MINUTES OF A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF TALLASSEE, ALABAMA
March 12, 2019
The Mayor and the City Council of the City of Tallassee, Alabama convened in regular session on Tuesday, March 12, 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
Joe Seawell Moore 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, February 26, 2019. 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.
Mayor Hammock presented the minutes of the regular council meeting held on Tuesday, February 26, 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.
Item 1: Mayor Hammock recognized the Tallassee Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors who introduced themselves as Mary Kate Lackey, Kayla Jolly, Mallory Nichols and Catherine Crawford. They stated that during their internship they had assisted the Chamber of Commerce with the Annual Banquet, the Dam Century Ride and the distribution of the trees on Arbor Day.
Item 2: Mayor Hammock presented a resolution to declare a public nuisance at 14 Sistrunk Street and called upon Building Inspector Andy Coker to explain the situation. Mr. Coker explained that this is the old Hotel Talisi property. There is a crack in the back of the building and the roof has come off. He has met with 3 downtown business owners and received numerous complaints on the condition of the structure. Owner Wylie Troupe has hired an engineer and has drawing plans to have the wall and roof repaired. Mr. Troupe had presented a letter requesting a 60 day extension. Council Member Stough commented that the Hotel Talisi has been here for many years and people had come from everywhere to eat there and we should wait 60 days. Mr. Coker explained the dangerous issues with the flashing coming off, the collapsed roof and the crack in the wall of the building. Council Member Godwin stated that he would like to see the building remain but since this situation had been brought to the city’s attention, it needs to be addressed. Mr. Coker stated that Mr. Troupe has 30 days to appeal the decision. Council Member Taunton stated that it comes down to a safety issue and historical or not, it needs to be condemned. Council Member Hill made a motion to approve the resolution, seconded by Council Member Godwin. Upon a vote, the motion passed. Council Member Stough voted nay. Resolution #2019-610 was adopted.
Item 3: Mayor Hammock presented a request from the Alabama Power Company for an easement across the right of way behind A.E.S. Industries. They are installing a siren that will be activated as a warning when the turbins are turned on to generate electricity, which causes the water to rise rapidly. Council Member Wilson made a motion to approve the easement, seconded by Council Member Hill. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Item 4: Mayor Hammock explained that 3 bids had been received for the capital improvement project at the Recreation Center. Thrash Construction had submitted a bid that did not included all tasks and would not be considered. R & R Construction submitted a bid of $186,950.96 and One Call Roofing & Remodel submitted a bid of $116,277.00. Council Member Wilson made a motion to accept the low bid of $116,277.00 from One Call Roofing & Remodel. Council Member Brown made a second. Council Member Taunton recused from voting due to where he works. Upon a vote, the motion passed. Council Member Godwin made a motion to use the funds, approximately $104,000, from the Recreation Facility account towards the expense of the capital improvement project. Council Member Hill made a second. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Next, Council Member Godwin made a motion to suspend the rules, seconded by Council Member Carr. Upon a roll call vote the following was recorded: Voting Yay – Council Members Taunton, Hill, Carr,
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Wilson, Brown, Godwin, Stough and Mayor Hammock. Then, Council Member Godwin made a motion to amend the budget to include approximately $12,000.00 for the balance of the project. Council Member Carr made a second. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Item 5: Mayor Hammock stated that one bid had been submitted for the surplus property on Orr Lane. Mike and Denise Harper had submitted a bid of $1,000.00. Upon a motion from Council Member Hill and a second from Council Member Wilson, the motion passed unanimously. Next, Council Member Taunton made a motion to authorize Mayor Hammock to execute the Quit Claim Deed. Council Member Hill made a second. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Item 6: Mayor Hammock presented a request from Mt Vernon Theatre for the portion of Dubois Street from the stop sign at the intersection of James Street to the red light at Barnett Boulevard be closed from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on March 17, 2019 for a children’s event they had planned. Upon a motion from Council Member Taunton and a second from Council Member Stough, the motion passed. Council Member Wilson voted nay.
Item 7: Mayor Hammock presented a request from the Tallassee Lions’ Club for sponsorship assistance for the Lions’ Roaring 5K Run in April. Council Member Godwin stated that the Finance Committee would review this at their meeting on March 14, 2019 and report back.
Item 8: Mayor’s Reports: Mayor Hammock made the following comments:
Mayor Hammock stated that Alex Harwick has the hangar at the airport and left a letter stating that in the contract he has to have $100,000 insurance to protect the city. He requests that the insurance requirement be removed from the airport contract. Council Member Hill stated that she wouldn’t agree to that, that he could forfeit the lease.
Opening Ceremony for the Dixie Youth Girls’ Softball is scheduled for Friday, March 22, 2019 at 5:30 p.m.
Opening Ceremony for the Dixie Youth Boys’ Baseball is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. There will be a dedication service for the newly constructed concession stand that the city agreed to partially fund.
Mayor Hammock recognized Chief Higgins. Chief Higgins explained that the new software for dispatch would be installed by the end of the month, the contracts had been signed. He requested authorization to submit a grant application through Firehouse Subs for new computers. There would not be matching funds. All council members were in agreement.
Mayor Hammock reported that Alabama Power was in the process of changing all street lights to LED lighting.
Mayor Hammock reported that were approximately 760 available cemetery lots remaining in Rose Hill Cemetery. We use approximately 60 annually. We need to start looking at what other municipalities are doing as far as mausoleums and cremations. The Woodall property that has been discussed several times is still tied up in an estate.
Mayor Hammock reported that the Tallassee Economic Development Committee had a 2 hour meeting and is going to work with Retail Strategies.
Mayor Hammock announced that the THS Alumni would have their alumni induction service on Thursday, March 14, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. and lunch at 1220 Café.
Mayor Hammock reported that he would be at WTLS on March 13 and WACQ on March 14 at 7:30 a.m.
Mayor Hammock expressed appreciation to the Council Members and City Hall staff for their assistance with the Town Hall meeting
Mayor Hammock reminded everyone that the March 26, 2019 council meeting had been cancelled and the next meeting would be Tuesday, April 9, 2019.
Item 7: Council Reports: Council Member Taunton stated that the Council had voted to assist the Lion’s Club with the basketball tournament on November 13, 2018.
Council Member Wilson asked fellow finance committee members to look at the budget to see if there were funds available to paint the community safe room.
Council Member Brown reported that the Parks and Recreation Board would be meeting on March 28, 2019 at 6:00 to introduce the new members and elect new officers.
Council Member Godwin announced that a meeting of the Finance Committee is scheduled for Thursday, March 14, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.
Council Member Stough stated that the Town Hall meeting was a success and for those who were not there, they missed a very informative meeting. He also wanted to explain why he voted against the
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resolution to declare the Hotel Talisi property a public nuisance, he wanted to give them 60 days to fix the safety issues.
Council Members Hill and Carr had no comments.
Item 8: 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 6:38 p.m.
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JOHN HAMMOCK, Mayor
ATTEST:
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BARBARA B. GARNETT, City Clerk