The second reading of a hot-button proposed ordinance for fees charged to city government agencies was considered for approval by the Marshall City Council on Monday, October 4.

Ward 2 Councilman Kirk Arends explained the general reason for the ordinance.

Marshall Municipal Utilities’ Board of Public Works’ President Wick Jacobi asked for the council to at least look over information prior to voting on the ordinance.

Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Guthrey agreed that it might not be a bad idea to talk to department heads prior to voting.

After more input from Arends, MMU General Manager Jeff Bergstrom and new Marshall City Administrator JD Kehrman, Arends made a motion to approve the ordinance. His motion was seconded by Ward 1 Councilman Leon Thompson.

Councilmen Arends, Leon Thompson and Ward 2’s Robert Ashford voted to approve; Guthrey and Ward 4 Councilman Craig Thompson voted no; and Ward 1 Councilman Dewey Hendrix abstained. Ward 3 Councilman Dan Brandt was absent; and the Ward 4 Council seat vacated by the resignation of Harold Simmons in September has not been filled yet.

After seeking legal advice, a city spokesperson says the ordinance did not pass because it did not receive a yes vote of a majority of the elected councilmen, which currently is seven. It would have taken four yes votes to be approved.

Since the ordinance- in its current form- did not pass, if the council brings it back in the future- in this or another format, it will start all over in the process, meaning two readings will need to be approved before it would go into effect.

For the record, this ordinance called for the city clerk to quarterly collect and pay into the general fund of the city one-half of one percent of the gross revenue collections of the city’s Board of Public Works, Marshall Tourism Commission, Park Board and Band Commission as reimbursement for administrative services and costs provided by the city.