MINUTES OF A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF TALLASSEE, ALABAMA
AUGUST 24, 2021
The Mayor and the City Council of the City of Tallassee, Alabama convened in regular session on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 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-absent
Damian Carr
Bill Hall
Terrel Brown
Bill Godwin
Fred Randall Hughey
John Smith was present as city attorney and Whitney Pitchford as secretary for the meeting.
Mayor Hammock presented the minutes of the council work session held on Tuesday, August 10, 2021. There were no additions or changes. Upon motion of Councilmember Hall and second by Councilmember Carr, the minutes were approved by a unanimous vote.
Mayor Hammock presented the minutes of the regular council meeting held on Tuesday, August 10, 2021. There were no additions or changes. Upon motion of Councilmember Brown and second by Councilmember Carr, the minutes were approved by a unanimous vote.
Item 1: The Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance was introduced.
Item 2: Carry Cox and Rick Dorley discussed the possibility of bringing a new company to the City. Mayor Hammock expressed his concern of this company only paying employees $10/hour, stating that there were currently over 600 jobs available in the 36078 area and we couldn’t fill those and they were paying more than $10/hour. Mayor Hammock stated that this was poverty level and he did not promote poverty. Councilmember Hall made a motion that, as an incentive to this new business to locate in the Tallassee Industrial Park, and in exchange for the Tallassee Industrial Development Board being responsible for the cost of the infrastructure development that would be part of that incentive, the City would agree to waive all permitting and tap fees associated with this new business’s connection to the City’s water and sewer system and give the Tallassee Industrial Development Board a $220,000 credit toward the sums owed the City by the Industrial Development Board for the UDAG account so long as the IDB agreed to pay the remaining balance it owes the City for the UDAG account within the next 60 months. IDB Executive Director Rick Dorley and board chairman Don Heacock agreed with this proposal. On a second from Councilmember Godwin, the council voted to approve the motion. Mayor Hammock voted no.
Item 3: Donna Funderburk recognized all of the swim team State Champions. The swim team thanked the council for keeping the pool open this summer.
Item 4: COVID related absences were discussed. Councilmember Godwin made a motion to pay an employee up to 80 hours if they had a COVID positive test and up to an additional 40 hours if the employee still cannot return to work and has a note from their doctor, seconded by Councilmember Taunton. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote.
Item 5: Jeff Harrison discussed the Whatley Drive Project and explained why the project was now $515,000 instead of the $379,000. Councilmember Godwin asked if CDG could provide any help/assistance to this cost since the city was not aware of this. Jeff Harrison was going to discuss this with CDG.
Item 6: The appointment of two TRA members was discussed during the work session. Councilmember Hughey made a motion to appoint Linda Mosher to the TRA, seconded by Councilmember Godwin. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously. Councilmember Hughey made a motion to appoint Steve Burak to the TRA, seconded by Councilmember Taunton. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Item 7: Mayor Hammock reported on a number of additional items.
- The mold report for City Hall was handed out to councilmembers.
- CDBG grant is underway.
- Rick Pate will be on Tallassee Talk.
- Finance Committee meeting August 30th at 1PM.
Mayor Hammock said the council needed to go into executive session. Councilmember Taunton made a motion to go into executive session, seconded by Councilmember Hall and a vote in favor by all. Councilmember Taunton made a motion to exit executive session, seconded by Councilmember Hall and a vote in favor by all.
Item 8: Council Reports:
- Councilmember Carr wanted to thank the building department and everyone else for helping tear down the houses.
- Councilmember Hughey wanted to see if someone could look at the drainage issues on Silvan Lane.
Item 9: There being no further business before the council, and upon motion of Councilmember Taunton and second of Councilmember Hall, the council unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 7:29 p.m.
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JOHN HAMMOCK, Mayor
ATTEST:
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WHITNEY PITCHFORD, City Clerk