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VALLEY — Members of the Valley City Council were informed about a successful Clean Up Day at their Monday meeting. 

It took place this Saturday. While volunteers were picking up litter along some city streets, the employees of the Public Works Department were busy at the Farmer’s Market Pavilion collecting unwanted electronic items to be recycled.

“We filled two trucks with recyclable materials,” said Public Works Director Patrick Bolt. “We also had over 200 old tires brought by.”

“We had good turnouts for both Clean Up Day and a senior softball tournament at the Sportsplex,” said Valley Parks & Recreation Director Laurie Blount. “The rain on Saturday interfered with some of the games, but we got some of them in. Everyone had a good time taking part in it.”

Three Valley Police Department officers were promoted at the meeting. Each was elevated to the rank of sergeant. Devonte Allen is now a patrol sergeant, William Burgos is an investigative sergeant and Lawrence Howell is a sergeant assigned to the Drug Task Force.

With Mayor Leonard Riley absent from the meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Kendall Andrews presided over the meeting. Proclamations were approved expressing support for the National Day of Prayer and Valley Haven School’s annual fundraiser, the Hike/Bike/Run.

The Day of Prayer will be observed nationally on Thursday, May 2. It will have a theme of “Lift Up the Word, Light Up the World.”

The proclamation in support of Valley Haven recognizes April 28 through May 4 as Hike/Bike/Run Week in the city. “We call upon citizens of our city to join with thousands of other individuals in generously helping to provide funds for Valley Haven School,” the proclamation reads.

The 48th annual Hike/Bike/Run will be taking place on Saturday, May 4. The LaFayette Day portion of the fundraiser generated close to $10,000. The annual auction, which took place this past Friday evening at the school, raised just under $8,000. A Skate Night will be taking place on Saturday, April 30 at The Skatin’ Rink on Fob James Drive. There will be a $7 per person admission charge with proceeds going to the Hike/Bike/Run. Little Caesar’s Pizza, located on Highway 29 in Valley, will have a Spirit Night for the Hike/Bike/Run on Thursday, May 2.

Valley resident L C Marshall was appointed to two boards, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning Commission. Suzan Rhodes was also appointed to the Historic Preservation Commission.

The council approved a three-item consent agenda. These include permitting the consumption of alcoholic beverages for a wedding shower to be held at Lakeview Cabin on May 4, a birthday party at Lakeview on May 11 and a graduation party on May 25. Council Member Jim Clark wanted to make sure the graduation party wasn’t just for high school kids and was assured that it wasn’t.

First readings were held for ordinances to sell some city-owned property. These two ordinances can be approved following second readings at the Monday, May 13 council meeting.

Tamicha Davis is seeking to purchase a small amount of property on 23rd Boulevard, and Michael and Brenda Parrish have made an offer to purchase a site on Plantation Road. Both requests reflect the fair market value of the land.

Members of the council congratulated the police officers on their promotions. Clark said he’d attended this past weekend’s senior softball tournament and commended the Parks & Recreation Department on having done a great job in putting it on. 

Council Member Henry Cooper thanked the Public Works Department for its quick response in removing a fallen tree from a road in his district. A big tree, he explained, had fallen across the street during a recent rain storm.