MINUTES OF A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF TALLASSEE, ALABAMA
JANUARY 28, 2020
The Mayor and the City Council of the City of Tallassee, Alabama convened in regular session on Tuesday, January 28, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the Tallassee Municipal Complex. The meeting was called to order by Mayor 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 Whitney Moon acted as clerk for the meeting.
Mayor Hammock presented the minutes of the council work session held on Tuesday, January 14, 2020. There were no additions or changes. Upon motion of Council Member Hill and a second by Council Member Taunton, the minutes were approved by a unanimous vote. Council Members Stough and Wilson abstained from voting because they were absent from the January 14th meeting.
Mayor Hammock presented the minutes of the regular council meeting held on Tuesday, January 14, 2020. There were no additions or changes. Upon motion of Council Member Taunton and second by Council Member Carr, the minutes were approved by a unanimous vote. Council Members Stough and Wilson abstained from voting because they were absent from the January 14th meeting.
Item 1: The open positions on the Recreational Board were discussed. Interested parties should contact their council members.
Item 2: Resolution concerning a Public Nuisance at 225 Main Street was discussed. Council Member Taunton made a motion to approve the Resolution, seconded by Council Member Godwin. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously. Resolution 2020-631 was adopted.
Item 3: Chief Higgins presented the 2019 Public Safety Stats.
Item 4: Chief Higgins recognized newly promoted officers. Sergeant Drinkard was promoted to Lieutenant. Corporal Anderson was promoted to Sergeant. Corporal Manning was promoted to Sergeant. Officer Highland was promoted to Corporal. Officer Smith was promoted to Corporal.
Item 5: The municipal water pollution prevention annual report was presented. Council Member Godwin made a motion to approve the report, seconded by Council Member Taunton. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Item 6: Jeff Harrison with CDG discussed drainage issues in Ward 2, focusing on a project on Whatley Drive. Council Member Godwin made a motion to approve the project and get a loan with First Community Bank for $380,000, using the money from the gasoline sales tax to make the payments, seconded by Council Member Taunton. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Item 7: The bids on the library were discussed during the work session. It was decided to rebid this with more clarification.
Item 8: The bids on the recreation center were discussed during the work session. It was decided to rebid this with more clarification.
Item 9: Mayor’s Reports: Mayor Hammock wanted to have a temporary allocation of $1500 to the Library board until the audit. Council Member Hill made a motion to suspend the rules, seconded by Council Member Wilson. Upon a roll call vote, the motion was approved by a unanimous vote. Council Member Hill made a motion to give the Library board a temporary allocation of $1500, seconded by Council Member Godwin. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously. Mayor Hammock requested a cemetery committee meeting in the near future. $111,052 was found in a CD from 1995 that was not in the budget. After talking with the finance committee, Mayor Hammock suggested that we cash it in and buy 3 police vehicles and a corrections van. Council Member Godwin made a motion to use this money to purchase a transport van and 3 police vehicles and that Mayor Hammock and Chief Higgins pursue the USDA grant to get up to 35% of the money back, seconded by Council Member Hill. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously. There is an Airport Fund CD for $27,252 that matures on February 2, 2020. Mayor Hammock suggested that we put the money in an Economic Development CD to use at a later date. Council Member Hill made a motion to utilize this money to open an Economic Development CD, seconded by Council Member Godwin. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously. There is a $52,317.36 CD marked Cemetery Fund. Mayor Hammock suggested that we put it in a CD for Economic Development to use at a later date. Council Member Hill made a motion to utilize this money to open an Economic Development CD, seconded by Council Member Brown. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously. Phase 1 assessment is being done by ADEM right now on the East Side Mill. We have applied for a Brownsfield phase 2 grant that we should find out something this summer on. That would consist of soil samples and other testing. Congressman Bradley Bryne was in town today. Mayor Hammock will be at Design Alabama Mayor’s Summit February 5th and 6th. The Chamber Banquet is at 6:30pm February 6. There is a gospel singing and fundraiser at 1220 Café warehouse on February 8th starting at 3PM to help raise money for God’s Congregational Holiness Church. There is a birthday party for Bill Goss at 1220 Café warehouse on February 9th from 1:30 to 3:30PM. Let Suzy Wilson know if you are going. Mayor Hammock gave an update on the CDBG Grant. Waiting on Historic Commission to give us the ok on these structures. We are waiting on ALDOT to give us the green light that the funds are available to get started downtown. We are still in the design phase of the waste water treatment facility but should be breaking ground later this year. We are gearing up to upgrade a water line on Little Road. We are getting ready to blast and paint the water tower in Ward 2. We have wrapped up the gas line project in Ward 7 and are getting ready to bid out the next project. Bill Patterson approached the Mayor about moving the Girl Scout Hut with the stipulation that it be moved within 30 days. Council Member Hill made the motion to continue with the original plan to burn the Girl Scout Hut, seconded by Council Member Brown. Upon a vote, the motion passed by a 5-2 majority, with Council Members Stough and Wilson voting nay.
Item 10: Council Reports: Council Members Taunton, Hill, Carr, Brown, Wilson, Godwin, and Stough all wanted to congratulate the officers on their promotions.
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 6:51 p.m.
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JOHN HAMMOCK, Mayor
ATTEST:
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WHITNEY MOON, City Clerk