City Council - Regular Meeting

with a roll call, please. Yes, sir. Mr. Cesy, here. Mr. Lucas, here. Mrs. Henry, here. Mrs. Golden, here. Mr. Cybert, here. All five present.

Thank you. We'll go ahead and get started with our work session. We've got a couple things tonight. We've got a our first item of business is a public hearing relating to zoning approval for the sale of alcohol in the city of Athens by Square at 113 which located 113 South Marian Street. That is nothing to vote on, just a public hearing. Um the second item we have public hearing wise is relating to zoning approval for the sale of alcohol in the city of Athens by Maza Pizza number one. Uh that's a change of ownership. So any questions on either of these are just public hearings. Any questions on those? Okay. Our first we don't have a consent calendar. So, our first item of business on the regular calendar is a resolution to approve a restaurant retail liker restaurant retail liquor on premise only alcohol license for Logan's Roadhouse Enterprises. Also, a change of ownership. I don't think there's anything unique about that. Just a change of ownership. But does anybody have any questions on that? Okay. Okay. Who will take that one?

I will. Lucas. Okay. Item B is a resolution to approve a lounge retail liquor alcohol license for J Cathco uh from Jify. Uh the Jify at 716 Hob Street. that is a addition to the building that is now offering more things. They have uh added on to their facility out there in front of uh hometown and looks good and this is their addition. Okay. Does anybody have any questions on that one?

Okay. Who will take that? I will.

All right. Item C is a resolution to approve matching funds for the TVA community care fund not to exceed 23,000 from the electric department FY 2026 budget. This will provide funding to nonprofit agencies and expand the scope to include all projects that support one of the TVA giving pillars, education, workforce development, training, environmental and community stewardship, disaster relief, and emergency response, health, hunger, and housing. Funds for this purpose are included in the FY2026 electric department budget. Does anybody have any questions for Hunter? Hunter,

I just add Miss Cybert and thank y'all. TVA uh sets aside a a pot of money sometime. We don't know exactly what it is. It's been higher than this and then we match that to give it toward educational facilities and these issues that are here. So, it's a great it's a great program. uh the school system and others have to apply for it and it's looked at and then we do the awards or actually TVA does the awards a little later on. Did that pretty much cover it, Blair Hunter? Yeah. Any other questions on that one for anybody? Does this need a um suspension?

I don't think so. It's added in the budgeted budget. It does not. We'll take that. Amy,

item D is a resolution authorizing the electric services director to accept the low bid of $586,265 from Seaman's Energy for the 5 to 161 kilovolt substation breakers for Athens Utilities Electric Substations. The cost expenses related to this resolution shall be paid from the 2015 warrant fund andor the 2022 warrant fund. Any Blair or anybody got any anything to add?

This is a question related to Okay. Anybody have questions on that? No. Does this need suspension? It does. Okay. Who will take that? I will. Henry, who will do the rules? I will.

Okay. Item E is a resolution authorizing the electric services director to award the contract for chemical vegetation control to Progressive Solutions LLC for an annual cost for three years of $89,140 for Athens utility substations and shall be funded from the existing FY2026 electric department budget. Blair, anything to add on this one? This is for routine maintenance for our substations and rightway program.

Okay. Any questions from anybody on that one? No. U rules rules requiring rule suspension. Okay. Who will take that? I will. Item F, and we've got all of these. Um, resolution to approve travel education expenses for Councilman James Lucas for advocacy day in Montgomery, Alabama in the amount of 31832. Uh, who will take that? I will.

No rules required. Uh item G is a resolution to approve travel education expenses for Councilwoman Golden for Advocacy Day in Montgomery, Alabama in the amount of 29635. Who will take that? I'll take it. Probably. Item H is a resolution approved travel education expenses for Councilwoman Dana Henry for advocacy day in McGomery, Alabama in the amount of 26536.

I'll take that. Item I and J, I will hand the gavvel to Councilwoman Promp Henry. Uh, item I is a resolution approved travel education expenses for Councilwoman Chris for advocacy day in Montgomery in the amount of 265.35. And then she will handle item J, which is a resolution to reappoint me to the Solid Waste Authority for a three-year term expiring on February 28th, 2029. Who will take that? I'll take it.

And that's it. As far as our regular business, we have Is this an add-on? It's up here. Oh, it's justformational. Okay. Does anybody Is there anything else? Mayor, Shane, Annette, anything else to add? Cover two or three things that I was going to cover later if you'd like for me to. Yeah, we've got you 10 minutes on here. So, if you want to One is Let me uh let me catch up. I got a letter, Eric, and I got a letter from Wilbur today trying to catch up on some issues related to Bonnie Dune department. Yes.

Let me give you guys an update on that the best I can. Uh the two complaints from those that who showed up at the previous meeting at the last city council meeting have been corrected. There are other complaints from if there are other complaints from specific units we're not aware of them. So if they are they need to be turned in well specific to any place there. Charlie with our department works with Eric was out there every day last week and the week prior to that to meet with site maintenance person uh who's there quite a bit. They're not required to be there on a day-to-day basis, but they are required to have a maintenance person. And uh Molina, who is that the manager, Eric?

Millennial. Yes, Millennium, I'm sorry. The owner of the the property also purchased several permits to make repairs for several items on unoccupied units. So, we have some permits that have been pulled. There's no requirement that a property manager be on site every day. The maintenance person has been regular on the property. If there are any specific complaints, um we would like to know um what, when, where, why, and so we can follow up on those. And we are still working on the removal of the burn building, waiting on the asbestous survey at this point. So that's an update as of today with Eric and myself and uh Will. So I wanted you to know your letter is being addressed. It's not being forgotten and we're following up on it. Uh that's the issue regarding Bonnie Dune. Uh let me tell you, I I think this uh arrived. I left you um a piece of paper related to the PBHG properties uh that was going to go in front of TJ Maxx. last week or sometime in the last week or so, uh I said on the radio that this uh project was dead and obviously somebody took off on it to say, "Well, there you go again. Y'all paying a bunch of developers to do nothing and now the project's dead." I want you to know that's absolutely not true. You approved this resolution back in 200 I think 24. Uh it was an incentive based on the door opening on this project and sales tax in a rears of $180,000. There has been not one penny paid to anybody about this project. So I want to

give you the minutes with that to let you know exactly where we are in case you heard of this. Uh I'm sure if any of you read social media, you've heard of it. Uh the other one is when we were in budget meetings with uh Councilman Cybert and Henry, we talked about the tiff districts that we uh created. And so I gave you a copy of Tiff Tiff District 1. It's on Prior Street. On your package, you also see the amount of money that's been created in that tiff district. it can only be spent in that district for improvements and uh so that's been uh being looked at. We've not spent any money out of those tiff districts now, but it is available in that district. Tiff District 2 is on Highway 31. TI District 3 is on Highway 72 west of Interstate 65 and it shows that budget amount. And Tiff district 4 was on Elm Street that we recently created you guys did and it's where food city and others and there is been no funds recouped from that district at this time and that's information from men and net as of Friday of this past week but I wanted to give you that information. Um

yeah, and just for our new council, I mean that money was when we deemed that area a tiff, we basically set a a baseline for the amount of sales tax that was collected at that time. And anything as those, you know, the the the idea behind the tiff is you want to push investment and hopefully revitalize some of these districts. And the money above and beyond that baseline is then set aside in a separate fund that can be used within that tiff district. Is that a good synopsis? Property tax. Property tax. Yes. No sales tax. No sales tax. Just property tax.

Yes, that's right. And then each tiff plan when it was adopted by the city council contains a list of projects. So when that increment or that additional money above the baseline is collected in terms of property taxes then it could be used with respect to those projects to do various kinds of revitalization within the district. Whether that's sewer lines, utility lines, lighting, sidewalks, those kinds of things. That doesn't mean that those plans can't change. It's within the council's ability to change the use of those funds in the plans. There's a legal process that you would go through in order to change those plans. Uh but yes, sir, that's right. it's property taxes. This did not change the tax rate. So, it doesn't mess with anybody's taxes or increase them or anything.

It's just as there is a natural growth in property value, that increment over that baseline amount and the new the new value, that increment as it grows over time with the natural appreciation of property just values of properties and therefore the taxes. That's what goes into the pot. Okay? And so, you've got Annette's got segregated funds set aside. So those monies, those dollar amounts that they have provided to you, think of those as pots, little pots for each one of those that hold those funds pursuant to the plans that you've adopted in the ordinances. Got it. Okay. Does anybody have any questions on that? I know some of you

really really a great project. I appreciate you guys coming forward with us creating those districts and we'll continue to look at it and it's if improvements are made it's a way for us to fund you know the streets, the roads, the sidewalks with something in there that's really helped a good bit. Um been doing a lot of discussion and talk over the past few months uh and I met with uh Councilman Golden, Council Person Golden and Mr. Lucas about the possibility of spinning off of what we have done for Main Street where we allocated $100,000 to Main Street. If you'll recall not long ago, just a meeting or two ago, to put toward any investments or improvements that is done around our Main Street district, our area. So, as we talked about things, we said, "Why don't we look at maybe a pilot project to go outside those districts, particularly let's look at district, council district 5 and council district three, and let's put a pot of money into each of those districts and go through the same counterprocess like you do for Main Street. In other words, take an application, see what the investments are, see what the potential for revenue is, and see how we can help if the business person or someone goes in, makes an investment, and shows us that they are spending money and helping to improve the revenue stream. I think it's a great way to kind of spin off and maybe we look at other districts. If this is successful, I would uh ask that the city council look at appropriating uh a 100,000 in each one of those districts. Let's try it and see how it goes. And then if it is successful,

let's talk about branching into Councilman Henry's district and or Councilman Cre's or yours, Mr. cyber and see let's just see how we invest and how we can invest to help the person that's out there doing the small business operations. Uh I don't know exactly where it'll go. I've uh I've assigned Justin Travis from my staff and Holly staff to be the point person at the city. So my thoughts would be the council person, maybe two or three people in their district. Uh if anything comes to them, you gather together, gather the information, go through the application process, and each one of them just like Main Street would have to come back to city council for approval. So it's not just an automatic thing. It's like if uptown like we did sidewalk dining, you invest 30 $40,000. how can we help out a little bit and I think you put a limit on it whether it's 15 or $20,000 I think it ought to be a cap and uh let's just see what it does. So I would ask that you seriously consider that at least for the next meeting or this one or whenever you uh want to take action on it if you will and Councilman Lucas and uh Miss Gelen may want to speak to it. We met had a real good discussion I think.

What do you think, James? I think it's a good idea and uh like I say, if council approve it, then we could look at uh the district and where we think it would benefit most and uh the people that's willing to, you know, accept it as it is to to get the funding grant or whatever. Yeah. Let me make sure that just in the semantics of this would look at it as an incentive to that business and it's not a grant from the city. It's not putting 20 or 30 or 40 $50,000 in your business to build your business, right?

You you build it up. How are you improving things? How do you want to produce some revenue for both yourself and the city? And how can we help with a small amount? Right? it be the application and on the application you'd you'd know what's expected of you and what's expected of us. Yes. So, uh you know before we go into it or either one commit you'd know on the application what it's all about. Yeah.

We just looked as program objectives just real quickly since you got a few minutes to induce small business growth and retention. uh stimulate long-term economic development through property upgrades, improve the visual and function and appeal, promote um equitable economic opportunities across the districts, and encourage it at a district level and go outside just it just being Main Street. If you can help in Northtown, the corridors, I would think you'd look at the business area. I think James's district I don't know. We'll just look at the applications. I know he's got Lucasfair, you got Browns fair, you got Highway 72. Yours may be a little more challenging, but I think we just look at it and see what comes forward to us and let you guys make a decision.

Yes, early May. It would be a committee and and try to get about five on there, including Justin. And it wouldn't just be me looking at something. It'd be the committee looking at at at it overall. Yeah. And I would think not a committee established by city council. I think this is within your district, right? How you do it and then bring it to me, Justin, Holly, and then we bring it to you guys.

Right. I'm excited to offer um possibly offer the service that Main Street provides outside that Main Street footprint because we can all see what good Main Street has done. Can you imagine expanding that program to the streets that aren't as traveled and to the businesses that maybe don't have um the location opportunities? These grants could make a difference. And this if you have any ideas, suggestions, or if you would like for us to move forward with it, uh just let us know, Miss Cybert, you or city council members, and we'll try to do your resolution for the next council meeting.

Okay. No, makes makes a lot of sense. We've tried to do our best through Main Street with that, but this ex extends those boundaries, which I think makes sense. So,

yeah. And other than me giving a shout out to everything that's going on, it's chocolate walk this weekend. It's a beautiful day. I hope it was very successful. I think Danny, you and other people had a good day. It was a very, very wellreceived. A lot of people in in downtown. And uh the only other plug I would do is uh please remember to take the opportunity to look at February as Black History Month. And I know Holly's going to be posting some things from uh Trinity, Lincoln, Bridgeforth, and others. And uh James, if you anybody else, Wilbur, if any of y'all want to get with uh Holly where we can give a shout out and recognition, we we want to do so during the month of February. Miss Sbert, I think that's all I have.

Okay. Does anybody else have any Annette Holly? Any council council have any business? Okay. Well, we'll take a short 8 minute break and uh come back for the meeting at 4:30. Thanks.

We're going to go ahead and get started so we can get everybody out here on time. I know I'm old school. So, if you wouldn't mind calling roll, please. In that. Yes, sir. Mr. Casy here. Mr. Lucas here. Mrs. Henry here. Mrs. Golden here and Mr. Cyber here. All five present. Our invocation will be offered by Councilwoman Golden and Pledge of Allegiance by Mayor Marks.

Bow with me, please. Father God, thank you for this day, for the city, for the people in it. Guide us as we do the work of the city of Athens, for the people of Athens and it abide by your will. In Christ's name we pray. Amen. Please join me in the pledgece to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

And Mrs. our fourth grade student at intermediate school who is a dear friend of mine daily I should introduce you to she is the lady that helped me with perfect thank you for that daily Mayor Marks Councilwoman Golden we appreciate that our Next item would be um approval of city council minutes. If we could get a motion to that. So moved. A second from Councilman Lucas. We get a roll call on that. Please Mrs. Henry.

Yes. Mr. Lucas. Yes. Mr. Casy. Yes. Mrs. Golden. Yes. Mr. Cyber. Yes. Five. Zero Naz. Uh we do not have any city council minutes, special city council minutes or standing committees or special committees. So, report of officers, Mayor Marks. Uh, thank you, Mr. Cybert. I think I covered all mine in the work session. So, I appreciate y'all. I'm glad we had a good um chocolate walk downtown and a lot of business opportunities. So, thanks a bunch. Shane,

actually, I've got one thing. The uh the Limestone County Sheriff's Department put out a a news release last week about a scam going through the area, and we've received reports of that as well. and actually had it affect somebody in in our law office uh where the scammer calls representing to be from the Limestone County Sheriff's Department. Yes.

And is trying to convince whoever it is that is on the phone that there's a bench warrant out for their arrest unless they pay a bond and that they provide for that money to be paid over the phone. What was alarming about the scam was the research that had been done on the victim in this case where the scammer knew the victim's husband knew the victim's children had the names of people at the Limestone County Sheriff's Department had the name of the circuit court judge that had supposedly issued the bench warrant and all of that was false. Every bit of it. but he was so targeted to an individual that even somebody that knew this is this is not right was surprised by the specificity of of the hoax that was trying to be purported. So, I just wanted to share that with y'all. Now, you may have heard it from the sheriff's department, but I don't want to share it as well so anybody in the audience could hear it as well because it is uh it is obviously a hoax. The sheriff's department's never going to contact you directly to get you to pay something over the phone on any kind of benchmark that's been issued. It had to do with somebody didn't show up for jury duty and a federal grand jury and so this this thing was supposedly issued this bench warrant for their arrest. So it's a hoax. It's going throughout the community, but it's not it's it's it's a lot more specific than the old emails you'd get about the Nigerian prince wanting to, you know, get you involved in a business venture. These things, when they're so specific, they know the names of your children and your spouse and local people, it puts anybody, even a reasonable person, on edge. So, just a quick word of warning as a public service announcement.

Got it. Thanks. Yeah. Thank you, Shane. Yeah, I have spoken to somebody who's been had to have had that call, too. So, there are nuts out there. Be aware, Mr. Lucas. I don't have anything. Mr. Casy, I don't have anything. Miss Henry.

Uh, yes. And actually, I'm going to ask for some help from Holly Holman for some details. Next Tuesday the 17th is the Athens Martyra parade and food drive. Can you give us some specifics please ma'am? So all the food collected will be given to community table formerly known as LCCI across the street. Um canned food can be delivered here and there's some other businesses in town that are accepting it and will be accepted through Marty Gro. There will be live music starting around 5:00 on the square. We'll have mask making for kids in the front for foyer at 5:00 and then the parade will kick off at 6:30 from city hall and go around the square and it's a quirky different parade. Um Lowe's and Publix let us borrow shopping carts and those are decorated as floats since it's all about donating canned food for community table. Thank you. That's all I have.

Thank you. Y'all come out and support that. Miss Golden.

Nothing for me. All right. I don't have anything other than the chocolate walk. The mayor brought it up. Was a real success from everybody I talked to on the square. So, thank you if you supported that and if you participated. It sound like it was a really good event. Okay. Uh, next we have a public hearing. Uh, our first one is relating to the zoning approval for the sale of alcohol in the city of Athens by Square at 113 113 South Marian Street, Athens, Alabama. This is a new business uh located on the east side of the square. We'll open that public hearing. We have any four or against? Okay, we'll close that public hearing.

Miss Cyber, on a side note, they are having a soft opening tonight if anybody wants to drop by. Yes. Do you know the time that starts? Uh I think six six. Okay. Six to eight, I believe. Yeah. Go up and show your support for those guys.

Uh public hearing number two is a public hearing relating to the zoning approval for the sale of alcohol the city of Athens by Maza Pizza number one. Uh DBA Hermosa Pizza. That's at 202 South Jefferson Street. Uh that is a change of ownership. We'll open the public hearing. Would anybody like to speak for or against? Okay, we'll close that public hearing. Next, we have public remarks regarding items on our agenda tonight. Would anybody like to speak about anything that's on our agenda? Okay, we'll move on. Regular meeting item A, Mr. Lucas

be it resolved by the city council of the city of Athen Alabama to approve the following appointment for a restaurant retail liquor on premise only alcohol license. It is our opinion that the business has met the requirements of the city of Athens Alabama alcohol ordinance. Business name is Logan Roadhouse Enterprise LLC. Logan Roadhouse 477 address 16132 Athens Al Athens Alabama Limestone Boulevard. Okay. Can we get a second on that? Second.

Second by Councilwoman Golden. Any final questions on that? Okay. Can we get a roll call, please? Mr. Lucas? Yes. Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mr. Creasy? Yes. Mrs. Henry? Yes. Mr. Cyber? Yes. Five. Zero Naz. Item B, Council Mccasie.

The alcohol review committee recommends that the city council approve the following resolution. Be it resolved by the city council of the city of Athens to approve the following applicant for lounge retail liquor alcohol license. It is in our opinion that the business has met the requirements of the city of Athens alcohol ordinance. The business name is J. Cth Go Cothagad Incorporated, Jiffy Liquor Store. The address is 716 Hob Street, East Unit B. Okay. Can we get a second? Second. Second from Councilman Lucas. Any final questions on that one? Okay. Can we get a roll call, please? Mr. Cruzie?

Yes. Mr. Lucas? Yes. Mrs. Henry? Yes. Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mr. Cyber? Yes. Five? Yay. Zero nays. Item C, Councilwoman Golden. Be it resolved by the city council, the city of Athens, Alabama, to approve matching funds for the community care fund not to exceed $23,000. Um funds for this purpose are included in the fiscal year 2026 budget under administrative and general expense. Can we get a second? Second. Second by Councilwoman Henry. Any final questions on that one? We take a vote. Okay. Vote on that. Please announce. Mrs. Golden. Yes. Mrs. Henry. Yes. Mr. Casy.

Yes. Mr. Lucas. Yes. Mr. Cyber. Yes. Five. Zero. Nays. Item D. Councilwoman Henry. Therefore, be it resolved by the city council of city of Athens that the electric services director is authorized to accept the low bid of 586,265 from Seammen's Energy Incorporated for the 5 to 161 KV substation breakers for Athens Utilities Electric Substations. The cost and fix expenses related to this resolution shall be paid for from the city of Athens 2015 warrant fund and or the 2022 warrant fund. Move to suspend. Second.

Got a second from Councilman Lucas on the rules. Could we get a roll call on the rules, please? Mrs. Golden. Yes. Mr. Lucas. Yes. Mr. Cesy. Yes. Mrs. Henry? Yes. Mr. Cyber? Yes. Five yay. Zero nays. Okay. Can we get a second on the resolution? Second. Second from Councilman Lucas. Any final questions on this one? Okay. Annette, please call the roll on that. Mrs. Henry, yes. Mr. Lucas, yes. Mr. Cesy, yes. Mrs. Golden, yes. Mr. Cybert, yes. Five yay, zero nays.

Item E. Councilman Cesy. Be it resolved by the city council of the city of Athens, Alabama to authorize the electric department manager to award the contract for city chemical vegetation control to progressive solutions LLC for the annual cost of 89,140 excuse me yeah $89,100 $89,140 for Athens utility substation and the cost to be used on and as need as needed basis consisting of pathway units 27 cents pole unit $15ground treatment per square feet 7 hunds of a cent landscape areas 350.

All right. Can we get a second on that? Second. Does anybody have any further questions on that? Okay. Thank Can we get a roll call, please, in that? Mhm. Mr. Cruy, yes. Mrs. Golden, yes. Mr. Lucas, yes. Mrs. Henry, yes. Mr. Cyber, yes. Five, zero nays. Item F, Councilwoman Golden. Resolution to approve travel education expense for Councilman James Lucas for the advocacy day in Montgomery, Alabama in the amount of $31,8.32. Second. We get a roll call on that, please. Mrs. Golden, yes. Mrs. Henry, yes. Mr. Cesy, yes.

Mr. Lucas, Mr. Cyber, yes. Four years, one abstension. Item G, Councilman Lucas. Item G is be resolved by the city council of the city of Athen Alabama to approve travel education expense for councilwoman Amy Golden in the following amount $296.35 for the Alabama League of Municipalities Advocacy Day January 21st 2026. We get a second please. Second. Second by council cases. We get a roll call on that. Please announce. Mr. Lucas. Yes. Mr. Cesy. Yes.

Mrs. Henry. Yes. Mrs. Golden. Stain. And Mr. Cyber. Yes. Four years. One abstension. Item H. Councilwoman Golden. Be it resolved by the city council of the city of Athens, Alabama to approve travel education expenses for councilwoman Dana Henry in the following amount 26535. We get a second, please. Second. Second by Councilman Lucas. We get a roll call, please. And that Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mr. Lucas? Yes. Mr. Cesy? Yes. Mrs. Henry? I'll abstain. Thank you. And Mr. Cyber? Yes.

Four, one abstension. Uh item I and J, it's not a requirement. Um but it is customary that when the item involves you that you sometimes turn these over to the proim and since we're scrutinized quite a bit in these positions these days, we think it's best that we do that. So okay. Uh thank you, President Cybert. Moving on to item I uh which is a resolution for travel and education expenses. Mr. Tracy, be it resolved by the city council of the city of Athens, Alabama to approve travel education expenses for council councilman Chris Cyber for the following amount. Alabama League of Municipalities Advocacy Day $265.35.

Is there a second? Second. Thank you, Miss Golden. And may we have roll call, please? Mr. Creasy? Yes. Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mr. Lucas? Yes. Mrs. Henry? Yes. And Mr. Cybert abstain. Four yays, one abstension. Moving on to item J, which is uh dealing with an appointment to Chris Cybert to the solid waste authority. Mr. Lucas, bid resolved by the city council of the city of Athen, Alabama to reappoint Chris Cybert to the solid waste authority for a three-year term expiring on February 28, 2029. Is there a second on the resolution? Second.

Thank you, Mr. Creie. May we have a roll call vote, please? Mr. Lucas, yes. Mr. Cesy, yes. Mrs. Henry, yes. Mrs. Golden, yes. Mr. Cyber, abstain. Four years, one abstension. And with that, concluding the business having to do personally with Mr. Cybert, I will turn the meeting back over to President Cyber. Thank you. Um, we don't have anything else to add. So, our final piece of the meeting is for general public comment on matters that are pertinent to city business.