By Bonnie Culverhouse
A workshop and special meeting of the Minden City Council were over before they began on unlucky Friday the thirteenth.
Extra chairs were brought into the Pelican Room at Minden City Hall to handle overflow audience members, but chairs around the conference table were mostly empty.
With District D councilman Michael Roy as the only representative in attendance, there was no quorum for the meeting, and Mayor Terry Gardner decided it would be fruitless to conduct a workshop.
“I see no reason to even call this meeting to order,” Gardner said.
District B Councilwoman Terika Williams-Walker and District C Councilman Vincen Bradford were absent, as well as District A Councilman Wayne Edwards and District E Councilwoman Pam Bloxom.
“Councilman (Wayne) Edwards had surgery yesterday, but I didn’t know that until now,” Gardner continued. “I knew Councilwoman Bloxom had a prior engagement, but the others did not let me know they would not be here.”
Both agendas included new hires for the police and fire departments. Heather Feeback and Justin Richardson will have to wait to learn if they have jobs.
In addition, water main and street improvements are on the back burner, as well as a request from Keith McClung at McClung’s Service Station to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor agreement relating to the use and expenditure of tax revenues.
But possibly the most controversial issue on the workshop agenda was a juvenile curfew ordinance. Several workshops have already been conducted on the subject, and it has been before the council in a meeting at least twice.
“After the last council meeting, when it was tabled, Mr. Edwards said there were things he was still not comfortable with concerning the curfew ordinance,” Gardner said. “The next day I asked him what those were, he never answered.”
Gardner said he believes the rest of the council knew Bloxom would not be in attendance Friday.
“If the others had attended, there would’ve been four, and my vote would’ve been the tie breaker,” Gardner said. “In my opinion, that’s what caused the ‘no-meeting.’ They would not get their vote out.”
Gardner said he plans to schedule another workshop on the curfew before June’s meeting.
The proposed curfew ordinance pertains to juveniles under the age of 18 and would help hold their parents or guardians accountable if they are on the streets between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight to 5 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Special dispensation is made for holidays and parent-accompanied events.
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