2015 Local Ordinances

Ordinances / Resolutions of Note

  1. Allowing Backyard Chickens
  2. Removing Wetland Buffers
  3. Awarding Jail Phone Contract to Securus Tech
  4. Allowing Food Trucks
  5. Keeping Domestic Partnership Benefits for County Employees

Allowing Backyard Chickens

This ordinance allows for backyard chickens. You can see more information about it here.

Voting yes on allowing chickens: Bailey, Hamby, Bell, Herod, Wright, Link, Girtz, Dickerson
Voting no: Sims (Mayor Denson noted her strong opposition, but was not able to cast a vote)
Absent: NeSmith

Proposal made by: Girtz
Tried to procedurally delay vote: Sims, Dickerson
Passed on May 5, 2015

Removing Wetland Buffers

This legislation would have removed development buffers protecting wetland areas and ultimately also streams, rivers and wildlife.  The Commission-Defined Option (CDO), which would have stopped the removal of the buffers, was put forth by Commissioner Girtz, but it was defeated.

Voting yes on removing wetland buffers: Hamby, Bell, Herod, Dickerson, Sims, Mayor Denson [tiebreaker]
Voting no: NeSmith, Bailey, Wright, Link, Girtz

Proposal made by: Dickerson
Opposed CDO made by: Girtz

Passed on August 4, 2015

Awarding Jail Phone Contract to Securus Tech

ACC awarded a contract to Securus Tech contract for our jail phone system. It gave an 80% kickback on phone profits to the county. These profits come from inmates, their familes and their lawyers.

Voting yes on adopting contract: Hamby, Bell, Herod, Dickerson, Sims, NeSmith, Bailey, Wright
Voting no: Link
Absent: Girtz

Proposal made by: Hamby

Passed on September 1, 2015

Allowing Food Trucks

This proposal allowed for more food trucks downtown but does not yet seem to have caught on, due to other restrictions.

Voting yes on allowing food trucks: Hamby, Bell, Herod, Dickerson, Sims, NeSmith, Bailey, Wright, Girtz, Link
Voting no: none

CDO made by: Herod, Proposal made by: Dickerson

Passed on November 3, 2015

Keeping Domestic Partnership Benefits for County Employees

The commission voted to keep domestic partnership benefits for county employees even though gay marriage is now allowed nationwide, because there is a large diversity of relationship types.  They thought that all people in relationships deserve to benefit even if they have not yet decided to marry.

Voting yes on keeping benefits: Hamby, Bell, Herod, Dickerson, Sims, NeSmith, Bailey, Wright, Girtz, Link
Voting no: none

Proposal made by: Girtz

Passed November 3, 2015