MINUTES OF A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF TALLASSEE, ALABAMA
MAY 28, 2019
The Mayor and the City Council of the City of Tallassee, Alabama convened in regular session on Tuesday, May 28, 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, May 14, 2019. There were no additions or changes. Upon motion of Council Member Taunton and a second by Council Member Carr, the minutes were approved by a unanimous vote.
Mayor Hammock presented the minutes of the regular council meeting held on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. There were no additions or changes. Upon motion of Council Member Brown and a second by Council Member Godwin, the minutes were approved by a unanimous vote.
Item 1: Mayor Hammock presented an ordinance that amends Ordinances #102 and #2007-427 to establish a rate increase for the garbage service. He explained that this service is losing approximately $100,000 a year and this increase will help close that gap. Increasing the fee to $17 a month is about the same amount that residents outside city limits and surrounding areas pay and they do not have trash and debris pick up service. Council Member Hill made a motion to adopt the ordinance, seconded by Council Member Godwin. Upon a vote, the motion passed with a majority vote. Council Member Stough voted nay. Ordinance #2019-557 was adopted.
Item 2: Mayor Hammock presented a resolution that would authorize a grant application to the USDA Community Facility Grant Program to assist with the purchase of 2 trucks for the utility department. Council Member Brown made a motion to approve the resolution, seconded by Council Member Taunton. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously. Resolution #2019-616 was adopted.
Item 3: Mayor Hammock presented a contract for the sale of the timber at the airport. Mr. Smith explained that Sizemore & Sizemore will market the timber. Once the bids come back, the council would need to surplus the timber by ordinance. Council Member Hill made a motion to approve the contract, seconded by Council Member Taunton. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Item 4: Mayor Hammock presented an agreement for solar lease and equipment at the airport property. Mr. Smith stated that there were certain areas of the contract that he had concerns about. He recommended that the Mayor be authorized to negotiate and sign documents necessary for the agreement once the areas of concern have been addressed. Council Member Hill made the motion to approve the recommendation from Mr. Smith concerning the solar lease and equipment agreement. Council Member Taunton made a second. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Item 5: Building Inspector Andy Coker reported that Mr. Wylie Troupe, owner of Hotel Talisi property located at 14 Sistrunk Street, had contracted with L and E Construction to start on Monday, June 3, 2019 to remove the roof and wood work. Another construction company will remove brick from top of building to 8 inches above the second floor window seal. Council Members stated concern about the length of time the demolition and reconstruction would take and that the work to be performed would be by licensed contractors. Council Member Hill requested that Mr. Troupe provide a scope of work with a time line at the next council meeting on June 11, 2019.
Item 6: Suzy Wilson recognized the top finishers of the 100 Mile Challenge. The City of Tallassee’s Healthy Families Initiative challenged citizens to walk, run or bicycle 100 miles between November 1 and May 15. A list of the top finishers is attached to these minutes.
Item 7: Beth Dunn, a resident of Salem Place, expressed her concern of the over growth of weeds on the property located at the corner of Gilmer Avenue and Salem Place. The overgrown kudzu and weeds are
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 28, 2019
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blocking the view of oncoming traffic, endangering those people trying to enter onto Gilmer Avenue from Salem Place. She stated that the property owner has to be notified every year to cut this back.
Item 8: Mayor’s Reports: Mayor Hammock apologized that he missed the Memorial Day program remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. He explained that he was in South Carolina visiting with family.
The Tallassee Economic Development Committee would have a meeting on Thursday, May 30, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.
The new website is active now. It looks great and he expressed appreciation to Johnathon Haywood for working on this for the City of Tallassee.
The Tallassee Now Riverfest event is scheduled for June 7 and 8, 2019. The Mt. Vernon Theatre group has applied for a special event alcohol license with the State of Alabama Beverage Control Board. They had asked if the City would waive the fee for the special event license through the city.
ALDOT had a meeting on May 21, 2019 at City Hall to review their 5 year plan for our Region. Tallassee was not included in the plan.
Bids for the gas line replacement would be opened on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. This project will cover the distance from the bridge on Notasulga Road at Apple Grove subdivision to Hilltop Grocery on Notasulga Road.
The replacement of the utility line project in the downtown area will begin this summer. The design for the downtown streetscape project has to be submitted by September 3, 2019.
Alabama 200 Celebration will be on December 14, 2019. Talisi Historical Preservation Society will be selling caplets for the time capsule for this event.
Item 9: Council Reports: Council Member Hill encouraged everyone to go to ALDOT website and express their concerns in the Tallassee area.
Council Members Taunton, Carr, Wilson, Brown, Godwin and Stough had no comment.
Item 10: 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 6:48 p.m.
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JOHN HAMMOCK, Mayor
ATTEST:
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BARBARA B. GARNETT, City Clerk