Radcliff council approves zoning change; audit shows city fiances in good shape

The Radcliff City Council met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday.

Susan Mouser with Clauson Mouser and Company PSC/CPAs reported to the council on the city’s annual audit. Mouser said the audit is mandated by state law in order to show that the city’s finances are fairly stated. Mouser said the city’s revenues exceed the expenditures and the city has little long-term debt. Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall said the city keeps a close eye on the finances.

“Just about every purchase order that’s done in the city, (Radcliff CFO) Chance Fox and I both, or (City Clerk) Ashley Russo will sign, and it’s sometimes to the point where Chance is calling me, asking me if a $164 pair of boots is justified,” Duvall said. “I mean, that’s how tight we run our budget.”

The council approved the rezoning of 155 Morgan Street from R-7 to Planned Unit Development Zone, which makes way for the construction of 19 single-family units on the property. The council also approved one new and five amended policies and procedures for the Radcliff Police Department.

The first reading was held on an ordinance approving the operation of medical cannabis facilities in the city. Duvall again stressed that the ordinance does not ban the use of medical marijuana, but it would make a Radcliff-based operation eligible to apply for a facility license.

“This is just regulating whether or not we’re going to have the sale or the cultivation here in our community,” Duvall said. “If you have a medical card, you can still go into E-Town and get it, or you can go into the county and get it, and still bring it back to our community.”

John Hardin High School sophomore Kenneth Richie addressed the council on concerns he sees with the Radcliff community that he said he thinks begin with a lack of civil discourse.

“I’ve seen the people become more negative over this time and stop looking inwards,” Richie said. “I’ve seen human decency begin to fade, and I’ve seen other people attack each other without knowledge or patience for a civil confrontation, and that’s built a negative reputation in towns outside of here.”

Richie said he hopes to see more communication between the government and the community, and more civic engagement. Duvall said he had spoken with Richie about his ideas and hoped to speak with him further.

The Radcliff City Council will next meet for a work session on August 12.