10/10/2018
Jim Evancho
City Council Work Session
The Jacksonville City Council held their work session and meeting earlier this week. With the absence of Jerry Parris due to an illness the remaining board members were able to carry on and conclude the meeting with successful results.
Item four on the agenda was the “Chief Ladiga Trail Video Promotion Presentation”. Mr Brad Gilbert was unable to show the board any video’s but did give them a verbal presentation. Gilbert advised that the Ladiga Trail is a natural beauty and should be showcased to potential tourists coming to the South. He went on to state that they would use two actors that will be riding the trail to show some of the amazing sites along the trail. The cost for this production would be approximately $15 thousand dollars but the Mayor interjected that the other cities that the trail runs through have shown an interest in offsetting the total cost. The County, City of Weaver, City of Piedmont, and the City of Jacksonville have expressed an affirmative for helping with costs while the City of Anniston has not gotten back to the Mayor with a response.
Item five was the “JMCM Consulting Agreement” (JMCM Consulting is a firm that assists non-profits and government agencies with grant writing, funding searches, and project development). The Jacksonville Fire Department is attempting to secure a new ladder truck, SCBA’s (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus), and a rescue tool comparable to jaws of life. If the grant is secured and all items are available the total cost would be $1.3 million dollars but only $130 thousand would come from the City of Jacksonville. The request must be in this month and a decision will be announced sometime in June of 2019.
Item six was the “WWG&SB Purchase Proposal”. The Water Gas and Sewer Department would like to purchase a parcel of land located on Church Street next to Ft. Mclellan Credit Union. The purchase price is $140 thousand dollars but there is not a date to start building any structures. The property would be seen as an investment if it is later determined that building a new facility would not be cost effective. The land would then be put up for sale on the open market.
Item seven was the “Police Chief Position”. The Board discussed the process of interviewing and hiring a new chief. Mayor Smith brought up a concern that was mentioned by the Civil Service Board. The Civil Service Board advised that there is a policy in Jacksonville that precludes hiring outside the department and needs to be done through promotion. The discussion went on regarding the policy vs. Alabama Acts governing the hiring process of a Chief of Police. The topic was tabled to be discussed at a later time. Another item brought up by the Mayor was the possible changing of the Animal Control Officer to be held under the Jacksonville Police Department control. It was determined that a committee should be organized to look into the transfer. Mayor Smith, Tony Taylor, Jimmy Harrell, Albertha (Bert) Grant, and JSU Director of Criminal Justice Dean Dr. Rick Davis will make up the committee to look into the transfer of Animal Control.
Item eight was the “Zoning Ordinance”. The planning commission requested a special City Council work session to discuss the proposed new zoning. Due to the voluminous amount of materials it would be difficult to discuss during a normal work session. The council agreed and tentatively set the meetings for November 1st and 3rd.
City Council Meeting
The council agenda was amended to include a section 9 – a, b, and c. 9A – Consider the action to authorize the Mayor to sign the change of order agreement additional services with S&ME for engineering consulting and design services for the Jacksonville Piedmont inner landfill, permit 08-03 per attached.
9B – Consider ration of resolution to approve an amended application for tax abatement
9C Approval for the County to pave certain roads in Jacksonville $28.5 thousand dollars and for Jacksonville to pave parking lot across from City Hall for $15.5 thousand dollars.
All agenda were items unanimously approved.
Marita Watson, President of the Board of Education and parent of a child in the JCS school system, addressed the council to thank them for the crosswalks in front of the school. She also went on to state how the design of the crosswalk brings the area together with the colors used.
