MINER -- The Miner Board of Aldermen will consult with the new associate circuit court judge before making their annual appointment for municipal judge.
Board members were slated to make the city judge appointment during their regular meeting Tuesday but decided to table the decision.
Before a vote on reappointing David Mann to the unpaid position was taken, Alderman Justin Medley said board members should consider that more Miner residents voted for Scott Horman in the race for associate circuit court judge during the August primary election than Mann.
Having defeated Mann in the primary election on the Democratic ballot, Horman was unopposed in the November election and was elected to the position.
"I have no problem with Judge Mann," Medley later added, but explained he felt obligated to reflect the wishes of the city's voters.
Janet Tuttle, city clerk, said Mann has served the city well as the city's municipal judge for 20 years without charge.
Blake Pearson, city attorney, said associate circuit court judges may not charge municipalities to serve as their judge under state statutes.
Board members agreed to ask Horman if he would be interested in filling the city's municipal judge position before voting on an appointment.
A decision on new court fees and violation fines was also tabled pending consultation with Horman.
In other Miner city business:
* Board members approved a bill calling for a general municipal election to be held on April 3.
Positions up for election will be the city collector, which is a four year term, and two-year terms for the Ward 1 seat currently held by Marlene Anglin and the Ward 2 seat currently held by Medley.
Filing for the positions opens at 8 a.m. Dec. 12 and closes at 5 p.m. Jan. 16.
The Board also set the salary for the city collector at $13 per hour, a $1 per hour raise over the present term, to account for cost of living increases. The raise goes into effect April 10.
Board members noted a new requirement for elected officials: the Incident Command System test for the National Incident Management System mandated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency must be taken within 30 days of being elected.
The new requirement, which went into effect Sept. 30, does not require renewals. "You train once and you're good for life," said Roger Moore, police chief.
The current collector, Ellen Davis, was elected to fill the remaining two years of an unexpired term. The vacancy was created by the retirement of the previous collector, Phyllis Hepler.
* A business owner who damaged the city's sewer lines has 10 days to reimburse the city.
Peggy Holman, alderwoman, said the city has been holding his business license until the damage is paid for. "He shouldn't be running a business if we're holding his business license," she said.
Brian Livingston, code enforcement officer, said he hand delivered notices to all the businesses that have not renewed their merchant license. Those businesses now have 10 days to renew before the city takes further action.
* Board members accepted the resignation of Dwayne Hawkins as assistant fire chief.
Fire Chief Jack Tucker is to decide who he thinks should fill the position.