Jacksonville, AL –The Jacksonville City Council held a regularly scheduled work session and city council meeting on March 11th, 2024.
- Call to order.
- Invocation.
- Pledge of Allegiance.
- Roll call.
- Tony Taylor – Present
- Sherry Laster – Present
- Coty Galloway – Present
- Andy Green – Present
- Terry Wilson – Present
- Proclamation – None
- Work Session
- Acceptance of Minute – None
- Retail Strategies – Alex Edwards.
- In this discussion, the portfolio director for the City of Jacksonville’s retail recruitment team provided updates on their activities and partnerships. The team consists of three members, with a focus on promoting Jacksonville to retailers and developers. They attend trade shows regularly and have had success in attracting businesses to the area.The director highlighted recent wins in the market, including securing slots for various businesses such as Pelting Claws, Aaron’s, Northeast Orthopedics, Family Dollar, Boreal, and Five Below. The emphasis was on the return on investment (ROI), with an annual sales tax revenue of over $300,000 generated by these businesses for the community.The team discussed ongoing efforts in recruiting new retailers, including those in hospitality and hotels due to increased demand from the growing campus and high enrollment numbers. However, they acknowledged challenges in finding suitable real estate for larger users.The team emphasized the importance of local experts and community members keeping them informed about changes and opportunities in the market. Overall, the focus was on the team’s dedication to promoting economic development through retail and their commitment to long-term partnerships with the City of Jacksonville.
- WWGSB Job Description Amendment – Chris Patterson.
- Mr. Patterson addressed a concerning situation related to the wastewater operator position, expressing the difficulty in finding trained operators over the last three years. They emphasized that it has become nearly impossible to recruit and train operators, with a historically low 8% pass rate in recent years. The speaker expressed a heartfelt concern about losing valuable team members and requested additional time from the mayor and the Water Works Board to address the training challenges. The speaker also mentioned the recent loss of a trained operator to a better opportunity, highlighting the growing difficulty in retaining and recruiting skilled personnel for the position. Overall, the speaker underscored the urgency of the issue and its potential impact on the city and other municipalities in the coming years.
- Voting Delegates for ALM Annual Business Meeting, May 17, 2024.
- Councilman Tony Taylor will be the delegate with Councilmen Andy Green and Terry Wilson being alternatives.
- Any other business.
- Councilman Coty Galloway asked for an update on the Sidewalk project from Mark Stevens.Mr. Stevens stated he had contacted an engineering company last week to provide an update on a project. They mentioned that the Mayor, Tony, and Spark were involved in the communication. Currently in the process of moving emails off, the speaker shared information from the engineer, who stated that approval of the environmental document was anticipated to take between two to three months. With one month already passed, if it takes the full three months, the project’s submittal is expected back to the council in April. Following a two-month review, authorization for the project is anticipated in June.Mr. Stevens highlighted that a contract with the engineering company was signed about a year ago in January. If authorization is received, construction could commence in August, with the project targeted for completion by January 11. The speaker noted that after council discussion, there are plans to invite the engineers to the next work session and have the city attorney draft a letter stating that if the project deadline is missed and grant money is lost, the engineering company would be held responsible for the funds.
- Adoption of minutes. – Unanimously Approved
- Adoption of agenda. – Unanimously Approved with changes
- Amend: Consideration of Ordinance No. O-653-24 that Amends a Portion of Article II – Technical Codes, Section 6-21 – Adopted, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Jacksonville, Alabama. (First Reading)
- Amend: Consider action to adjourn into an Executive Session under the provisions of the Code of Alabama Section 36-24A-7(a)(7) to discuss matters of economic development, trade or commerce.
- Add: Dispostion of Surplus Property Police Department No decal – Brush Guard removed from vehicle 20-6365 – sell Govdeals.
- Public comments concerning agenda. – None
- Consider action to receive the Request of Devin Landrum, Gregory Jarrett and Mary Pate to vacate a portion of an alley that lies North of 4th Street, NE and East of 2nd Avenue, NE and West of 3d Avenue, NE and schedule a Public Hearing for same on Monday, April 22, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. – Unanimously Approved
- Consideration of Ordinance No. O-653-24 that Amends a Portion of Article II – Technical Codes, Section 6-21 – Adopted, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Jacksonville, Alabama. (First Reading) – No Action Required
- Consideration of Resolution R-2203-24 regarding the Temporary Closure of 7th Street, NE Between Church Avenue, NE and 2nd Avenue, NE., Effective March 18th, 2024 – Unanimously Approved
- Effective Date will be March 18th and requests were made to have more effective signage and flashing lights.
- Requests were bade to make effective date
- Consider action to approve JPWP#24-124 Jacksonville Community Center/Workout Room Roof Repair. – Unanimously Approved
- Consider action to approve the amended job description of Wastewater Operator III/Water Operator II – Trainee, Range 10. – Unanimously Approved
- Consider action to accept the resignation of the following: – Unanimously Approved
- Joshua Martin, Wastewater Operator III/Water Operator II, effective March 15, 2024.
- Consent Agenda – Unanimously Approved
- Budget Amendment Requests.
- PARD
- Increase Account No. 10-07-6602-00-60129 in the amount of $30.00 for reimbursement from ARPA District IV for awards plaque.
- Police
- Increase Account No. 18-01-6000-00-70333 in the amount of $43,000.00 from the sell of a 2021 Chevrolet Gray Chevrolet Tahoe, VIN 1GNSKLED2MR441735, Decal No. 7800.
- PARD
- Budget Amendment Requests.
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- Requests to Attend Conference/Training Session with Costs Exceeding $1,000.00
- $1,417.72 for Scott Calhoun to attend ACCMA Summer Conference in Orange Beach, May 29-31, 2024.
- $1,239.95 for Quadarius Cochran to attend National Symposium on Child Abuse in Huntsville, March 18-21, 2024.
- Disposition of Surplus Property.
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- Police
- Decal No. 7198 – 2015 Dodge Charger, 4 door, VIN 2C3CDXAG9FH759566 – sell.
- Decal No. 7199 – 2015 Dodge Charger, 4 door, VIN 2C3CDXAG0FH59567 – sell.
- Decal No. 6936 – 2013 Dodge Charger, 4 door, VIN 2C3CDXAG0DH578336 – sell.
- No decal – Brush Guard removed from vehicle 20-6365 – sell Govdeals.
- Utility Maintenance
- Decal No. 597 – 7 x 16 Equipment Trailer – sell.
- Police
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- Requests to Attend Conference/Training Session with Costs Exceeding $1,000.00
- Public comments for general items. – None
- Council Member Remarks.
- Councilman Taylor thanked everyone who helps in keeping the city off the right path.
- Mayor’s report.
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- The City Hall grand opening will be April 7th.
- Take Pride in Jacksonville will be April 13th and will start at the new City Hall.
- March 29th City Hall will be closed.
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- Any Other Business. – None
- Consider action to adjourn into an Executive Session under the provisions of the Code of Alabama Section 36-24A-7(a)(7) to discuss matters of economic development, trade or commerce. – Unanimously Approved
