Happening Now

September 28, 2021  
Lee Evancho  

Work Session

Bear and Sons
  • Call to order.

  • Roll call.

    • Tony Taylor – Present
    • Terry Wilson – 
    • Present
    • Sherry Laster – 
    • Present
    • Andy Green – 
    • Present
    • Coty Galloway – Arrived Approximately 5 mins late
  • Acceptance of minutes.

  • Mobile Sign Discussion. – Unique Marketing Concepts spoke at the last meeting and there was not time for a discussion. The idea is to market using a vehicle with lighted signage. This vehicle would travel the streets of Jacksonville promoting businesses and events. Councilman Wilson wanted to know if the light created problems for traffic and if an ordnance could be created to govern the brightness and the use of residential streets. Councilman Green wanted to make sure that local businesses were not hindered in advertising and promoting themselves and their events by creating a restrictive ordinance. Councilman Taylor wanted to take into consideration potential neighbor complains over lighted signs and signs with sound. It was noted that a provisional business license could be granted while the city reviewed the issue and actually saw it in practice. The license could be revoked at anytime if issues arose. There are currently not any similar ordinances in Anniston or Oxford even though this marketing system is active in those cities. 

  • FY2022 General Fund and WWG&SB Budgets. – There have been a few changes made to the budget since the last meetings. There have been seven full-time positions added, two seasonal positions added, and a 2% cost of living adjustment (COLA) added. This has created a need for $6.43K to come from reserves to have a balanced budget. Councilman Taylor stated he was glad the city could absorb the 2% COLA increase. 

  • Schneider Historic Preservation, LLC Agreement regarding community safe room at Eastwood Property. – Mark Stevens spoke about a grant that was applied for a safe room 2.5 years ago. An email was recovered on 8/12/21 from Alabama EMA stating that at this time they could not proceed with the grant due to the current plan casing an adverse effect to a historic place. To resolve this the city must hire a historic architect to create digital plans, create a storyboard to preserve the historical significance of the location. The cost of having this done would be $10,460.64. If the grant is not given the city would be responsible for this cost. The grant application is for $350,000. The location in question is the old Eastwood High School. There was much discussion about changing the plans to be behind the facade of the school instead of being a freestanding building on the school’s property.  The requirements are because these are federal funds and any building over 50 years old is considered historic. After much discussion it was determined that even if the grant was not awarded the storyboard was a good idea and would be in place for whatever improvements were made to the building. 

  • Goodwin Mills Cawood, LLC Engineering Agreement. – This agreement is concerning Frogtown Park. A meeting was held with the engineers. They will complete the full design and survey all 12 acres. The contract amount is $95,000 and includes the firm handling the bidding process. The initial bids may not be for the complete park. It may only be for an initial park, pavilion, and playground. There would also be the option to add additional pavilions, restrooms, and expansion of the park at a later time. There is another grant that is coming up called the Land and Water Conservation grant and the RD&D Council for Trees. This would be for $7,000. One requirement is a buffer between the park and residential areas. This grant would allow for trees to be planted for a buffer. 

  • OCVapps Agreement. – tabled for now and removed from the agenda. 

  • Turner Construction Company Agreement for City Hall Construction Management Services. – This company was suggested by Bill Whitaker for the city hall project. They were being asked to contract for $50,000 for cost estimating. After speaking to the council they are now countering  to do cost estimating and construction services for $298,000. They are also refusing to to the initial agreed upon cost estimating without the construction management services. Mr. Whittaker has located two firms who are willing to do the cost estimating. After discussion it was determined to not move forward with a contract as construction management services would not be beneficial at this time. Most of those services are already being provided by Mr. Whittaker. 

  • New City Hall (front façade) – Bill Whittaker. – Two design ideas were presented. One was a more modern approach and one a more traditional. Three views were given of each idea. All these photos are renderings. September 29th is the deadline for 10% completion so a direction did need to be given. Mayor Smith and Councilman Galloway preferred the more traditional view. Councilwoman Laster and Councilman Taylor preferred the modern look. Councilman Wilson like both, but was leaning toward the more modern look. Councilman Green didn’t have a strong preference, but after discussion agreed with the majority to move with the modern design. The goal is to break ground in April.    (Photos below)   

  • Any other business.

    • The mayor wanted to extend sick leave due to COVID. This is currently on the agenda. 
    • The trail extension project grant was applied for four years ago. The cities’ application has been passed over each time because of the competitive bid process. The question is now, do they want to apply for it a fourth time. Points are earned each time a city applies. The grant is for $400,000. It is a 80/20 split. The trail would extend from the current Chief Ladiga Trail, down James Hopkins, George Douthit and connect with the Public Safety building trail. While much frustration was expressed, the decision was to apply, but also have a plan in place to start the trail even if the grant application was rejected. 

City Council Meeting

  • Call to order.
  • Invocation
    • Rev. Steve West – First United Methodist Church
  • Pledge of Allegiance.
  • Roll call.
    • Tony Taylor – Present
    • Terry Wilson – Present
    • Sherry Laster – Present
    • Andy Green – Present
    • Coty Galloway – Present
  • Adoption of minutes. – Unanimously Approved
  • Adoption of agenda. – Unanimously Approved with Additions, Deletions, and Amendments
    • Remove – Consider action to approve the John Deere Financial Master Lease-Purchase Agreement for the purchase of a 2022 John Deere 755K Crawler Loader for the Landfill, per the attached.
    •  Remove – Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the Agreement for Custom iPhone and Android Mobile App Development Services and Support with OCVapps, per the attached.
    • Add – Consider Action to accept the Planning Commission Report regarding a Zoning Amendment Request by ABL Properties, LLC to designate property for former Stoney Brook Golf Course property, per the attached, and to schedule a Public Hearing for November 8, 2021, regarding same. 
    • Add – Consider action to approve a provisional advertising license for Unique Marketing Concepts, LLC pending the adoption of an Ordnance to govern said advertising license. 
    • Add – Consider action to approve the reclassification of the following:
      • Franklin C Cinto, Full-Time Corrections Officer, Range 9, effective September 29, 2021, due to the resignation of Braxton Bentley. (Mr. Cinto is currently a Part-Time Corrections Officer)
    • Amend – Consider action to adjourn into an Executive Session under the Provisions of the Code of Alabama, Section 36-25A-7(a) Section 3(a) to discuss with the attorney the legal ramifications of and legal options for pending litigation, Section 6 to discuss the consideration the governmental body is willing to offer or accept when considering the purchase, sale, exchange, lease or market value of real property, and Section 7 to discuss preliminary negotiation involving maters of trade or commerce.
  • Proclamation. – No proclomation
  • Public comments concerning agenda items. – No Comments
  •  Consider Action to accept the Planning Commission Report regarding a Zoning Amendment Request by ABL Properties, LLC to designate property for former Stoney Brook Golf Course property, per the attached, and to schedule a Public Hearing for November 8, 2021, regarding same.  – Unanimously Approved
  • Consider action to Suspend the Rules for the Immediate consideration of an Ordinance Adopting and Confirming the Transfer of Property and a Lease Agreement in Connection with the Issuance, Sale and Delivery of the Public Building Authority of the City of Jacksonville, Alabama of Its $5,880,000 Principal Amount of Least Revenue Bonds, Series 2021, to be dated October 20, 2021. – Unanimously Approved
  • Consideration of Ordinance Adopting and Confirming the Transfer of Property and a Lease Agreement in Connection with the Issuance, Sale and Delivery of the Public Building Authority of the City of Jacksonville, Alabama of Its $5,880,000 Principal Amount of Least Revenue Bonds, Series 2021, to be dated October 20, 2021. – Unanimously Approved
  • Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the Lease Agreement between the Public Building Authority and the City of Jacksonville, per the attached. – Unanimously Approved
  • Consideration of Ordinance that Completely Amends and Replaces Section 24-67 (Number of Structures on Lot) to Chapter 24, Article III, Division 1, of the Code of Ordinances. (Received First Reading September 13, 2021) – Unanimously Approved
  • Consider action to approve a 2% Cost of Living Adjustment for all Full Time and Part Time General Fund and Water Works, Gas and Sewer Board employees and approve the FY2022 Pay Scales, per the attached. – Unanimously Approved
  • Consider action to approve the FY2022 General Fund Budget, per the attached. – Unanimously Approved
  • Consider action to approve the FY2022 Water Works, Gas and Sewer Board Budget, per the attached. – Unanimously Approved
  •  Consider action to approve a provisional advertising license for Unique Marketing Concepts, LLC pending the adoption of an Ordnance to govern said advertising license. – Unanimously Approved 
  • Consider action to approve the extension of up to 80 hours of Emergency Sick Leave (ESL), with pay, for all City and Water Work, Gas and Sewer Board employees ending October 31, 2021. – Unanimously Approved
  • Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the Agreement for Professional Engineering Services with Goodwin Mills Cawood, LLC for Frog Town Creekside Park Improvements, per the attached. – Unanimously Approved
  • Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the Consulting Services Agreement with Schneider Historic Preservation, LLC, regarding proposed Community Safe Room at Eastwood Property located at 620 Gardner Drive, SE, Jacksonville, per the attached. – Unanimously Approved
  • Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the Traffic Enforcement Agreement for FY2022 with the East Central Alabama Highway Safety Office, per the attached. – Unanimously Approved
  • Consider action to approve the list of Charged Off Accounts for the Water Works, Gas and Sewer Board for the period February 10, 2021 through July 10, 2021, in the amount of $4,749.61, per the attached. – Unanimously Approved
  • Consider action to approve the employment of the following:
    • Jamal Steward, Part-Time Laborer in PARD, effective upon compliance with Ordinance No. 273, due to the resignation of Hunter Sparks. – Unanimously Approved
  • Consider action to approve the reclassification of the following:
    • Tanner Jumper, Firefighter/EMT, Range 11, effective September 29, 2021, due to obtaining EMT Certification. – Unanimously Approved
    • Franklin C Cinto, Full-Time Corrections Officer, Range 9, effective September 29, 2021, due to the resignation of Braxton Bentley. (Mr. Cinto is currently a Part-Time Corrections Officer) – Unanimously Approved
  • Consider action to accept the following resignations:
    • Braxton Bentley, Corrections Officer, effective September 14, 2021. – Unanimously Approved
  • Consent Agenda – Unanimously Approved
    • Purchases Over $7,500.00
    • Disposition of Surplus Property.
    • Destruction of Records.
  • Public comments for general items.
    • Fernandices Parker spoke concerning the Eastwood Section of Jacksonville. He stated he was born in 1959 and left Alabama in 1965. He has been back in Jacksonville for about a year and a half and he is devastated by the “blight” that is Eastwood. He stated that on one street there are six houses that are beyond repair and need to be torn down. He called the area  a “ghetto” and stated, “No one wants to live in a ghetto, nobody wants to go to a ghetto.” He also pointed out that no council member lives in this area and they wouldn’t want to. He also said it was an insult to his ancestors who worked so hard to now have this be their legacy. He also stated if this was in any other area of the city, the council would have already acted. He called upon the council to put a plan in place to rebuild and restore the area. He also committed to showing up and saying the same thing at each and every council meeting until change started to happen. 
  • Council Member Remarks. – No remarks
  • Mayor’s report. – No Report
  • Any Other Business. – No other business
  • Consider action to adjourn into an Executive Session under the Provisions of the Code of Alabama, Section 36-25A-7(a) Section 3(a) to discuss with the attorney the legal ramifications of and legal options for pending litigation, Section 6 to discuss the consideration the governmental body is willing to offer or accept when considering the purchase, sale, exchange, lease or market value of real property, and Section 7 to discuss preliminary negotiation involving matters of trade or commerce. – Unanimously Approved
 
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