MINUTES OF A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF TALLASSEE, ALABAMA
JANUARY 22, 2019
The Mayor and the City Council of the City of Tallassee, Alabama convened in regular session on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the Tallassee Municipal Complex. The meeting was called to order by Mayor John Hammock and the following were recorded as present:
Mayor John Hammock
Council Members Jeremy Taunton
Sarah Hill
Damian Carr
Darrell Wilson
Terrel Brown
Bill Godwin
David Stough
John Smith was present as city attorney and City Clerk Barbara Garnett acted as clerk for the meeting.
Mayor Hammock presented the minutes of the council work session held on Tuesday, January 8, 2019. There were no additions or changes. Upon motion of Council Member Taunton and a second by Council Member Hill, the minutes were approved by a unanimous vote.
Mayor Hammock presented the minutes of the regular council meeting held on Tuesday, January 8, 2019. There were no additions or changes. Upon motion of Council Member Wilson and a second by Council Member Brown, the minutes were approved by a unanimous vote.
Item 1: Mayor Hammock presented a resolution for property located at 404 Second Avenue to be declared as a public nuisance. Building Inspector Andy Coker explained that the exterior of the building has been removed and it is in dire need to be torn down. He had checked with the county regarding the value of the house. There is no assessed value on the house, only on the land. Mr. Coker stated that the house had been purchased by Bill Anthony to be moved to the area of the reenactment but that hasn’t happened. Council Member Taunton made a motion that the resolution be adopted, seconded by Council Member Hill. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously. Resolution #2019-604 was adopted.
Item 2: Mayor Hammock presented a resolution for property located at 33 Log Circle to be declared as a public nuisance. Mr. Coker explained that there is little value to this property, there is extensive roof and window damage. Council Member Carr made a motion that the resolution be adopted, seconded by Council Member Taunton. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously. Resolution #2019-605 was adopted.
Item 3: Mayor Hammock presented a resolution for property located at 804 Third Avenue to be declared as a public nuisance. Mr. Coker explained that this is a block building with no windows with zero value assessed. Council Member Carr made a motion to adopt the resolution, seconded by Council Member Taunton. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously. Resolution #2019-606 was adopted.
Item 4: Mayor Hammock presented a resolution that would authorize the position of Superintendent of Utilities to participate in the Employees Retirement System of Alabama as other utility employees are allowed to participate. Council Member Godwin made a motion that the resolution be adopted, seconded by Council Member Hill. Upon a vote, the motion passed. Mayor Hammock recused himself. Resolution #2019-607 was adopted.
Item 5: Mayor Hammock introduce an ordinance that would amend Ordinance #2016-530 to authorize utility rate increase as recommended by the utility rate analysis performed by Jim Marshall with Jackson Thornton. This is a matter of procedure since the Council Members have approved the utility rate increase recommendation in the past council meeting. Council Member Godwin made a motion that the rules be suspended, seconded by Council Member Hill. Upon a roll call vote, the following was recorded: Voting Yay – Council Members Taunton, Hill, Carr, Wilson, Brown, Godwin, Stough and Mayor Hammock. Council Member Godwin made a motion to adopt the ordinance, seconded by Council Member Brown. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously. Ordinance #2019-556 was adopted.
Item 6: Mayor Hammock stated that he had contacted the local banks regarding the interest rates for a certificate of deposit for the funds received from the sale of the Guest House and the lump payment for the lease of the water tank. He reported that Guardian Credit Union offered the best rate of 2.6% for a 12 month period. Council Member Wilson made a motion to approve the certificate of deposit with
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 22, 2019
PAGE TWO
Guardian Credit Union. Council Member Godwin made a second. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Item 7: Mayor Hammock stated that a bid opening had been held at 12:00 p.m. on January 14, 2019. Only one bid had been submitted. R & R Construction submitted a bid that was extremely over what had been discussed as the budget for this project. Council Member Taunton made a motion to rebid the project. Council Member Godwin made a second. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously. They discussed to rebid the project and set the bid opening date for March 1, 2019 at 12:00 p.m.
Item 8: Mayor Hammock presented a list of vehicles to be declared as surplus:
From the Police Department – 2007 Chevrolet Impala, 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe, 2011 Ford Crown Vic, 2007 Ford 500
From the Cemetery Department – 2001 Ford Taurus
From the Building Department – 2003 Dodge Durango
Council Member Taunton made a motion to declare the vehicles as surplus, seconded by Council Member Hill. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Item 9: Mayor’s Reports: The Mayor’s reports were as follows:
Mayor Hammock presented a resolution authorizing the Senior Center Manager, Mayor and City Clerk to sign checks for the senior center bank accounts. Council Member Wilson made a motion to adopt the resolution, seconded by Council Member Hill. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously. Resolution #2019-608 was adopted.
Mayor Hammock stated that he had sent an update from CDG Engineers on the capital improvement projects.
Mayor Hammock reported that he and Council Member Carr had the privilege to participate in the MLK march and program on January 21, 2019. A great message was delivered by the pastor from New Hope Baptist Church in Tuskegee. Mayor Hammock stated that he was appreciative for the opportunity to speak on the happenings in the City.
Mayor Hammock reported that several employees of the Tallassee Police Department and the Tallassee Volunteer Fire Department went to Wetumpka to offer their assistance and support after the destruction of the tornado.
A Town Hall meeting is scheduled for March 7, 2019 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Citizens will be given the opportunity for comments and questions.
The March 26, 2019 council meeting falls during the week of spring break. He stated that he would be out of town that week. Council Member Hill stated that she would be absent that meeting and the meeting on March 8, 2019 as well. Council Member Wilson made a motion that the council meeting scheduled for March 26, 2019 be cancelled. Council Member Taunton made a second. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously.
The 731st Armory Drill Hall Ceremony will be held on February 3, 2019 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
The Chamber of Commerce Banquet is scheduled for February 7, 2019. Council Members Taunton, Hill, Carr and Godwin plan on joining Mayor and Mrs. Hammock. Chief Higgins and his wife plan to attend also.
Item 10: Council Reports: Council Member Hill expressed appreciation to those individuals who went to Wetumpka to assist with the destruction after the tornado.
Council Member Wilson also expressed appreciation to those who assisted with the destruction in Wetumpka. He asked if the vehicles that had been declared as surplus could be given to Wetumpka since they had lost several vehicles. Chief Higgins replied that the vehicles were not useable.
Council Member Brown inquired about the appointments to the Recreation Board. Mayor Hammock stated that anyone interested in serving needed to contact City Hall. Appointments do not have to be ward specific.
Council Member Godwin announced that a meeting of the Finance Committee would be scheduled in the next few weeks.
Council Members Taunton, Carr and Stough had no comments.
Item 11: There being no further business before the Council, upon a motion made by Council Member Hill and a second by Council Member Carr, all Council Members present voted to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 6:27p.m.
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JOHN HAMMOCK, Mayor
ATTEST:
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BARBARA B. GARNETT, City Clerk