The Jefferson city council at its Jan. 14 meeting approved a policy regarding use of social media and mass texting. The policy refers to social media sites, including Facebook, operated by the city.
City administrator Scott Peterson provided the pertinent points of the policy.
From the perspective of city employees, it specifies that employees should have no expectation of privacy when using social media as it pertains to work, although their First Amendment rights will be assured. Employees may not make statements on behalf of the city without including a disclaimer that the statement does not reflect the official view of the city.
The city of Jefferson, along with Jefferson parks and recreation, the public library, and the police department all maintain Facebook pages. The policy states that the city doesn’t intend for the Facebook pages to provide an unlimited public forum, and it lists reasons comments would be edited or deleted.
The city’s mass texting will be used for public safety alerts, emergency notifications, community notifications and civic events. Residents must register at city hall to receive the text messages and can opt out at any time.
The council approved administrative rules for the tree removal program that allocates up to $50,000 for removal of dead trees on private property. Any amounts due after five years will be added to the property owner’s tax bill. City building officer Chad Stevens will take the lead on the program.
Homeowners will be the ones to initiate using the program; the city will not require a person to participate.
“This was discussed a lot for a few months and this was the only good way we could come up to help some people who will struggle to get their dead trees down,” council member Chad Sloan said while making a motion to approve the policy. “The interest rate isn’t high and I don’t feel like we’re putting anybody in a bind with the program.”
The council approved the second reading of an ordinance establishing an appeals board to consider issues of animals being abated from the community after a bite incident. The third reading will be done at the Jan. 28 meeting.
The council approved hiring Michael Carlson as a water operating pending a physical and drug screen, effective Jan. 21. Carlson will be paid $21.91/hour his first year of employment.
The council approved designating the Jefferson Herald as the official newspaper (to receive public notices). The designation will remain in place until the council changes it.
The council also approved appointments to various council committees, unchanged from 2024. Darren Jackson remains mayor pro tem.
Peterson reported the park and recreation department plans to submit an application to Grow Greene County or the Greene County Community Foundation for modern restrooms at Daubendiek Park (including running water and sewer lines that area) and playground improvements at Washington Park. The golf course manager is working on an application for funding for cart paths, and the library is applying for a grant to change to LED lighting on the children’s side.
Peterson noted there will be a budget workshop at the Jan. 18 meeting, and by Feb. 11 the council will be able to set the property tax levy rate. A special hearing on property taxes will be set for a special council meeting Tuesday, April 1. The public hearing and adoption of the budget is set for Tuesday, April 22.
