The council meeting started promptly at 7:00PM. Mayor Jimmie Papageorge presided, and three council members were present: Michael Lunt, Timothy Shupe and Z. Lee Dickamore. Not attending were Dale Chugg and Ava L. Painter. The meeting had the feel of a friendly, small town community with Mayor Papageorge shaking hands with people, taking advantage of his 10 minute early arrival. Some 25 to 30 people were in attendance. Mayor Papageorge has just been re-elected and is going into to his eighteenth year as the chief city official. This meeting seemed to affirm his re-election bid statement that he is a good team worker and can bring consensus among city leaders.
Business of the council was conducted efficiently which included a financial report from Ryan Childs of Woods, Richards, and Associates. Not surprisingly city revenues from sales tax, impact fees and other sources are down, but expenditures are up. Mayor Papageorge joked that "we're not quite broke yet". The report did assert that city finances were in pretty good shape considering current economic conditions.
An item on the agenda, tabled for the time being, had to do with an RDA and Petersen's Inc. When asked what it was about, Mayor Papageorge would only say that it had to do with the County, some potential 200 jobs, and Petersen's Inc.
A proposal was made to raise fees at the city Recreation Center by $5 per month for residents and non-residents. Rental of the basketball court would increase from $30 to $50 per hour. The Council approved the final version of a resolution made effective in January, and to be revisited next April
Reports on Council assignments were made by Z.Lee Dickemore and Michael Lunt. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00PM by Mayor Papageorge.
The feeling you get about Farr West, at least from attending a City Council meeting, is that it's a place you'd like to live.
