David and Tim Richmond, representing the family ownership of the company, accepted the award from Mayor Martin Tice.

Economic Development Director Jami Williams said the company was selected because of its support of local organizations and charities, and because it has contributed 11 new jobs to the local economy in the last year.

In other matters, Councilor Bill Holdeman repeated his practice of being the dissenting vote in a 4-1 approval of the current agenda. He said saying the determination of who speaks should "be decided by the gavel" under Roberts Rules of Order instead of by an agenda.

Holdeman also asked for a discussion on whether city purchases of more than $500 should be allowed without prior approval of the council.

Councilor Stacey Collett said that as long as city departments were staying within purchases that were budgeted, he didn't see any problem. He said eliminating the flexibility by department heads to make such purchase could be detrimental to normal conduct of business.

Holdeman also suggested that purchases of more than $5,000 automatically go up for bids.

City Administrator David Mayfield said city workers normally consult with him whether purchases of more than $5,000 fall within approval.

Public Works Director Harvey Sanders said electrical transformers and wiring sometimes need to be provided too quickly after storm damage to wait for bids.

He said there is little difference in prices between companies, and that the companies purchased from now actually offer their help and services to get power restored. They also are the companies most local to Marion, he added.

The discussion died with no further contributions.

The council approved that $150 of $200 donated to the city through an award to Mayfield be used for participation of a city golf team in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Golf tournament.

Williams asked the council to consider putting a value on a city-owned lot on the north side of Main Street and west of Vine so she could see if she could sell it, probably for storage units.

Williams said the city should try to get taxable property there instead of continually paying to mow it. She also suggested the city annex properties on South Third, including the city sewage ponds, the tree dump and the police firing range.

Former Mayor Max Hayen spoke up from the audience that former city commissions had rejected the idea of annexing those properties because it also would give the city ownership of the county bridge coming into town, thereby creating a new expense to maintain or replace.

Mayor Martin Tice asked that City Attorney Dan Baldwin look into all of the properties discussed before the council takes any action.

The council approved purchase of nine more solar lights for the walking trail through Central Park at $175 each since solar lights already there have proved successful.

A utility billing ordinance was approved setting a deposit of $150 for new applicants for utilities.

Mayfield said the refuse department isn't making a margin for the city as it should. He suggested the problem be corrected in the 2007 budget by charging residents extra for garbage bags instead of including them as part of the refuse rate.

Mayfield said on June 28 the city would be opening bids to upgrade the water plant.