Rainn Johnson, Central City. The Central City Council met on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. Mayor Jeremy Fey called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. All five council members were in attendance. The agenda was approved unanimously, with revisions – those being the deferment of Item 7 regarding the Historic Train Land Lease between the City and Z Casino, and to move Covid-19 policy updates to the Staff Updates section. There were no conflicts of interest disclosed. The Consent Agenda, containing the regular bill list through May 25, and the minutes of the May 18 meeting were approved unanimously. 

Sam Hoover with Public Works responded to questions regarding the storm gates on a section of road in the City. He said that they are worn out, and are therefore shifting. If vehicles drive over them at a certain angle, their tires can fall through. Road plates have been put in place until new gates can be installed. This work should be done within the next two weeks.  

Peter Droege, Vice President of the Belvidere Foundation Board, presented the Foundation’s request for a $75,000 grant from the City to cover operating expenses and marketing and fundraising efforts for restoration of the Belvidere Theater. In the City’s 2021 Budget, $1,879,696 was set aside for the Foundation, but no grant/expenditure had been planned for fiscal year 2021. Mr. Droege stated that the Central City Opera was in support of the restoration as having the theater in good order allowed them to expand their programs for the greater enjoyment of the community. 

The Belvidere Foundation has been meeting since January, looking for funds. They plan to approach a number of key donors in the near future. The $75,000 will, in part, be used to create marketing materials, designed to be presented to potential benefactors to explain the nature of the project, the needs therein, and its importance to the community. Peter was thanked for his efforts for restoration of the theater. The Foundation Board recently had one member resign, and the Board plans to fill this vacancy as soon as a fitting replacement can be found. 

Following discussion, the motion to approve the grant passed unanimously.  

The mask wearing requirement has been lifted in the City. Beginning on Monday, June 7, 2021, City Hall will be open to the public. Meetings will be held in person and by Zoom, effective immediately. Those staff or residents who wish to keep with precautionary procedures will not be barred from doing so. The website will be updated with details of the new rules. 

During the pandemic, staff has been working Monday through Thursday, for 10 hours each day. The Council will discuss at its next meeting, whether to go to a 5 day workweek, or to maintain the current schedule. 

Sheriff Armstrong reported that in the last week there had been 9 new cases, and that 53% of people in the County have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Testing is still available on Thursdays at Z Casino.

There is a new addition to the emergency management team. Diane Studden will work with the department until September when the grant which covers her salary runs out.

The Cody and Shelby Allen commemoration is in the strategic planning phase, and will be discussed further at the work session planned for June 15, 2021. Cody, a Central City Firefighter, and his wife, Shelby were found deceased at their home on December 11, 2020, having died of carbon monoxide poisoning. 

Council Comments – Judy Baratta addressed the Council, wanting to let them know that if her comments at the last meeting had caused any hurt feelings, that she was sorry, and that no offense had been intended. She also commented that she hoped that the City’s flowers would be okay, after the recent cold snap. Public Works has been attending to the flowers. 

Jackie Johnson let the Council know that she and her family would be moving due to new business opportunities, and for that reason, she would be resigning her seat. They will be moving in the near future, but will be maintaining their home in Central City until the end of the year, or until a replacement could be found. 

Kara Tinucci expressed appreciation to Mayor Pro Tem Baratta, for her apology, and let Ms. Johnson know of her admiration for her preparedness and passion for the City, as well as her willingness to stay on the Council until a replacement could be found. 

Mayor Fey motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:32 p.m. The next meeting will be on June 15, 2021 at 7 p.m.

(Originally published in the June 3, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)