Council reminded of ‘Battle of Badges’

The Farmington City Council held its last regular monthly meeting of the calendar year.

With a steady stream of footsteps from the visitors to Winter Wonderland upstairs from council chambers, the council worked quickly through a light agenda.

The only legislative item on the agenda was a second reading and council action on the changing of the classification zoning from R-3, Single-Family Residential Zoning District to OP-1, Office and Professional Zoning District for property located at 924 N. Washington St.

The motion passed with five “yes” votes – councilmen Mark Kellogg, Garett Boatright and John Robinson were absent.

During the Public Safety committee report, Ward III Councilman Dennis Smith reminded the council of the “Battle of the Badges” blood drive scheduled from 1 to 6 p.m. on Thursday at the Farmington Fire Department, located at 222 E. Columbia St.

The annual blood drive puts the Farmington Fire Department and Farmington Police Department in a battle of “bragging rights” to who can bring in the most donors.

This is the seventh year for the event. Last year, the fire department pulled ahead of the police department in what could have been a potential tie year for the sixth annual “Battle of the Badges” blood drive.

But, most importantly, 59 units of blood were donated.

The fire department took back the coveted “Battle of the Badges” plaque with their fourth win over the police department with 33 units donated and 25 units donated for the police department. One donor was marked “undecided.”

Finance Director Michelle Daniels gave a finance report during the meeting.

Daniels reported the December sales tax receipts are currently up one percent over the budgeted four percent.

Farmington City Administrator Greg Beavers said the monthly sales tax receipts are sometimes tricky to watch.

“Month-over-month sales tax reports aren’t always indicative of what’s going on for a couple of reasons,” he said. “The principle one being that not all businesses pay on a monthly schedule. Some businesses pay quarterly and some businesses pay late by the time we get the report.

“It’s not a fantastic indicator month over month, however the trend is moving the right direction.”

Beavers said the city has a lot more retail traffic than in year’s past with new businesses reporting to do very well.

“Many of the existing businesses that we were concerned about the competitive nature. I’ve talked to several of them and they are doing OK and doing well even with the new competition being introduced in the market. We believe at least in the short term that we have to evaluate it that, if we’re having the effect of expanding the market area and bringing more customers into the retail base and hopefully growing everybody’s business or creating an opportunity for them to access more customers.”

Ward I Councilman Larry Forsythe gave the Public Services report in Councilman Robinson’s absence. Forsythe highlighted a number of events scheduled for the Farmington Public Library and Farmington Civic Center in January. Read more about those events in this week’s edition of the Farmington Press, including an expanded banner contest for the downtown area.

The council next meets in regular session on Jan. 12.

Ward III Councilman Dennis Smith, at left, City Administrator Greg Beavers and Ward II Councilman John Crouch visit before the start of Monday’s Farmington City Council meeting. Both Smith and Crouch have filed for the April election – Smith for mayor and Crouch for his council seat. Also filing for the seat in Ward II is Perry Willmore.

Shawnna Robinson is the managing editor of the Farmington Press and can be reached at 573-518-3628 or srobinson@farmingtonpressonline.com