BLOOMINGTON - A Bloomington alderman's attempt to have the City Council vote down a request by Gailey Eye Clinic to close Scott Street instead of approving a delay was called a "slap in the face."

Ward 7 Alderman Steven Purcell said during the Bloomington City Council's meeting Monday that he was tired of the delays regarding the eye clinic's request. Gailey attorney Bob Lenz countered that the clinic and its engineers are working on a new plan to present to the city.

In November, the city's planning commission recommended the council approve the vacation of Scott Street between the clinic, 1008 N. Main St., and its parking lot.

At the November council meeting that followed, several neighbors spoke against the plan. Attempts were made in December to have a meeting between Gailey and the neighbors, but Lenz said that meeting did not come until Jan. 7 because of scheduling conflicts.

That meeting yielded the rough outline of new plan that needs to be reviewed by Gailey's engineers, Gailey's board of directors and the city staff. That prompted Lenz to request another delay until Feb. 23.

The council approved a delay until March 9, which also accommodates neighbors involved in the disagreement.

Before Purcell withdrew his motion to deny Gailey's request, he and Lenz had a bit of a dustup.

Lenz said the clinic has been working toward finding a solution to the disagreement. When asked by Purcell about the council voting to against the delay and voting down the original plan, Lenz was sharp in his reply.

"I regard that, sir, as a slap in the face," Lenz said. "We have been operating in good faith."

After the meeting last week, Lenz said Gailey and its engineers were looking at some proposals.

Purcell, who represents the area, said he has yet to see the proposal and questions whether giving Gailey's the extra six weeks they requested would matter.

In response to Purcell saying he did not see the proposal, Lenz said that it was still only a sketch two days after the meeting.

"Let us work it out with our engineers," Lenz said. "You want the answers before we have the facts."

In other action, the council approved spending $90,000 to study methods to help better control nitrates and phosphates that come into Lake Bloomington from the septic sewer systems from houses in that area. While the septic systems control bacteria, Water Director Craig Cummings said they do not control nitrates and phosphates, which are a concern for the lake.

While the majority of the contaminants in the lake come from field runoff, Cummings said the homes may be a little part of the problem, but it is a part of the problem the city can control.

The council also approved the purchase of $14,000 in surveillance cameras for use by the Bloomington Police Department. The cameras are movable and would be placed in areas the department believes are problems because of drug trafficking, graffiti or other criminal activity.

During discussion, the City Council praised City Manager Tom Hamilton for his 15 years of service and congratulated him on his retirement.