By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



The City of Morris is saying goodbye to one city clerk and welcoming another.

Friday was the last official day for Rachael Turner, Morris city clerk for more than four years.

The Morris City Council voted Tuesday to accept Turner’s resignation and to hire Renee Sears as clerk. Sears was formerly the magistrate for the City of Warrior.

According to her resignation letter, Turner is leaving her job in order to care for her foster children.

Turner and her husband became foster parents within the past year. They currently have six young foster children.

“Rachael has done an outstanding job for the City of Morris,” said Morris Mayor Craig Drummonds. “She’s leaving for a very admirable reason and she has the full respect of the City of Morris. We’re going to miss her.”

Drummonds also welcomed Sears to the city and said he is looking forward to working with her.

In other business, the council:

• adopted an ordinance that regulates parking and handicap parking in the city. The penalty for violating the parking law is $25 and for violating the handicap parking law is $100. A copy of the ordinance is available at Morris City Hall

• voted to allow the Mortimer Jordan High School Future Business Leaders of America host a March of Dimes fund-raiser at the Morris city park on April 18 from 9 a.m. to noon. Morris Police Chief Brian Cochran volunteered to help Mortimer Jordan’s FBLA president Quintin S. Howze coordinate the event.

• adopted a resolution changing authorized signatures on city bank accounts from Turner to Sears

• voted to pay for and maintain two fire hydrants at The Meadows Phase III subdivision

• declared as surplus a booster hose and reel off of a 1985 Sutpen Deluge Pumper and donated the items to Mortimer Jordan High School

• voted to close a safe deposit box at People’s Bank

• authorized Cochran to apply for a CHRP/COPS grant that he said would help provide the salaries for two police officers

• authorized the city clerk to close the town’s savings account, which contained less than $500, and put the money into the general fund

• authorized Drummonds to apply for an ADECA matching funds grant that will pay for a new vehicle for the police department

• voted to send Cochran to a police conference at a cost of $198 plus lodging and meals

• heard from Grant Kutz about starting a recycling program in Morris. City officials will investigate the cost and requirements.

The next regular Morris City Council meeting is April 28, 6 p.m., at city hall.