Long time Harlan City Councilman Orv Roecker has resigned from the Council. His resignation was approved with regret, by the Council during their meeting, on Tuesday. Councilmember Dave Miller said Roecker will be missed and provided a lot of good for the community. In his resignation letter to the city of Harlan, Roecker said, “I thank everyone for their support over the years and during my current health concerns. I have loved working for the citizens of Harlan as Council member and Mayor for over 18 years.”

Roecker was Harlan Mayor from 1982 to 1987 after being a council member from 1980 to 1981. His current term as Harlan City Councilmember began in 2002. In other business, the Harlan City Council approved the condemnation of two properties in the City limits. In a Personnel and Finance Committee meeting on August 23^rd, a motion was moved to proceed with abandoning and condemnation of the properties at 402 Broadway Street, and 1612 8^th Street, as long as the funds were available through SWIPCO’s Demolition of Nuisance Properties Grant.

The Council also approved a motion to approve Sta-Bilt Construction to perform seal coating and asphalt prime coat on Elm Street from 5^th to 6^th, 5^th Street from Elm to Farnum, 2^nd Street from Court to Exchange and 4^th from Cyclone to Broadway. Mayor Gene Gettys reported to the Harlan City Council, he met with Shelby County DevelopSource and the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce directors to discuss combining organizations. He said there is much to be discussed and he is working with other Counties that have combined the organizations, before any decision will be made.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)