city would have no expense in building inspections because the state would handle the inspections.
The school district will still pay water tap and sewer tap costs and water service and sewer service permit fees.
Council member Sloan voted against the motion to waive the building permit costs. He declined to provide a reason after the meeting.
The council approved using the professional services of Piper Jaffray for the issuance of $2.6 million in general obligation bonds. Piper Jaffray will receie $17,500 for services. The bond will replenish the city’s general funds for a number of “small” capital purchases already made.
City engineer Jim Leiding of Bolton & Menk reported there have been challenges in installing the new vinyl liner at the municipal pool. A crew from Renosys began the installation last week. When they tried to drill into the concrete along the top inside edge of the pool to attach a termination strip that holds the liner in place, some of the concrete crumbled.
Leiding described two alternatives – attaching the termination strip 2-3 inches lower along the inside edge of the pool and patching the concrete, or installing a stainless steel skirt attaching the liner to the pool gutter. The second option had a price tag of $25,000 and had the potential to create future problems with the gutter system. The first option will require more ongoing maintenance but would not cost more of threaten the integrity of the gutter system.
The council agreed to the first option.
The council held two public hearings at which no one spoke and then passed resolutions transferring property at 506 E. Clark St and 507 N. Cedar St to Region XiI Council of Governments. Region XII will build new homes on the empty lots and then sell them to low- to moderate-income home buyers.
The council appointed Sydney Schiltz and John Kersey to the fire department. Those appointment will fill the fire department’s roster at 28 members.
The council approved closing the 100 block of N. Chestnut St to traffic Saturday, May 4, from 1 to 4 pm. Brett Cranston, owner of Doc’s Stadium, requested the closure to accommodate a large motorcycle event. The approval is contingent on the city receiving proof of the special liquor permit needed (Cranston plans to serve beer outdoors) and approval of the county board of supervisors. Cranston has not yet spoken with the supervisors about the event.
