Fairfield City Council

Dear editor,

Three men recently attended an aviation conference in Galveston to learn more about what it takes to secure an airport grant. City Administrator Jeff Looney and City Councilmen Place 1 Joe Lee Kirgan and Place 4 Landis Bayless spent three days at the 36^th Annual Texas Aviation Conference, hosted by TxDOT and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.

The Fairfield Recorder submitted the following questions to Looney who, after clearing it with the city council, returned these answers:

Dear editor,

Fairfield Mayor Roy Hill tearfully announced his decision last week to not seek another term in office before leaving the meeting and turning things over to Mayor Pro-Tem Joe Lee Kirgan. Hill has served Fairfield for 14 years, first as the youngest mayor pro-tem in Fairfield before being elected mayor.

“I saw my temporary job as your mayor as the 'infrastructure' mayor,” he said. “Most of our original goals have been completed.”

Hill's platform, which he considered Our People's Platform, was to:

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Fairfield City Council discussed the future of Market Days during last week's Tuesday night meeting. According to information compiled by City Administrator Jeff Looney, Market Days has been losing $20,000 per year for five years – a total of $100,000.

Market Days Director Darlene Jones says the problem isn't vendors and shoppers, it's the city cutting her funding and a lack of visible signs to draw shoppers to the market.

Councilman Place 5 Kenny Hughes, who is running for mayor in 2018, suggested – with the support of the council – a workshop to discuss the market, its needs, and more in January.

Looney alleges the city is losing roughly $900 per month in private rentals of the Green Barn and Civic Center, which is where many vendors set up their wares; however, City Secretary Misty Richardson said she only receives “three or four calls a year about renting the Green Barn.”

“So, what's causing the decline?” asked Councilman Place 2 Randy Johnson.

The city council voted to take no action against City Administrator Jeff Looney after several complaints came in against him, sparking a public hearing. Tempers flared when Looney was accused by Precinct 3 Commissioner Mike Daniels of being personally singled out by Looney, as well as verbally abusing his wife, Navlet, during a phone call.

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Mayor Roy Hill fought a close race with competitor Jack Wright when voters headed to the polls Saturday, May 7. Hill retained his seat by a mere three votes. Place 1 Councilman Joe Lee Kirgan kept his current place, beating front runner Patrick Williams by 76 votes. Unopposed Place II Councilman Randy Turner was re-elected with a total of 292 votes. Total votes shown are:

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