MINUTES OF A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF TALLASSEE, ALABAMA
JULY 23, 2019
The Mayor and the City Council of the City of Tallassee, Alabama convened in regular session on Tuesday, July 23, 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 – absent
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, June 25, 2019. There were no additions or changes. Upon motion of Council Member Brown 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, June 25, 2019. There were no additions or changes. Upon motion of Council Member Wilson and a second by Council Member Stough, the minutes were approved by a unanimous vote.
Mayor Hammock presented the minutes of a special council meeting held on Monday, July 8, 2019. There were no additions or changes. Upon motion of Council Member Taunton and a second by Council Member Godwin, the minutes were approved by a unanimous vote.
Item 1: Mayor Hammock stated that based on the discussion in the work session Council Members were in agreement that the electronic door should be installed at the Senior Center. He had received an estimate of $10,411.36 from Home Integrated Solutions. The Council Members were still in agreement to wait on the windows. Council Member Godwin made a motion to approve the expense of $10,411.36 for the electronic door. Council Member Taunton made a second. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Item 2: Mayor Hammock stated that Sizemore & Sizemore had estimated that the sell of the timber at the airport would be approximately $93,000. At the bid opening, two bids had been submitted. Baseline Forest Services submitted the highest bid of $65,585. An ordinance was presented that included the surplus of the timber and the bid of $65,585 from Baseline Forest Services. Council Member Taunton made a motion to introduce the ordinance to approve to surplus the timber. Then, he rescinded his motion to make a motion to suspend the rules to consider the ordinance at this meeting. Council Member Godwin made a second. Upon a roll call, the following vote was recorded: Voting Yay – Council Members Taunton, Carr, Wilson, Brown, Godwin, Stough and Mayor Hammock. Council Member Taunton made a motion that the ordinance be approved, seconded by Council Member Godwin. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously. Ordinance #2019-558 was adopted.
Item 3: Mayor Hammock presented the agreement concerning the filter #4 at the filter plant. Council Member Godwin made a motion that the agreement be approved, seconded by Council Member Taunton. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Item 4: Mayor Hammock stated that with the filter #4 being rebuilt there were options for the materials. CDG Engineers had received estimates of $29,466 from Roberts Filter and $35,200 from Leopold. Although Roberts Filter is lower, Leopold’s product has a higher uplift pressure. Council Member Wilson made a motion to suspend the rules to amend the budget for this expense. Council Member Taunton made a second. Upon a roll call vote, the following was recorded: Voting Yay – Council Members Taunton, Carr, Wilson, Brown, Godwin, Stough and Mayor Hammock. Council Member Taunton made a motion to approve the estimate of $35,200 from Leopold. Council Member Carr made a second. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Item 5: Mayor Hammock announced that there were 2 terms on the Industrial Development Board that were due for (re)appointment. Ann Christian is not interested in being reappointed. Rick Dorley had expressed interest in continuing to serve. Mayor Hammock stated that Griffin Pritchard, Noah Griggs, Jr. and Rob Rygiel had also stated they would like to serve. Anyone interested has to live inside city limits. There are 2 at large positions, but Steve Beasley and Ronald Cullars are appointed to those positions. This will be considered at the council meeting on August 13, 2019.
Item 6: The Tallassee Fire Department submitted a request to apply for a grant through the FY2019 ALEA Homeland Security Competitive Grant program. A resolution was presented for approval to apply for the grant. Council Member Taunton made a motion to adopt the resolution, seconded by Council Member Brown. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously. Resolution #2019-619 was adopted.
Item 7: Courtney Thornton stated that he and his wife had established a public charity called U.N.I.T.Y (Understanding Needs Improves Tomorrows You), because they had watched Tallassee become a separated community. In assessing the needs of the community, they have organized dates for cleanup and have organized a Freedom Walk for August 17, 2019 starting at 9:00 a.m. from the football stadium to the police department. The Council Members were in agreement with the Freedom Walk.
Item 8: Building Inspector Andy Coker reported that the work at the old Hotel Talisi property had been held up until Charter could reroute a cable line that runs to several of the retail stores.
Item 9: Brona and Terry Anthony addressed the Council concerning the mosquito spray service and the effects of the chemicals. They presented a petition with many area residents’ signatures requesting the service to be discontinued on Harris Street.
Item 10: Mayor’s Reports: Mayor Hammock reported on the following:
Tallassee City Schools would have a ground breaking for the parking lot on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at 5:30 p.m.
He expressed appreciation to the Council Members who attended the Board of Education meeting on July 16, 2019 and announced that there would be a subcommittee on August 13, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.
The Tallassee Babe Ruth team came in as runner up at the Regionals in Arkansas.
The City was awarded the grant from the USDA for $21,300.00 to use toward the purchase of the new utility work trucks.
Item 11: Council Reports: Council Members Taunton, Carr, Wilson, Godwin and Stough had no comments.
Council Member Brown reported that the Parks and Recreation Board had been working on creating new and different programs for the recreation department. He listed 3 on 3 Basketball league, adult kickball league, as well as a kickball league for children. Approximately 140 students participate in the soccer program and they do not have a designated field for the program. A field could also be used for other programs as well. Council Member Brown asked for Mayor Hammock to be authorized to apply for a LWCF grant for the construction of a field. Council Member Godwin made a motion to authorize Mayor Hammock to apply for a grant. Council Member Carr made a second. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Item 12: There being no further business before the Council, upon a motion made by Council Member Carr and a second by Council Member Taunton, all Council Members present voted to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.
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JOHN HAMMOCK, Mayor
ATTEST:
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BARBARA B. GARNETT, City Clerk