May 24th, Jacksonville City Council Meeting and Work Session

1. Call to order.
2. Roll call.
   1. Tony Taylor – Not Present
   2. Andy Green – Present
   3. Terry Wilson – Present
   4. Sherry Laster – Present
   5. Coty Galloway – Present
3. Public Hearing: Flooding Issues. – Eight homeowners from southwestern Jacksonville spoke regarding their individual issues with storm water flooding. A summery of a few of the speakers are below:  Natasha Hammond speaks for a group of people from 3-4 neighborhoods in Southwest Jacksonville. Videos were shown that speak to the volume of stormwater that flows through the neighborhood streets and yards. Flooding is a regular occurrence with any type of rain, not just flash flooding. The previous owners of Ms.Hammond’s home had an engineering survey done and it showed that 2.44 miles of drainage ditches come to a head in the Cotton Creek subdivision and that two streams run through the empty lots with no direction. She asks for help to preserve the neighborhood and make it safe for the children who live there.

   Mark Walker says the ditches near his home were previously cut very deep to help with water flow. However, when they were cut, sufficient rock was not laid to prevent erosion. He worries that his property line will be washed away with storm water. He currently has an exposed sewer line and doesn’t know how to fix it.
   Tracy Spengel requests an engineering survey to be done by the city. She is concerned for homes because most of them are slab homes. Standing water also breeds a big mosquito problem in the neighborhood. Property values are also a concern for these homeowners.

   Chris Shaw says he has noticed the issue worsening over the last 9 years he has lived in his home. He requests help from the Council to help fix the drainage problem.

   Roger Sawyer thanks the Council members for their attention to the issue. He has noticed trees growing in the ditches because of lack of maintenance. His basement has flooded several times. He asks whose responsibility it is to keep ditches maintained.

   Mayor Smith says he speaks for the Council and says that they are committed to help. The engineering company that has already given them a proposal is called S&ME. He wants to make sure everyone has a chance to look it over and give the company a chance to address everyone at a future city council meeting.

   4. Any Other Business. – no other business

Regular Work Session

1. Call to order
2. Roll call
   1. Tony Taylor – Not Present
   2. Andy Green – Present
   3. Terry Wilson – Present
   4. Sherry Laster – Present
   5. Coty Galloway – Present
3. Acceptance of minutes. – no comments
4. Public Information Officer Job Description. – Discussion over pay rate for full time officer. Position may be shared with another city.
5. MOU with Alabama Army National Guard. –
6. Any other business. – Mayor presented the contract from the engineer regarding the flooding problem. The bid was slightly over $6,000. 

Regular Called Work Session

1. Call to order.
2. Invocation: Rev. Steve West First United Methodist Church
3. Pledge of Allegiance.
4. Roll call.
   1. Tony Taylor – Not Present
   2. Andy Green – Present
   3. Terry Wilson – Present
   4. Sherry Laster – Present
   5. Coty Galloway – Present
5. Adoption of minutes. – Unanimously Accepted
6. Adoption of agenda. – Changes made to amend #7 to include negotiations. Added  to agenda. and amendment to agenda to add item 11a.– Unanimously Accepted
7. Consider action to enter into an Executive Session under the Provisions of the Code of Alabama, Section 36-25A-7(a)(6), for approximately 20 minutes, 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 26-25A-7(a)(7) to discuss preliminary negotiations involving matters of trade or commerce in which the governmental body is in competition. – Unanimously Accepted
8. Proclamation. – no proclamation
9. Public comments concerning agenda items. –
   1. Tracy Spengel asks Council to consider adding the complete community to drainage study, not only Cotton Creek subdivision, Phase 3.
10. Consideration of Ordinance that Amends Section 7-198, Section 7-199, Section 7-200, Section 7- 201, Section 7-202 and Section 7-203 of Chapter 7 – Businesses, Article VIII – Mobile Food Vehicles of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Jacksonville, Alabama. (First Reading) 
11. Consideration of Resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign the Preliminary Engineering Agreement with the State of Alabama for JPWP#21-100, Resurfacing on Henry Road, SW and Country Club Drive, SW to the Jacksonville City Limits, Project No. STPOA-0819( ); CPMS Ref# 100070197. – Unanimously Accepted
12. Consider action to authorize the Mayor to enter into a Letter of Intent with Jacksonville Retirement Community, LLC for the development of the profile cotton mill. – Unanimously Accepted
13. Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the Deconstruction Contract with MC Haulers, LLC and K & D Adventures, Owner Kevin Steward, for demolition of the old profile mill building located at 415 Alexandria Road, SW, Jacksonville, per the attached. – Rejected 
14. Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the Agreement regarding Wireless Telecommunications Facilities with The Center for Municipal Solutions, per the attached. – Unanimously Accepted
15.  Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement with S&ME, Inc for a Drainage Study at Cotton Creek Subdivision, Phase 3, per the attached. – Councilman Green notes that this is just the starting point of the drainage study. This section is thought to be the main issue and it will lead to other problem areas being investigated as well. This motion passing will allow the company to start sooner. – Unanimously Accepted
16. Consider action to authorize the Mayor, on behalf of the Water Works, Gas and Sewer Board, to sign the 2021 Public Awareness Program with Enertech, per the attached. – Unanimously Accepted
17. Consider action to authorize the Mayor to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the Alabama Army National Guard 877th Engineer Battalion regarding the Jacksonville Airfield Runway, per the attached. – Unanimously Accepted
18. Consider action to approve the new job description for Public Information Officer, Range 23, per the attached. – Unanimously Accepted
19. Consider action to approve the following employment: a. John Christopher Collins, Fire Marshal, Range 18, effective upon compliance with Ordinance No. 273, due to the resignation of Lee Batey. – Unanimously Accepted
20. Consider action to approve the following promotion: a. Robert Franklin Green, Police Corporal, Range 20, effective May 26, 2021, due to the resignation of Dale Edwards. – Unanimously Accepted
21. Consider action to accept the following resignations: a. Charles Campbell, Utility Maintenance Assistant, effective May 21, 2021. b. Jamal Steward, Part-Time PARD Laborer, effective June 6, 2021. – Unanimously Accepted
22. Disposition of Surplus Property. – Unanimously Accepted
23. Boards/Committees. – Unanimously Accepted
24. Public comments for general items.
    1. Several members of the community expressed disappointment that a contract was for the water study.  They felt it should include more areas. Mark Stephens mentioned that the plan is to address the areas with the most structures first. This is a starting process and the city didn’t want any delays.  This does not mean no other areas will be included on the final study. 
25. Council Member Remarks. – No remarks
26. Mayor’s report.
    1. Cheaha Challenge was a great success. Approximately 1400 riders signed up from 36 states
    2. Upcoming events:
       1. June 1 Summer Reading Program begins at Jacksonville Public Library
       2. June 19 from 9am-3pm Fair on the Square
27. Any Other Business. – None
28. Adjournment. – Unanimously Accepted