Jacksonville, AL –The Jacksonville City Council held a regularly scheduled work session and city council meeting on Febuary 24th, 2025.
- Call to order.
- Invocation: Rev. Eddie Gooch
- New Beginning Global Methodist Church
- Pledge of Allegiance.
- Roll call. – All Present
- Proclamation. – None
- Work Session:
- Acceptance of Minutes. – No comments
- Council Place No. 5.
- During the meeting, each candidate was assigned a letter, and the council had a list of candidates’ names along with their respective letters. Nominations were made based on the candidates’ names as listed. Candidate G was ranked number seven, Candidate C was ranked number six, Candidate A was ranked number four, Candidate B was ranked number three, Candidate D was ranked number two, and Candidate F was ranked number one. The difference between Candidate F and Candidate D was five points. Following this, a nomination was made for Marques Green to be appointed to City Council Place Five.
- Fire Truck – Keith Kadle.
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The meeting focused on the purchase of a fire truck, which has a delay of 38 months. The fire department is considering paying for the truck, which costs $1.02 million, but there are several payment options that offer discounts for prepayment.
The option that the council is leaning toward is a 25% down payment, amounting to $255,057. This option provides a discount of $29,756.65, lowering the total selling price to $990,471.35. The discussion highlighted the importance of securing the truck sooner, as delivery is projected between February and April 2028 if the order is placed now.
There was considerable discussion about whether to pay more upfront to secure a larger discount or to choose a lower down payment to retain more funds for other needs. However, the 25% down payment option seemed the most reasonable. This choice balances securing the truck at a lower price with the flexibility of retaining funds for other projects, including the uncertainty surrounding the new fire station.
The council members considered the implications of this decision on the department’s overall budget, as there are other expenses like radios and equipment that might also require funding in the near future. However, it was determined that the 25% down payment would be the most practical option, allowing the department to move forward with the truck purchase while still keeping enough funds available for future needs.
Ultimately, the fire truck will be purchased for $990,471.35, with the discount of $29,756.65 factored in, ensuring a balance between securing the vehicle quickly and maintaining financial flexibility for the department.
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- Farmers Market.
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The discussion on the Farmers Market focused on a contractor agreement and several key changes for the upcoming season:
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Number of Weeks Reduced: The number of weeks for the market season was reduced from 30 to 28.
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$10 Fee Concern: There was concern about the $10 fee collected from vendors. It was clarified that these funds would be used strictly for marketing purposes. Any unused funds would be carried over to the next season to grow the marketing budget.
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Market Manager Fee: The market manager will receive a $3,200 fee for managing the market.
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Vendor Regulations: Vendors will be required to sign a new set of regulations for the season.
Summer Angel, a vendor with 25 years of experience, expressed her appreciation for the market, highlighting its role as a community hub and her support for the initiative.
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- Any other business.
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Mayor Smith shared several updates regarding roadwork and infrastructure projects:
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He praised Stanley Carr for his work ethic and effectiveness. The mayor mentioned how he and Stanley had discussed doing some street paving outside of the MPO project, as the next MPO project isn’t scheduled until 2027. Originally, it was estimated that paving Vann Street would cost around $1 million, which was seen as financially unfeasible. However, after further discussions, it was determined that they would be able to pave Vann Street (from Hammett Avenue to the dead-end east of 8th Avenue), along with 6th Street (from Church to 12th Street) and 6th Avenue (from Francis Avenue south to the dead-end) for less than half the initial estimate. Along with the paving work, other planned projects include overlaying existing streets and performing milling in curb and gutter areas.
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Square Project Continuation: The mayor expressed interest in continuing the square project, noting that they are at the conceptual stage. The key next step involves signing a contract with CDG to work on the plans. Matt, from CDG, provided an update on the conceptual plan. They discussed moving State Route 21 slightly to accommodate the project and determined that there may be enough asphalt to support the traffic, which would provide additional buffer for the budget. Matt assured the mayor and council that safeguards are in place to ensure the budget is maintained, with contingencies to account for any unforeseen issues. The project will be funded through an 80-20 grant from the Alabama Department of Transportation, with the city’s match making up 20% of the costs. The mayor emphasized that keeping the city’s match at the expected level is crucial for the success of the project. The project will include public meetings where citizens can learn about the progress, ask questions, and provide feedback. Matt and other associates from CDG will be available to answer any questions during these meetings. Matt reassured the council that he remains confident the project will stay within budget. He acknowledged the volatility of the market but noted that costs are now becoming easier to predict. The goal is to keep the project at or under the budgeted amount, as per the mayor’s request. Once the contract with CDG is signed, the team will proceed with more detailed design work and continue to monitor costs closely to ensure the project remains within budget while improving pedestrian safety around the public square.
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- Adoption of minutes. – Unanimously Approved
- Adoption of agenda. – Unanimously Approved changes
- Add: Consider action to approve JPWP No. 25-133, Vann Street, 6th Street and 6th Avenue Paving Project.
- Add: Consider action to approve the 2025 Farmers Market Rules and Regulations.
- Add: Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the Contractor Agreement with Summer Angel for Farmers Market Manager.
- Add: Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the Agreement for Professional Services with Three Notch Group d/b/a CDG, Inc., for Engineering Services for the Pedestrian Safety Improvements along SR-21 at the Jacksonville Public Square.
- Add: Consider action to approve the employment of the following: Cody Nicholas Canas, Police Officer, Range 18, effective upon complience with Ordinance No. 273 (new postion: FY2024 COPS Hiring Program Award #15JCOPS-24-GG-0336-UHPX)
- Public comments concerning agenda items. – None
- Consider action to appoint Marques Green to City Council Place No. 5. – Unanimously Approved
- The City Council expressed their appreciation for all seven candidates who applied for the recent council appointment. One council member emphasized that the decision was not made lightly and that it was clear the candidates were committed to helping the city. They acknowledged that there are many ways to contribute to the community, including upcoming elections, and encouraged those who applied to stay involved. The council also noted how fortunate the city is to have such a high caliber of applicants, as not many cities would have such strong interest in public service.
- Consider action to approve JPWP No. 25-133, Vann Street, 6th Street and 6th Avenue Paving Project. – Unanimously Approved
- Consider action to approve the 2025 Farmers Market Rules and Regulations. – Unanimously Approved
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Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the Contractor Agreement with Summer Angel for Farmers Market Manager. – Unanimously Approved
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Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the Agreement for Professional Services with Three Notch Group d/b/a CDG, Inc., for Engineering Services for the Pedestrian Safety Improvements along SR-21 at the Jacksonville Public Square. – Unanimously Approved
- Consider action to approve the amended job description for the Assistant Building Inspector, Range 18. – Unanimously Approved
- Consider action to acknowledge the retirement notification of the following: – Unanimously Approved
- Jeremiah Weldon, Police Sergeant, effective February 12, 2025.
- Consider action to approve the promotion of the following:
- Jacob Collins, Police Sergeant, Range 22, effective February 26, 2025, due to the retirement of Jeremiah Weldon. – Unanimously Approved
- Consider action to approve the employment of the following:
- Cody Nicholas Canas, Police Officer, Range 18, effective upon complience with Ordinance No. 273 (new postion: FY2024 COPS Hiring Program Award #15JCOPS-24-GG-0336-UHPX) – Unanimously Approved
- Consent Agenda – Unanimously Approved
- Budget Amendments.
- Purchases over $7,500.00.
- Disposition of Surplus Property.
- Public comments for general items. – None
- Council Member Remarks.
- Terry Wilson praised the efforts of the police department, fire department, and other emergency agencies for their swift response during an incident on a Saturday. He highlighted how quickly they acted, which contributed to the sense of safety and well-being in the community. Wilson expressed deep gratitude for the resources and services in place, emphasizing how fortunate the city is to have such dedicated teams.
- Mayor’s report.
- The “Take Pride in Jacksonville” event was discussed, featuring activities like recycling, trash cleanup, and a free landfill day. Additionally, the fire department is hosting a separate event with training sessions, including bleeding control, in collaboration with partners.
- Any Other Business. – None
- Adjournment. – Unanimously Approved
After the meeting the Calhoun Jouranl had a chance to speak to Marques Green about his appoitment otthe City Council seat vacated by Coty Galloway. He stated, “I want to thank all the other candidates that applied and also the city council members who voted. This decision wasn’t taken lightly, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to be part of this process. I look forward to leading with a focus on change, trust, and doing what’s best for the community.”
