Palmer approves nearly 100 CARES grants

PALMER — The city of Palmer has disbursed nearly three-quarters of a million dollars to nearly 100 businesses through the CARES Act grant application process, according to city manager John Moosey.

“It was a good start, however we will be coming back to the city council with addition to that program. We think we have more opportunity,” said Moosey.

The Palmer City Council held a short meeting on Tuesday after their special meeting at 6 p.m. on annexation. City clerk Norma Alley updated the council on the early voting period that opens on Sept. 21 and closes Oct. 5. Alley said that Palmer has already received 200 absentee by mail applications for the Oct. 6 election.

Deputy Mayor Linda Combs and councilwoman Sabrena Combs are both running for reelection along with Brian Daniels, who is challenging the incumbents for a seat on the council. Also featured on Palmer’s ballot will be four ballot propositions.

“It looks like it is a big ballot because it is a big ballot,” said Alley. “I really want people to understand that we have a lot available to us to allow them to be able to get their voice heard on their ballot.”

Palmer Police Chief proudly announced that PPD would receive two new police officers. Shelton announced Tiffany Walters, who recently graduated from the Department of Public Safety training academy as the valedictorian of her class and another trainee will attend the academy in December.

The council’s only action item on Tuesday was Ordinance 20-005 pertaining to community council grants. A public hearing was held for the ordinance prior to the arrival of city manager John Moosey and the council elected to hold another public hearing on Tuesday.

“While this ordinance was nice and well written, there were some changes after discussion with him and staff that they wanted some additional changes, so those changes would be significant enough that I feel it would be really good, it would be prudent basically to table this ordinance indefinitely and allow the city manager and his staff to bring back and ordinance that they would like to see,” said Alley.

The motion to postpone Ordinance 20-005 indefinitely passed unanimously. Councilman Richard Best was not in attendance nor did he participate telephonically in the meeting. After much discussion has been had by the council over excusing absences in previous meetings, councilwoman Jill Valerius objected to excusing Best’s absence.

“Well it seems like each time we come up with some important things at meetings, that’s when he’s conveniently gone,” said Valerius.

Best’s absence was ruled excused for both the special and the regular meeting.

“To be honest with you, I think that’s very inappropriate,” said Mayor Edna DeVries. “I will excuse him from the council meeting.”