Erbie Rush was honored last Thursday at the Jamestown City Council meeting for 50 years of service as a firefighter at the Jamestown Fire Department.

Jamestown Fire Chief Tony Wright presented Rush with a statue of a firefighter in action with an inscribed plaque recognizing the achievement.

"I can't tell you how much the city of Jamestown and the community of Jamestown appreciates the service that you've given us," said Mayor Terry Lawless. "Getting up in the middle of the night, below zero weather…we just commend you for the job."

After an exuberant round of applause, Rush only had this to say, "I don't want the city council to forget that we have a fire department up there."

Councilman George Ralph Garr's appointment as Mayor Pro-Tem was finalized. Garr will take the role of city mayor should the need arise.

City Clerk Tyler McGowan was appointed the city's human resource officer in addition to his responsibilities as city clerk and treasurer to better handle inquiries of an office that is open full time and the city only authorizing a part time mayor. All decisions made as resource officer are for review and final decision by the mayor.

The council was presented a number of changes to the policy and procedure manual. The numbers of changes were not elaborated upon, the council members deciding that reading the changes on their own was preferred.

The council voted to give Mayor Lawless the authorization to begin the process of bidding repairs to the city's water tank. Public Works Director Ottis Skaggs explained that the tank was in bad need of repair at an estimated cost of $150,000.

Lawless said that five engineering firms had responded to advertising for a statement of qualification. The selection committee of Mayor Lawless, Director Skaggs and City Clerk McGowan chose the engineering firm Kenvirons, Inc. to draw up repair plans.

"If we don't get something done at this time, or pretty quickly, we're going to lose the tank," said Skaggs.

The repairs needed have to do with metal exposure beginning to rust.

Repairs will consist of inspection, engineering repair plans drawn up, advertising bidding and payment of repair work of sandblasting, treatment and repainting.

Mayor Lawless announced that the Lake Cumberland Area Development District would be providing an orientation for city council members for Thursday, February 24. Lawless encouraged city council members to attend.

Mayor Lawless announced that the city park had an open house on January 23 to open the new baseball training facility recently erected. He commended the park board members on the good work they're doing.

Council member Larry Joe Murray recognized the city's road crew for keeping the streets in great shape during the recent freezes.