JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville City Council addressed economic development, employee compensation and leave policies, public safety projects, personnel changes, outside-agency funding and infrastructure projects during its Sept. 14 work session and regular meeting.
The council began with a 5 p.m. work session that included a compensation practices and leave policy discussion led by Joy Seijo; an amended Parks and Recreation Department maintenance operator job description presented by Janis Burns; a new IT systems specialist job description presented by Tim Smith; and discussions led by Police Chief Marcus Wood concerning proposed alcoholic beverage and camera fee ordinances.
The proposed compensation and leave changes included revisions to the city’s classification and pay plans, employee evaluations, merit adjustments, timekeeping and leave procedures. Under the policy, established employees may receive merit adjustments ranging from zero to 5%, with recommendations above 3% or below 1% requiring written justification. Employee salary schedules are to remain available for public inspection as provided by law.
The policy also maintains several special-pay provisions, including $65 per pay period for K-9 duty; a 6% adjustment for firefighters obtaining EMT licensure and an additional 9% for firefighter/EMTs obtaining paramedic licensure; $35 per hour for public-safety special events; and $45 per hour for police officers serving as court bailiffs. Full-time firefighters and qualifying APOSTC police employees are eligible for $2,600 annually in hazard pay, while full-time corrections officers and public safety communications officers receive $1,300 annually and qualifying part-time employees receive $650.
The revisions also require non-exempt employees to accurately record all working time and prohibit off-the-clock work. Exempt employees are compensated for 80 hours per biweekly pay period and must submit leave for absences of four hours or more, with shorter absences requiring preapproval through the city’s leave-request system.
The new IT systems specialist position is designed to provide day-to-day technology support across city departments, including computers, software, networks, communications systems and cybersecurity. The employee will coordinate with the city’s contracted managed service provider and provide routine support for police, fire and other city operations.
Wood’s alcoholic-beverage discussion centered on a proposed ordinance establishing additional operating and public-safety standards for businesses deriving at least 51% of gross revenue from on-premises alcohol sales. Among its provisions are security staffing requirements for certain establishments, camera requirements for businesses open after 10 p.m., 30-day retention of recordings, safety plans for establishments open after midnight or providing entertainment, and procedures for addressing chronic nuisance activity.
The regular meeting began at 6 p.m., with the invocation given by Pastor Eddie Gooch of New Beginnings Fellowship Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call and adoption of minutes and the agenda. No proclamations or recognitions were scheduled.
The agenda was amended to add three items: an Appalachian Regional Commission grant application, two voluntary police reclassifications and a retirement notification.
No one spoke during the public-comment period for current agenda items. The council also opened a required public hearing concerning incentives for JSU Hotel Group LLC and the proposed 69-room Cobblestone Mainstreet Hotel, but no members of the public spoke during the hearing. Later in the meeting, the council again offered an opportunity for general public comments, with no one coming forward.
Cobblestone Mainstreet Hotel
The council approved Resolution R-2330-26 providing economic-development incentives for the proposed 69-room Cobblestone Mainstreet Hotel on Jacksonville State University property and authorized Mayor Mark Jones to sign the economic development agreement with JSU Hotel Group LLC.
The approved package includes an estimated $75,020 abatement of city building permit fees, an estimated $375,000 reimbursement of sales and use taxes on building materials, and lodging-tax reimbursements estimated at $535,181 during years one through five and $428,145 during years six through 10, for an estimated $963,326 in lodging-tax reimbursements. Total incentives may not exceed 20% of the project’s total cost.
During council discussion, one council member raised concerns about whether the city would be adequately protected if the hotel project failed after incentives had already been provided. The member said future Amendment 772 agreements could be structured so taxes and fees are initially collected and later refunded after required project benchmarks are met. Discussion also focused on the agreement’s clawback provisions and whether there was sufficient financial security, such as a bond or lien, to ensure the city could actually recover funds if repayment became necessary. The member said the concern was not an expectation that the project would fail but a desire to protect taxpayers in future incentive agreements.
The council ultimately approved both the incentive resolution and authorization for the mayor to execute the agreement.
Outside Agency Funding
The council approved Resolution R-2325-26 appropriating $97,450 in FY2027 funding to outside agencies. The individual appropriations are:
- Health Department — $2,500
- Highland Health Systems — $2,500
- Coosa Valley Youth Services — $10,000
- Calhoun-Cleburne Children’s Center — $2,500
- Big Brothers Big Sisters — $500
- Boys and Girls Club — $9,500
- Northeast Alabama Bicycle Association — $10,000
- The Arc of Calhoun & Cleburne Counties — $750
- All Saints Interfaith Center of Concern (Ann) — $2,500
- Jacksonville Christian Outreach Center — $7,500
- Commercial Development Authority — $25,000
- Arts Council — $4,000
- Great Things in Jacksonville — $3,000
- Jacksonville Meals on Wheels — $5,000
- American Legion Post 57 — $2,500
- Animal Advocates for Calhoun County — $1,000
- Alabama Law Enforcement Appreciation Foundation — $3,500
- Jax Snack Pack — $1,000
- The Right Place (Matthew 25 Project) — $1,000
- Jacksonville Farmers Market — $3,200.
Personnel, Public Safety and Infrastructure
The council approved Resolution R-2329-26 revising the city’s compensation practices and leave policies, effective Oct. 7. The resolution states that the changes were intended to update policies involving pay codes, exempt employees and other personnel matters.
Also approved was a right-of-way easement to Alabama Power Company for JPWP No. 26-146, Chief Ladiga lighting. A council member asked during discussion where the easement would be located and was told it involved the Chief Ladiga Trail. The council then approved the measure.
The council approved Resolution R-2332-26 appointing an underwriter and bond counsel for the issuance of warrants for improvements.
As an amended agenda item, the council approved an application to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs for an FY2027 Appalachian Regional Commission Area Development Grant. The city is seeking up to $500,000 for Chief Ladiga Trail improvements and would commit a 50% local match of project costs, up to $500,000, if the grant is awarded. The resolution authorizes Mayor Mark Jones to execute documents required for the application.
The council also approved Amendment No. 2 for JPWP No. 25-137, the Highway 204 gas and water relocation project; Amendment No. 1 for JPWP No. 26-152, pole camera infrastructure; JPWP No. 26-158, the Public Safety Complex drone project; and an agreement with Gulf Coast Survey Co. for the 2026 natural gas leak survey on behalf of the Water Works, Gas and Sewer Board.
Council members approved the amended PARD maintenance operator job description, the new IT systems specialist job description and creation of one IT systems specialist position, and amended initial pay ranges for employment by position.
Personnel actions approved included hiring Jason Carter Ledbetter as a PARD laborer effective Sept. 16 following the termination of Dylan Collins; Jacoby Zackery as a part-time Community Center laborer effective Sept. 16 following the resignation of Temetrious Long; Michael Deryl Harrison as a police officer upon compliance with Ordinance No. 273 following the resignation of Joshua Calderon; and John Kevin West as a police officer upon compliance with Ordinance No. 273 following the resignation of Dalton Fitch.
The council approved the promotion of Troy James Sartin from laborer to utility maintenance assistant effective Sept. 16, following the promotion of Mason Williams. It also accepted the resignations of Micah Craft, police officer, effective Sept. 9; David Smith, firefighter/paramedic, effective Sept. 21; and Nicholas Day, recreation maintenance operator, effective Sept. 8.
Under the amended agenda, the council approved the voluntary reclassification of Rebecca Deckard from police sergeant to the new position of crime lab/evidence technician and Theodore Copland from police corporal to police officer/traffic enforcement officer, both effective Oct. 7. The council also accepted the retirement notification of Kerri Harrelson, clerical assistant, effective Dec. 1.
Administrative Items
The council approved its consolidated administrative items, including a $267.80 police budget amendment for restitution and four purchases exceeding $7,500: $24,768.14 to Cengage for library books; $16,638.75 to Holiday Designs for a 22-foot Natural Branch Garland Tree, topper and ornament package for the Public Square; $19,298.58 to Jacksonville State University for FY2026 Jacksonville Violent Crime Reduction Initiative grant administration; and $19,865.92 to the City of Piedmont Police Department for reimbursement of employee expenses associated with new hire Michael Harrison.
The consolidated action also approved the disposition as scrap of 15 PARD items, including computer equipment, laptops, towers, a monitor, printer and chair. The council accepted Amy Angel’s resignation from the Public Educational Building Authority, effective immediately.
Mayor and Council Remarks
During his report, Mayor Mark Jones thanked the council and city employees, including Scott Calhoun, for completing the city’s budget in a timely manner. Jones also recognized Police Chief Marcus Wood for being named president of his Alabama Public Safety Leadership Academy class and noted Wood’s previous service as president of the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police.
Jones also discussed the Sept. 11 and Sept. 12 memorial events honoring Dwayne Williams, Charles Hayden and Kyle Comfort. He thanked the Jacksonville Police Department, Fire Department, Parks and Recreation Department, Greater Things in Jacksonville and Jacksonville State University, which provided a shuttle for the Saturday event. Jones also recognized David Hall and Roy Williams for organizing the events and Mike Abrams for serving as master of ceremonies. He said he hoped remembering Sept. 11 would help bring the country closer together.
During council remarks, members highlighted the Jacksonville Sunset Market, scheduled for Sept. 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Jacksonville Community Center; Jacksonville High School’s band performance; a Southerners fundraiser supporting the band’s Rose Bowl trip; and the recent Ride to Remember.
With no additional business, the council voted to adjourn.
