Council approves agreement to end housing lawsuit

By Staff
Jason Houston FCT Managing Editor
In front of a large group of concerned citizens at Monday night's meeting, the Russellville City Council voted unanimously to approve a mediation agreement that seeks to bring closure to a lawsuit filed against the city.
The agreement, tabled at last week's council meeting, is designed to end a lawsuit filed by Jerry James against the city concerning manufacturing houses placed in the city limits.
City attorney Jeff Bowling said the agreement is part of a settlement with James that had to be acted on by Nov. 30.
The mediation agreement includes an amendment to the zoning ordinance for the city that the council approved at a meeting Nov. 15. That amendment creates a five-member Compatibility Review Board that will, in the future, review applications for modular or manufactured homes and decide if they meet the standards of the ordinance and surrounding neighborhoods.
According to Bowling, James' lawsuit stemmed from a application that was filed to place a mobile home in Cedar Creek subdivision.
His zoning variance application was denied, and James then appealed to Franklin County circuit court.
Bowling said the mediation agreement will not effect the Cedar Creek case; that case will be heard in front of Circuit Judge Sharon Hester at a date to be determined.
In other action Monday night, the council also approved a proposal from Valley State Bank for city depositories.
The council also held a budget work session following the meeting.
The next meeting of the city council will be Dec. 6.