On Whitehall Street, Washington city worker Victor Linares plants one of 60 crape myrtle trees donated to the city by Bob Moore. Washington City Council members approved the city’s 2006 budget and said goodbye to two of their colleagues in the regular December meeting Monday night, but later confusion reigned – among both council members and the audience – during a discussion of a proposal to switch city employee holidays.

After a series of budget hearings and months of work carving dimes and dollars from the city budget, council members Earlene King, Patricia Wilder, Pamela L. G. Eaton, Anna Norman, Ray Hardy, and Nathaniel Cullars, Sr. voted unanimously in favor of the budget.

During each council member’s turn to speak, three members expressed appreciation for the council service of departing members King and Wilder. “I just wanted to say how much I’ve enjoyed serving with Earlene and Patricia for the last six years. I’ve learned a lot from you both, and I appreciate your patience and understanding – and sometimes the harsh realities you brought – for that I thank you very much. You will be so missed,” said Norman.

Hardy echoed Norman’s sentiments concerning their departing fellow members, as did Eaton. “I must say I’m going to truly miss Patricia and Earlene,” she said, “not only for their loyalty and dedication to this council, but for the good times we’ve had at GMA, the discussions we’ve had, the friendship. We’re going to miss you, but I hope you won’t be strangers.”

At her turn, departing council member Patricia Wilder asked her fellow members to recall a time some weeks ago when city employees asked to be given the Friday after Thanksgiving as an additional holiday with pay. The council had voted to table the motion until January.

She said some city employees had told her they felt that “council members might not have had a true picture of what was going on.”

“So I asked for a poll of persons in the city, who worked for the city, who would be affected by what it is we want done. From that poll, 65 of the employees, who I believe would be all the employees, cast a vote, and of that 65 city employees some 48 percent of them wanted to be able to have that Friday after Thanksgiving as a holiday. In turn, that same 48 percent would be willing to give up the President’s Day holiday. You know, you talk about democracy, this is not about me, this is a vote that was taken with all the employees of the city of Washington.”

She expressed appreciation for the hard work and dedication of city employees, and said that the city council should support them in every way possible.

“So, Mayor Burns, as I’m seated here for my last night – and the people of Washington rejoice that it’s my last night – I would like to bring before this body an opportunity for us to cast a vote in favor of us having the Friday after Thanksgiving as a paid holiday for the city employees of Washington, and that this holiday will replace the President’s Day holiday, and that this will be effective for them in 2006.”

She went on to say that this was the people’s vote, not her vote, and that she “would like to offer to this council body some discussion in regards to that.”

Other council members asked for clarification as to whether this was a motion, Wilder said, “No, I want to talk about it first, because I want people to understand.”

“You made your motion to replace it?” said Hardy. “I don’t think we should replace President’s Day, I think we should observe it.”

Mayor Burns added his take. “So you want to observe President’s Day the day after Thanksgiving?”

The discussion got complicated after that, and the meeting’s sound system made portions inaudible to the audience of some 50 interested but perplexed citizens.

After three or four rounds of fruitless discussion over a motion that may or may not have been made, council member Eaton pointed out again that the council had already decided several weeks ago to bring up the matter again in January. She moved that the matter be tabled until then as previously agreed, and the council voted its approval.

In other business, Payroll Development Authority chairman David Jenkins asked the council for a proclamation in support of a Preserve America grant application for the Kettle Creek battleground, and the council approved the request.

Washington Police Chief Mike Davis said that his department was going to be cracking down on underage drinking. “We’re experiencing some underage drinking in the clubs and around town, and we’re taking a hard look at trying to stop that before it gets out of control.”

In the past, he said, the department had “babysat” the underage drinkers, taking them to the police station and calling their parents. “But that time is over. We’re going to get serious about stopping underage drinking.”

Chief Davis also addressed the audience, saying that he appreciated the public response to his department’s toy drive. “Our goal is to give every child that applied something that they want, and I thank you for your help doing it.”

City council member-elect Maceo Mahoney rose to address the council regarding the Reese J. Booker Center. The leader of the Girl Scout troop that meets there, he said, had 55-60 girls meeting each month and the building had problems. “The toilet in the boys’ bathroom leaks, there’s green mold in the ceiling, I don’t know if it’s leaking or not. Also they need some better lighting on the outside, maybe we could get the lighting looked at.” He also mentioned that the leader had spotted a man hanging around the building, and asked for more police patrols.

Mayor Burns agreed to look into the problems.

City attorney Pete Kopecky reported the Mayor was seen wearing Lincoln County colors as a result of losing a bet. “He was a good sport, though.”

Kopecky also reported that the Christmas Tour and Dinner filled the town all weekend long. “Store employees said they couldn’t even park on The Square because of all the shoppers,” he said.

At the Mayor’s report, Mayor Burns thanked everyone who helped at Christmas at Callaway. He also pointed out that a citizen, Bob Moore, donated some 60 crape myrtle trees to be planted at the triangle at W. Robert Toombs and Whitehall Street, and along Whitehall Street/Highway 44 entrance to the city.

The mayor also saluted the Tiger football team for its effort to make it all the way to the state championship game. “It was a great year for the high school, and a great year for Washington.”

Mayor Burns also relayed the report of Animal Control officer Gloria Wheatley, saying that eight cats and 10 dogs were trapped in November. He also read part of her report on the wandering blond chow dog that finally trapped himself and is now in the shelter.

At his turn, council member Cullars’ remarks were not generally audible, but he seemed to refer to committee assignments. Mayor Burns said that committees would be addressed in January. He also asked when they could address the keeping the Parks and Rec gym open for youth in the evening, and was told that the Parks and Rec board would meet next late in January.

Cullars asked if the council could go into executive session over “the compensation one council member is getting.” The mayor requested the city attorney to hold a sidebar consultation with Cullars to judge the legality of his request. The subject did not come up again.

City Administrator Mike Eskew told the assembled body that the city would be honoring all city retirees Monday, Dec. 19 at 4 p.m., and encouraged attendance at the ceremony.

Prior to the 7:30 p.m. meeting, the council, with the exception of Wilder, held a series of short public hearings to consider the renewal applications for Distilled Spirits Package and Distilled Spirits Pouring license holders. The following licenses were renewed: Stephen L. deShazo for business operating as Washington Jockey Club, LLC, 5 E. Square, Washington; Walter L. Standridge, Quartermaster, VFW Post 5899, 240 Andrew Drive, Washington; Jesus Valadez for a business operating as La Cabana Mexican Restaurant, Inc., 120 Ann Denard Drive, Washington; William Derricott for a business operating as W.D. Package Store, 204 Whitehall Street, Washington; Clifford Clem Slaton and Larry David Slaton for a business operating as Crossing Package Store, Inc., DBA: Slaton Crossing, 1028 E. Robert Toombs Avenue, Washington; Elias B. Bahta, Wilkesian Investors, Inc., DBA: BJ’s Package Store, 710 Hospital Drive, Washington.