The Italy City Council took no action regarding allegations against Dean Carrell, public works director, at its monthly meeting held Monday evening.

The council spent less than half-an-hour in executive session discussing the allegations. They returned and took no action. Many council members complained about the unsigned accusations.

In other business, the council unanimously approved traffic control devices being located at three locations.

The first location will add a second stop sign at the intersection of Couch and Travis streets. A stop sign is already located at Travis Street on the west side of the intersection with Couch Street. The traffic coming from Avalon Road and going west toward the intersection will have the right-of-way.

A yield sign was approved at the Main Street and SH 34 split for traffic coming onto SH 34.

The third location will relocate a stop sign from Couch Street at the short curve off SH 34 and Main Street to the end of the short curve. Diron Hill, chief of police, said Couch Street should have the right-of-way in both directions.

Rodney Guthrie made the motion to approve the changes with a second from Dennis Perkins Jr.

The council also approved the payment of $2,532.45 to Harris Body Shop for the repair of a police vehicle.

Hill explained that an officer was hit by a motorcycle while en route to a training session. He said the driver of the motorcycle had no insurance so they filed with TML and received a check for $2,282.45. Teri Murdock, city secretary/administrator, said the only amount the city has to pay is the $250 deductible.

Greg Richards made the motion to approve the payment with a second from Frank Jackson. The motion passed unanimously. Guthrie excused himself from the vote.

The chief of police also explained to the council issues they are having with the Waxahachie Animal Shelter Services.

Hill said the animal services department has been moved to the police department with the City of Waxahachie. He said prices have increased dramatically. He said a 72 hour hold of an animal increased from $20 to $41. In addition, he said a $200 charge has been added if an animal is picked up after hours.

The chief said they are working on an alternate location to take the animals that would be less costly.

Richards made the motion to approve the Agreement of Services with the Waxahachie Police Department with a second from Bruce Utley. Again, Guthrie excused himself from the vote.

The council also unanimously agreed to name Jackie Dwayne Cate to the vacated position on the Italy Economic Development Corporation. Guthrie made the motion to name Cate to the I-EDC with a second from Richards.

A tabled item from last month was the approval for the Italy Opry to build an extension to the stage at the Boze Community Center. No action was taken because opry members said they don’t have the entire $1,200 needed to construct the addition.

An extensive amount of time was spent discussing a fire lane between the fire station and buildings facing Main Street.

When the item was discussed several months ago, Jimmy Hyles, owner of one of the properties across from the fire station, asked that the city do a survey to find out where the property lines were located.

Murdock said she has contacted someone to do the survey but it has not been done yet.

Don Chambers, fire chief, said all he was asking for the proper signage to be put back up. He said the signs which state – no parking fire lane – were taken down when work was done on the pavilion.

Hyles said the city could put a fire lane 10’ from his building. Chambers explained that there was only 41’ between the fire station and buildings and said the fire truck was 31’ long. Hyles responded that the firefighters could maneuver the truck out of the garage even if a vehicle was parked next to the building.

Guthrie made the motion to purchase eight new signs and four posts to replace those that were taken down. The motion was approved unanimously.

The council also approved the transfer of funds from the money market to the general fund until the city starts receiving property taxes.

The council also heard department reports and approved consent items.