By BEN GRAFTON

The first order of business at the Freeport City Council meeting of Oct. 22 was introduced by City Planner Latilda Henninger. The developers of Marina Village Phase I want to reduce their full letter of credit to 15 percent of the original $1,339,000. Inspections will be made to ensure that improvements are being maintained. The city code permits the reduction. Henninger recommended that the change be accepted and the Council approved the proposal.
Mayor Mickey Marse reported that the developers of the Publix project on U.S. 331 South want go ahead and apply for the Department of Transportation (DOT) permit for the development while the trip requirement waiver, instituted as a stimulus item, is still in effect. The move will allow the developers to significantly reduce infrastructure fees. The city will still receive utility impact fees before work starts. The Council approved a motion to allow the developers to go ahead with the application.
Fire Chief Ben Greenslait reported that 73 calls were  answered  in September and the total number of calls answered year to date are still running ahead of the same period in 2008 by 69 calls. With only 42 percent of September’s calls inside the city limits, the responses returned to the pattern of more calls outside the city limits than in.
Greenslait reported that the personnel interview committee rated Austin Cosson as the first choice among applicants for the vacancy and asked approval to hire. Council approval was given. The Council also approved keeping the application list active for 60 days so if another vacancy occurs during that time, job offers can be made without additional advertising.
Marse said that the county is not funding the Fire Department at the same level as the city. Negotiations for budgeting are still underway.
Marse told the Council that Parks Director Shane Supple needs a larger mower to do grass cutting at the parks. The money is already budgeted. The Council approved the purchase.
City Engineer Charles Peters said that insurance issues have been resolved for the sidewalk project along SR-20.     The preconstruction conference for this work will be held the first week of November.
Peters said the No 7 well test results are being sent to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for approval. The project will end 105 days beyond the contract deadline for completion. Peters expects the contractor will appeal the penalties but that he sees no reason to accept the appeals.
Peters said he expects to receive DEP approval of the Washington Street water main project.
The count of potential customers who have returned favorable questionnaires for the North Bay Phase II water main extension now stands at 118 responses. This figure is well above the projected number and it may continue to rise before the Oct. 30 deadline.
The Council approved holding a public meeting to review the city’s intention to apply for grant funds for the North    Bay Phase II water main extension project at 7 p.m. on Nov. 9 at City Hall.
City Clerk Robin Haynes received approval from the Council to go ahead with some revisions to personnel policy regarding holiday leave and hours of work. She noted that Fire Department employees have been changed from hourly to salary pay basis.
Councilman Mark Martin reported on efforts to have the Northwest Florida League of Cities hold its March 18, 2010 meeting in Freeport. The league consists of 43 cities and the mayors and one council member from each city normally attend these meetings which are good opportunities to show off the city. The city will seek sponsors to help defray the costs of the meeting.
Haynes asked for and received approval to cancel the second City Council meeting in November to avoid conflicts with the Thanksgiving holiday.
Marse announced Council member oversight assignments for 2010 as follows: Earl King – Water Department; Ray Jackson – Sewer Department; Charlie Simmons – Fire Department; Elizabeth Brannon – Parks; and Mark Martin – League of Cities.