City explores mow-to-own effort

City council members acted Monday to move five items to the Feb. 18 voting session, including ordinances they hope will help clean up vacant lots and board appointments.

The mow-to-own proposal would allow residents to assume ownership of vacant lots owned by the city.

A neighboring property owner could buy the property through contribution of their time and maintaining the lot, said city planner Matt Winters.

Other cities have similar programs, said city manager Mark Massingham.

While the city does not have property that would qualify now, Winters anticipates with the ordinance in place, it would in the future.

It will be a good addition to the city’s toolbox, said council member Ron Black.

Council members will also vote Feb. 18 on two new members of the residential housing board.

Black attempted to move the item to Monday night’s voting session, saying it would prevent those people from missing a meeting, but his motion died for lack of a second.

City attorney Mark Richardson said it was a deviation from normal procedure, and that a proposed ordinance had not been prepared in advance.

Also moved to the Feb. 18 voting session is an agreement with Smith & Company Engineers relating to professional services for an aviation grant.

It relates to upgrades to the runway, said Billy Cobb of Smith & Company. The project needs to be designed and out to bid by June in order to receive the grant money this year, he said.

In other business, the council:

• Voted 4-1 to reappoint Dean Million as the municipal judge. Council members Lisa Parson and Shane Cornman were absent. Black voted against the measure, and declined to comment on his vote following the meeting.

• Moved to the Feb. 18 voting session, a net metering report from Municipal Utilities. The city had four customers in 2019 generating a small amount of electricity through other sources, such as solar panels. Residents must apply to be part of net metering.

• Moved to the Feb. 18 voting session the extension of an agreement between the city and the Department of Conservation relating to Sportsman Park.