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Regular Council Meeting March 10, 2014 Page 3 City Manager John Godwin cited public safety as the reason for necessity of removing hanging limbs from easements and right -of -ways. He said the city received two bids and his recommendation was to award the bid to Ray's Tree Service in the amount of $170,000, which was the lowest bid. A Motion to award the bid to Ray's Tree Service was made by Mayor Hashmi and seconded by Council Member Frierson. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays. 9. Receive update on the hiring of a Public Works Director. Council Member Drake inquired how many applications had been received by the city and Mr. Godwin replied that eight applications had been received in four weeks. Mr. Godwin said a deadline for receiving applications had not been set. 10. Discuss and possibly act on pursuing a historical marker for Cox Field Airport and restoration of landscape. Council Member Lancaster referenced the presentation she had given at the previous council meeting. She recommended that a historical marker be placed at the airport. She also mentioned that the shrubs which had spelled out "Paris" were gone and left a vacant space. Council Member Lancaster said the costs involved would be between $100.00 and $2,000.00. A Motion to place a historical marker and replace the shrubs at Cox Field was made by Mayor Hashmi and seconded by Council Member Drake. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays. 11. Discuss and act on the anonymous letter received with documentation, by the Mayor and passed to the Council Members alleging misconduct at the PEDC. Mayor Hashmi said last September, Mrs. Rebecca Clifford and Mr. Bill Strathern gave to City Council separate presentations accusing PEDC of suspected illegal activity, as well as incomplete and poorly financial oversight. He also said recently the Council received an anonymous letter with documentation accusing PEDC of working with a local company to collateralize a loan of 5.8 million dollars with insufficient value of loan security in the amount of $43,970. In summary, the Mayor said the letter alleges that a company in Paris received a loan of 5.8 million dollars from a bank and that the PEDC guaranteed the loan against a property valued at approximately $44,000 in the year 2010. Mayor Hashmi said there may be a problem with loan security or the appraised tax value or both. He also said the letter states there may be a conflict of interest between the City Council Member negotiating the incentive agreement with the PEDC on behalf of the company. Mayor Hashmi said the City Council had received accusations by three different sources, which he felt compelled the Council to take steps to investigate these allegations for protection of the taxpayers, as well as those accused. Mayor Hashmi stated he was going to make a motion and if he did not receive a second to the motion, there would be nothing to discuss.