During the Town of Edgewood’s Regular Commission Meeting Dec. 10, the commission discussed the process for appointing a new commissioner for District 5, among other essential concerns.
With Sterling Donner out of the position, the commission unanimously agreed to advertise the job opening in the local newspapers, on social media and possibly, on the radio.
Applicants have until Jan. 15 to submit their resumes and letters of interest.
The commission also discussed the interview process and used a standardized list of questions for all candidates, stressing the importance of not rushing the process.
A member of the District 5 community commented publicly, strongly suggesting District 5 should be given preference for the commissioner’s vacancy due to its current issues.
“We’re probably one of the districts that are the least maintenance because, over the years, we’ve had citizens that took things up on their own,” he said.
The commission also discussed the need for a comprehensive plan to address the town’s road infrastructure needs.
The commissioners highlighted the inefficiencies in the current approach and stressed the importance of identifying maintenance responsibilities among the town, subdivisions, HOAs and the county.
During the meeting, the commissioners discussed prioritizing roads used by school buses, assessing their condition and addressing concerns about poor road conditions causing damage to buses.
Mayor Ken Brennan said as he was driving down Hawks Road and Windswept Road, his dash camera alarm went off several times, as it is designed to do if it senses a car accident.
This occurred due to the large number of potholes in this area alone, which prompted him to take action to ensure the safety of the students who ride a school bus down that road and the public in general.
Edgewood’s police and the road department agreed upon a coordinated approach. Alertness is part of law enforcement’s plan to provide emergency service assistance if needed.
Monthly workshops will be held in the future to discuss road projects and to develop a plan for prioritizing road improvements.
The commission also discussed the need for additional staff and equipment in the roads department.
Among the decisions made during the meeting include the approval to submit a governor’s office capital outlay request for water quality improvement facilities and water resources, the decision to request capital outlay funding for chip sealing and the approval for the cannabis ordinance.
The commission also approved fiscal agent agreements with the Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG). These agreements are necessary to move forward with grant funding for various town projects.
The commission also discussed the need to reassign the liaison roles previously held by former Commissioner Donner. It was agreed to assign these roles at the organizational meeting in January to ensure the best outcome possible.
Additionally, the commission appointed Diane Meitzler to the Library Advisory Board.
The commission discussed a proposed organizational chart for the town. The chart showed the proposed structure of the town government and the proposed staffing levels for each department.
Brennan also announced the expansion of My Blue Bus’s coverage since it has not been used as much as initially expected in Edgewood but has been requested in outside areas.
He also thanked the community that supported and participated in the recent Christmas parade and Tree Lightning celebration.
“I want to thank everybody that participated in the parade. This was the first real twinkle light parade that we had, and I think it’s going to be like everything else when we do it again. It’s just going to get bigger and better every year,” Brennan said.
As for upcoming events, the commission discussed forthcoming town events, including a toy donation drive, a holiday ornament decorating event and the Stuff The Bus food drive taking place on Dec. 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Smith’s, located at 2 NM-344.