City Council - Regular Meeting

started. It's 4 o'clock. We're going to go ahead and get started with our work session. Thank you guys for coming tonight. I think we've got our scouts and the wrestling team. Is that right, Mayor? That's

wrestling team's going to be here. Okay. Our state championship wrestling team. Um, well, let us go through this stuff first, guys, and we'll get to y'all. So, first item of business we have is a public hearing related to a proposed ordinance to annex 77 acres of property located at 22728 Pepper Road and zone the property B1, which is a neighborhood business district into the corporate limits of the city of Athens. Does anybody have any questions for Aaron on this one? I mean, it passed planning and so do you Yeah. Does anybody have any questions or No. Yeah.

The planning commission just sent it with a recommendation to approve um with the owner's understanding they have to bring it into compliance. Yep. So, okay. If nobody has any questions, who will take that ordinance?

Okay. Okay. And then someone will have to suspend the rules. Okay. We've got a pretty healthy consent calendar. We've got uh item A is a resolution to approve travel education expenses in the amount of $1,531.82 for personnel of the gas department. Item B is a resolution to approve travel expenses in the amount of $122.20 for personnel of the electric department. Item C is resolution to reappoint Jeff Powers to the personnel board for a 5-year term expiring on March 28, 2031. Item D is a resolution to approve a restaurant, retail, liquor, alcohol license for I Gotcha Clean LLC uh square at 113 113 Marian Street. Item E is a resolution to approve a lounge retail liquor alcohol license for Swine Creek Spirits. Uh that is at 1260 US Highway 72 East Suite G Athens, Alabama. Item F is a resolution to set a public hearing for the regular meeting on April 27th, 2026 to consider the request of Milton A. Looney to reszone plus or minus 1.58 acres of property located at 14985 Alabama Highway 251 from R11 lowdensity single family residential to B1 neighborhood business district within the corporate limits of the city of Athens. Item G is a resolution to set a public hearing for the regular meeting on April 27th, 2026 to consider the request of the planning and zoning department for a proposed amendment uh concerning table 54 of the zoning ordinance of the city of Athens as recommended by the planning commission. Item H is a resolution to update the electric department's or chart which includes 87 full-time, two part-time, and three intern positions. Item I is a resolution to approve the purchase of a

network storage device for data backups from TSA, Inc. through uh NCPA contract uh number 01-137 at a cost not to exceed $48,677 to be funded from the existing IT department capital account. Item J is a resolution approve the purchase of one 2026 John Deere 60P tier compact excavator from Warrior Tractor and Equipment through Source well in the amount of 96,000 to be funded from the gas services FY2026 capital budget. That is all of the consent. Does anybody have questions on any of these items? Okay, who will take the consent? this. Okay. Item K is an ordinance amending the alcohol alcoholic beverage ordinance to add provisions concerning the sale of alcoholic beverages by higher ed education institutions with special retail licenses. Does anybody have questions on that one? Okay, I think we all got a good rundown on that one. Who will take the

And then we'll need to do a rule suspension.

Mr. Lucas, thank you. Item L is a resolution concerning an economic development project relating to small businesses in downtown Athens. Do we have any questions for Terry? She's here.

I want to thank the um city council and the mayor for this grant to our downtown businesses and and business owners and building owners. This is huge for us. It is such a great leap to support our our small businesses. Thank you for this one. Thank you for the one last year that we were able to help uh four other small businesses. I'm happy to answer any questions about the ones that you've got in front of you tonight. Yep.

I have gotten the full presentation on it, but um we're approving six tonight. Um and we'll have others to come back to the table. So, very happy to do it. Does anybody have any questions? Okay. Who will take this one? Does this need a rule suspension? The money's already been approved, so Okay. It should.

Yep. Item M is a resolution concerning an economic development project relating to Westcore. Anybody have any questions on this one? for the mayor.

Yeah, we're excited about uh bringing this back to you. Ace Hardware is uh you know had been on the table for some time and I think the planning commission time ran out of 12 months in that uh for their site plan and and uh so they're bringing this back to the table. It's an ongoing project and we're happy to extend it. Look forward to to them being in our community. It'll be located behind Chicken Salad Chicks back there at their original site and the developers here if there's any questions. Does anybody have any questions? These projects routinely get delayed which was the case here. So any questions? Anybody?

All right. Who will take the Lucas? Item N is an ordinance concerning economic development probably Mr. Excuse me. That probably needs rules suspended. The ordinance I would say. Would you? Yes, the resolution doesn't. Correct. First resolution. But the next one, sorry. But the ordinance. Okay. Yeah, I jumped ahead. Apologize. This is an ordinance pertaining to the same uh item item.

So, who will who will take that ordinance? Okay. Okay. And then we'll need a rule suspension. Let's go. Item O is a resolution adopting traffic safety goals for reducing traffic facil uh fatalities and serious injuries on city of Athens streets and roads. Erin, are you gonna were you going to give us I mean, I think we'll have some time maybe when we get through if you want to give a little or did you want to wait till the meeting to do that? What would y'all prefer to give a little rendition of what was found?

Yeah, go ahead. Why don't Why don't you do it now while we're We've only got two items left, so people can This was a good project that got quite a bit of public input, so it'd be good to Yes.

brag a little on your group. We've got a SL. There we go. Um, so essentially this is the culmination of um a process that we started in 2023. Uh staff applied to the Federal Highway Administration for safe streets for all funding and we were successful in that application. Um and through that program um SA associates Erin Curry with SA is here. um they were competitively selected to help us carry out the goal of the grant funding, which is to update our transportation plan. And so they were um aided by groups like Morell Engineering, Jim Bard, um Tim Barnett, um various folks that do transportation and policy planning throughout the state. And so basically this document um we focused on transportation safety on um the street network in Athens. And we had quite a bit of public input for this. And we used additional data s such as um crash reports from Athens Police Department um to help um provide specific input on where our we call it a high injury network is where where we need to prioritize improvements for safety on our road networks and what those um counter measures need we need to take when we make those improvements. And so, um, on the front end, uh, we did a initial survey just to gauge the public's, um, uh, what their feelings were on traffic safety and transportation safety and where we had conflict points in Athens. And we had over 1,400 responses. Um, that's that's huge. Most cities of comparable size, um, actually most cities just in general had about 200 responses. So, it's that's a significant number. Um and so we went through the drafting process and u most recently we asked for public feedback on the final draft of the plan. We had a 30-day um comment window that was open. Um and we received over 70 responses which is also um for a

document of this size that's a that's a pretty good amount of response. Um and of those about 30% um of the responses we received weren't applicable to the project. Um 3% were related to county roads. So they were outside the scope of the um this specific plan. 60% of the comments were already addressed within the document. Um 3% led to a revision. So we did take that public input. We revised the document accordingly. And then 4% um were actually affirmations. So we had public positive feedback which was great. Um so it's definitely been a multi-depart public driven process. Um it's been a a labor of love and um we just we look forward to adopting it and helping us guide and prioritize safety improvements on the roadways. Um as well as helping us get grant funding and for additional transportation projects that were identified through this process. So that's essentially what we're going to start doing at this point. We've done the plan. Now we're going to start looking at implementation and going after grant funding. So but if anyone has any questions with the the easiest thing to do is to go and look at it. We provided a link here. Um, but it's also on the city's website. So, any questions?

Thank you. Thank you. Does anybody have any Yeah, Miss Sbert, just shout out to Erin and her team and both s Associates. Thank you for your cooperation and Morel stepped up and it was a great working environ and the feedback from the community was outstanding. We expected two or 300 and got,400. So that's community involvement which is out which is great. Thanks. Right. Thank y'all. Thank you.

So we'll be adopting those through resolution uh resolution O. Who would like to take that? Item P is a resolution awarding a contract for a shaved ice provider at the Athens Sportslex to Kona Ice. Any uh any questions on that one? Okay, who will take that? Do we need to do a rule suspension on that one?

We don't. We won't have to. No. Okay. Okay. Item Q is a resolution authorizing the electric services director to accept the low bid of $1,8995 from Garnet Electric Company for the construction of the Swanot substation with costs expenses to be paid from the city of Athens 2022 warrant fund. Any question on that one? These are budgeted expenses that we've known were coming. Okay. Who will take that?

Lucas and no rules since that's budgeted. Uh we do need to we do need to do rules on this. Okay. Um do we have anything any other presentations or any add-ons? I know we're a little ahead of schedule, but yeah, that's uh some opportunities to work with some of the people in the public with uh some of the other things. Do we want to wait till the regular meeting? I don't think Okay,

wait till our regular schedule meeting for that. Okay. All right. Well, we've got about a 15 minute break here before we start our our meeting. So, thank you guys. You can stick around. Thanks.

make a listen up. We're going to get started with our with our formal meeting. I know we got a lot of folks here. I know we're going to recognize some of y'all and then y'all are probably don't want to hang around all stand up for all of this. You can you can go after that, but we definitely want to make sure you're properly recognized for your second state title. And our scouts are here and we're going to recognize them as well. So, um, Annette, would you please call us to order? Yes, sir. Mr. Cesy here, Mr. Lucas here. Mrs. Henry is out tonight. Mrs. Golden here, and Mr. Cyber here.

Four present and one. And our invocation will be offered by Councilwoman Golden and pledged by Mayor Marks. Let's pray. Father God, thank you for this opportunity together. Thank you for the freedom that we enjoy every day. Thank you for those that provide it for us. Thank you for your grace and your mercy. guide us as only you can with the decisions that need to make be made for this city. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen. Amen.

Council members, I want to recognize church and they're going to hit me with the flag of the United States of America. and to the rep for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Okay. Thank you, Councilwoman Golden, and to our First Methodist Church scout troop. We appreciate that. Oh, first No, you're First Methodist. Yeah. Um, so city council minutes, if somebody would make a motion to approve those in work session minutes, please. I move. Get a second from Councilman Lucas. We call a roll on that, please. Annette, Mrs. Golden, yes. Mr. Lucas, yes. Mr. Cesy, yes. Mr. Cyber, yes. Forier zero nays. We don't have any standing or special committees, so we'll go straight to our board of officers. Mayor Marks.

Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Cybert. Uh before we kick off some real wonderful things today, for the last nine years, Kim Glaze has been uh supporting me in the mayor's office. And Kim, I just uh I'm going to embarrass you and ask you to stand up, please. And this is Kim's last meeting, so uh she's retiring. And we wish her the best. And Kim, thank you. And Andrea will be stepping in for the mayor's office. But Kim, thank you. And uh next I'd like to call what what a great group of guys. U I don't want to take any of those guys on because I know what they've done. And coach Campbell, what a outstanding year you had with the Athens High wrestling team. And I understand the 14 guys, you've got 10 of them coming back next year, which is great. And coach, if you don't mind, I could read through these, but if you'd like to say a few words, uh, want to recognize these young men.

First of all, we'd like to thank you all for having us in here. It's always nice to celebrate the young kids that put so much work and effort into doing such an ex exceptional job for this city. Um, yeah, of the of the 14 that we had starters this year, I'm only graduating four seniors. And as you can see, there's several more than that up here. So, we have a lot of uh potential coming back next year and uh we're really looking forward to it. That's good. And congratulations, guys. Just real quickly, uh you we had uh how many? We had one, two, three, four state champions. Yes, sir.

Out of this group and several in fifth and sixth place. So, congratulations and we appreciate you guys. Thank you for the great job. Thanks, coach. We always appreciate the passion and energy that you have for doing uh working with these young men. So, thank you for your leadership. Thank you, sir. You want to do a picture with these guys before they uh Justin, you want Yeah. Why don't you come up and do a picture then? Thank you.

I usually don't have Slide down. Some of y'all slide down. Thank you so much.

Yeah, thank you guys. Anytime you win a state title in anything, it's a pretty big deal. And these guys have won two. Coach Cesy, you know, you won a state title in football. So if you're the championship of anything, it's a it's a pretty special feeling for the rest of your life. So congrats to these guys. And I know if anybody else wants to Ryan, I don't know if y'all are sticking around. It's up to you. Yeah. Okay.

But uh also a very special event that uh we have next, Miss Cybert and council members. Uh I can't say enough. I've served with some great people around this city and in the community and all over the state of Alabama. I can't think of a person that I loved more serving with than Dr. Millie Codle. Dr. Millie Codle stepped in in 2006 and uh took the place of Henry White as a city council member and then was elected in 2008 and uh then uh chose not to run in 2012. But Millie and I would uh go back and forth with each other and she was so bright, so smart, and so dogone quick on her feet that uh every just a short note almost every Sunday afternoon before a city council meeting, she would call me and want to go over the agenda. And one time we had a real thick document that was drafted at the bond market and with our attorney and several attorneys. And those of you that know Millie, this won't surprise you a bit. And she said, "Uh, mayor, have you looked at the second paragraph on page 87?" And yeah, you could imagine what I said. And I said, "Mindy, you're joking, aren't you?" She said, "No, I'm not joking." And so I did happen to look at the second paragraph and I knew what it was talking about, but I had not read 87 pages of that document and never would. But I guarantee you, Millie Codlewood. And tonight we got a special presentation from uh from Cecil Craig who's a nephew, right? Cecil and Miss Laura Ray that's here on behalf of the estate of Dr. Mitti Codle that wants to make a special presentation and I'm going to kick it to Shane. So the estate

of Dr. Codle made several provisions about things that were important to Dr. codle that she cared about a great deal. And among those were the city of Athens and its library. And so these are representatives of the estate that are here today to present the mayor. And I believe the foundation has some representatives here as well. If y'all would come up to the front, April and others for a check for $1,000 to the city of Athens for its animal control services and a check to the Athens Library Foundation for $10,000 for the benefit of the library. No, I will say Miss Dr. loved the city of Athens and the history of the city of Athens and she served on the city council for two terms as was teaching at Athens College as a history professor for 30 years. So she and she loved the library. Three, two,

thank you.

I'll give that to the Yeah,

Miss Cybert, the only other thing that I have is uh I left with each of you a petition for formal recognition and maintenance of Johnson Road. Uh Council Member Cesy and I talked about it briefly. Uh, and so we will do some followup if anybody has any questions about that. See, uh, I can I always remember that as a private road, but if there are any questions, we'll be glad to clear it from the city angle and get back with y'all and give you some more information from our public works department and others. And their request is uh to recognize this as a public street. And uh, so we'll dig into it a little bit. To my knowledge, for all the years I've been here, it's never been a public street, but we'll do our due diligence, and if I'm wrong, we'll certainly bring it to you guys.

Okay. And I think that's all that I have at this time. Thank you, Shane. Do you have anything? Nothing from me, Mr. President. Mr. Lucas.

Uh, just one thing that's about Miss Kim. I sure hate to see her go. I know everybody like retirement, but I told her that uh she just put more work on me. I'm going have to do a lot of work for myself now. And she says she's leaving me in good hands. And I just want to wish her a great retirement. A long great retirement. Mr. Cesy,

uh, just to reiterate what Mr. Lucas said, you know, you you you never you never see the impact that someone has until they're gone. I hope that uh that we're able to to fill you to fill her shoes. It's going to take a team effort to be able to do that. Men, thank you, Kimmy Fay. Well, I would echo that the mayor's I've been on council 14 years and he's only had two secretaries. Vicki and Kim, you've been the longest. So, we'll definitely miss you. You seem awfully young to retire. So, I bet I bet you're going to be doing something else.

Uh, okay. Well, we we wish you well. I know we'll stay in touch, you and y'all. Hopefully, we'll get some well needed time off, but we appreciate it. Uh, next we have a couple of public hearings. The first one is a public hearing relating to a proposed ordinance to annex 77 acres of property located at 22728 Pepper Road and to zone the property B1, which is neighborhood business district into the corporate limits of the city of Athens. So, we'll open this public hearing. Oh, our lectern did get moved. Should have made those big guys move it.

You got it. Thanks, T.

I could have done that, too, just not as efficiently. All right. So, um this is an annexation request um to um annex a property that some of us are probably familiar with in the corner of Pepper Road and Hastings Road. Um it's just a portion of that overall parcel. Um it has gone um before the planning commission and they did make a recommendation to annex with the property owners understanding that the structure um there's not a business there currently. it will have to come into compliance with the city's requirements just like any other non-conforming structure um in the city limits. Um and so once it's annexed, if um once it's annexed um they would still have to for a gas station go back before the planning commission for conditional use approval. Um so this is just the beginning of the process and the owner is aware of all of this.

They're aware and have agreed to it, I assume. Correct. Um and just one additional comment. Um due to its proximity to Pepper Road Church of Christ, this property is not a candidate for um alcohol either. So Okay. All right. Any questions? Any questions for Aaron? All right. Okay. Thank you. Anyone else? Anyone else like to comment for or against? Okay. Public hearing is closed. The ordinance uh Councilman Cesy

ordinance to annex plus or minus.77 acres uh of of property located at 22728 Pepper Road, partial number 44-10-6-14-0000-00 and to the zone and to zone the property B1 one neighborhood business district into the corporate limits of the city of Athens. Move to suspend. Second. We got a second from Councilman Lucas. Can we get a roll call on the rules, please? Now, Mrs. Golden, yes. Mr. Lucas, yes. Mr. Cesy, yes. And Mr. Cyber,

yes. Borier, zero nays. And can we get a second on the ordinance? Second. Second by Councilwoman Golden. Any final thoughts, questions on that one? Okay, we get a roll call on that, please. That Mr. Cesy, yes. Mrs. Golden, yes. Mr. Lucas, yes. Mr. Cyber, yes. Forier, zero nays. Okay. Next, we have an opportunity for public remarks regarding any agenda items on tonight's meeting. If anybody' like to come up and ask about an agenda item, Mr. Kelly

Kelly Range Drive here in Athens and proud of it. It's spring. People are out. Everybody is out and about. Not only do we need to pay attention to the traffic, look right, look le look left. I don't care if it says green. I'm gonna look both ways. That's only smart. But you also need to look for people walking across the street. You also need to look for people riding their bicycle. I'm not going to do the B Baptist preacher. You also need to look for people riding bicycles. You also need to look for little people. You can't see little people. So, please be careful. My mother used to say, "The sap rises in the spring." Don't be a sap. Look around. be careful, please. Thank you for having me.

Thank you. A reminder, this is agenda items. Does anybody have any agenda items?

Um, Amanda Schulty, 1036 West Washington Street. Um, I just kind of want to reiterate what I've kind of been saying for a couple years and then what Mr. Marshall's also said. If we can just get some more information on the agenda so that I don't have to get up here and ask questions. Um, so my question is to M and N and I just want you to kind of spell out because I know when you do the business meeting you just kind of read what it is and I know when you kind of assign it to everybody you'll go into what that is if but what you mentioned that these were routine and so if you could just talk about what we're extending it to um because I know in 22 is when the Ace Hardware was originally done and then we did the extension in 24. So, I'm assuming we're doing another extension since we're not doors aren't going to be open by the sum this summer. So, just kind of want to and also we could have included this in the agenda.

Shane, you want to give an update on that? Quick update. Sure. Sure. Did you say M& Yes, sir. West Core Ace Hardware. Yes. So, this amends the project agreement. It extends the time for ACE to open from July 1 of 26 to December 31 of 2027. I think the others are open and we extended it in 24 from 6 to 7 years. So we did we extend the years on the and did we change the amount or is it still 800,000? No, none of the amounts have changed. Okay. And then it's still seven years. Uh yeah, that didn't change either. Okay. All right. Perfect. Thank you. Yeah, nothing's changed. Everything just slid to the right.

Okay. And no money has been given for the record. No money has been given to these folks. Nothing is fronted. Just to be clear. Um, anybody else on agenda? Okay, perfect. We will go into our consent calendar. Mr. Lucas,

consent calendar. A resolution to approve travel expense, travel education expense in the amount of $1,531.82 for personnel of the gas service, gas department. D be resolved to approve travel expense in the amount of $122.20 20 cent for personnel of the electric department. C be resolved to reappoint Jeff Powers to the personnel board for a five-year term expiring on March 28th, 2031. D be it resolved to approve a restaurant retail liquor alcohol license for Hagachi Clean LLC DBA Square at 113 1113 Marin Street in Athens, Alabama. E. Be it res with to approve a lounge retail liquor alcohol license for Swan Creek Spirit LLC BBA one creek Spirit 1260 US Highway 72E G A Alabama. F be it resolved to set a public hearing for the regular meeting on April 27th 2026 to consider the request of Milton A. unit to reszone plus or minus 1.58 acres of property located at 14985 Alabama Highway 251 from R1-1 low density single family residential district to B-1 neighborhood business district within the corporate limits of

the city of Athens Alabama partial number 44-10-01 1- 02- 0-0000-39-00001 G resolution be it resolved to set a public hearing for the regular meeting on April 27th 2026 to consider the request of planning and zoning department for a proposed amendment concerning table 5-4 of the zoning ordinance of the city of Athens as recommended by the planning commission. H is be it resolved to update the electric department organization chart which includes 87 fulltime, two part-time and three intern position. I is a resolution being resolved to approve the purchase of a network storage device for data backup from TSA Incorporation through NCPA contract number 01-137 at a cost not to exceed 48,677 to be funded from the existing IT department capital account. J is be it resolved to approve the purchase of one 2026 John Deere 6P- compact excavator from Warrior Tractor and Equipment Company through Sworthwell in the amount of $96,000 to be funded from the gas service FY 2026 capital budget.

Thank you, Mr. Luke. We had a second on that. Second. Second from Councilwoman Golden. Any questions on any of these? Okay. Can we get a roll call, please? Now that Mr. Lucas, yes. Mrs. Golden, yes. Mr. Cesy, yes. Mr. Cyper, yes. Forier, zero nays. Uh, we'll move to our regular meeting now. Uh item K, Council Mccasie,

an ordinance amending the Athens alcohol beverage ordinance with respect to the higher education institutions holding special retail license. Whereas the city council desires to amend its Athens alcohol beverage control ordinance to add provisions concerning the sale of alcohol alcoholic beverages by higher education institutions with special retail license. Therefore, be it ordained. Move to suspend the rules. Second. Got a second from Councilwoman Golden. Can we get a roll roll call on the rules, please? Yes. Mrs. Golden. Yes. Mr. Cesy. Yes. And Mr. Cyber. Yes. Four. Zero Naz.

And then can we get a second on the ordinance, please? Second. Second by Councilwoman Golden. Any questions on this one? Okay, we get a roll call, please, on that. Mr. Casy, yes. Mrs. Golden, yes. Mr. Lucas, yes. Mr. Cyber, yes. A zero nays. And and so the reason behind this I'll just is they're going to have an event space and this will allow them to hold events essentially rank key. So, uh, item L, Councilwoman Golden,

a resolution concerning an economic development project relating to small businesses in downtown Athens. Whereas on November 24th, 2025, the Athens City Council approved a contract with Athens Main Street whereby Athens Main Street would administer a grant program benefiting downtown Athens. Whereas the city council provided 100,000 in such funding as directed and directed Athens Main Street to report any grant recipient to the council for the council's review and ratification prior to the release of any funds. Whereas the Athens Main Street Whereas Athens Main Street awarded grants to six subject sub projects as a part of this economic development project which will result in new fiscal improvements and investment in downtown Athens. Whereas the city council believes that this project will serve a val valuable public purpose. Therefore, be it resolved the city of Athens does hereby ratify and approve the following grants grant awards. Gabriella's Latin Fusion 10,000 Riffraff 6,000 Crawford's Gifts 6,000 Square at 113,000 Sushimi Asian Beastro 10,000 and Torque Sports Cards 14,000. Okay. Can we get a second on that?

Second. Second from Councilman Cesy. It's good to see, as we said in the work session, this money being spent. This was a pretty um competitive process. Correct, Terry? And I know you guys had a board put together and went through these pretty objectively. So, we appreciate you guys working on that. And um we hope this is a catalyst for these folks that have applied. So, happy to do it. And Miss Cybert, if you do that math in your head, that's about 49,000 of the 100. So, in a month or so, another round, I believe, of businesses will be presented to both Main Street and and looked at by them and then they'll come back to you guys. So, this is about half the money that was allocated. Great.

And we appreciate it, Terry. Thank you'all. Does anybody have any further questions on that? Okay. Now, would you call roll? Mrs. Golden. Yes. Mr. Creasy. Yes. Mr. Lucas. Yes. Mr. Cyper. Yes. Forier. Zero. Naz.

Item M. Councilman Lucas. Item M is a resolution concerning an economic development project. The city of Athens C. The Athens city council previously authorized the city of Athens to enter into a project agreement with West Core LLC. Whereas the project agreement was put into place and the city's payment obligation were conditioned upon the company's open and continuing operation of the chicken salad chick restaurant, the Ace Hardware store and or the Valene oil change location by certain dates. Whereas since that time, the chicken salad chick restaurant and the Valene oil change location have opened, but the Ace Hardware store has been delayed in its development. where in order to continue to incentenify the location and establishment of the Ace Hardware store, the city council wishes to amend the project agreement to extend the time for the Ace Hardware store to open from July 1, 2026 until December 31st, 2027. Whereas the city council have determined that it remains in the city's best interest to provide economic development incentives to the company in order to facilitate the condition, development, construction, and establishment of this project. Therefore, be it resolved, the mayor of city is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement amendment to

the above reference project agreement. Second amendment to project agreement.

All right. Can we get a second on that? Second. Second from Councilwoman Golden. Any questions? Any comments on this? Okay. Can we get a roll call, please? In that. Mr. Lucas, yes. Mrs. Golden, yes. Mr. Cesy, yes. Mr. Cyber, yes. Or zero Naz. Item N. Councilman Cesy.

An ordinance concerning an economic development project. Whereas the city council has adopted a resolution directing the mayor to execute a second amendment to project agreement relating to the development of a proposed chicken salad chick restaurant and Ace Hardware store and the Valvaline oil change location on Highway 72. Whereas the city council wishes to enact the ordinance allowing for the mayor's payment of certain municipal sales tax proceeds to the company.

Thank we get a motion to suspend the rules. Move to suspend. Second. Second by Councilman Lucas. Can we get a roll call, please, on the rules? Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mr. Lucas? Yes. Mr. Casy? Yes. Mr. Cyber? Yes. Borier. Zero nays. And could we get a second on the ordinance? Second by Councilman Lucas. This is the the ordinance backing the resolution that we just approved. So, does anybody have any further comments, questions on that? Okay, we get a roll call, please. That Mr. Cesy, yes. Mr. Lucas, yes. Mrs. Golden, yes. Mr. Cyber, yes.

Four, zero nays. Item O, uh, Councilwoman Golden,

a resolution adopting traffic safety goals for reducing traffic fatalities and serious injuries on city of Athens streets and roads. Whereas the city of Athens, Alabama is committed to the eventual goal of zero for both roadway fatalities and serious injuries along citymaintained roadways. Whereas the city of Athens will endeavor to support the achievement of a vision zero goal by prioritizing safety policies, programs, and projects. And whereas the city will strive to achieve 10% per year reduction in fatality serious injuries by year 2040 with the performance measure as 5-year rolling average compared to a baseline average from 2019 through 2023. Now therefore, be it resolved by the city council of Athens, Alabama, that the city of Athens safety action plan is formally adopted and that the city council concurs the recommended goals.

We get a second on that. Second. Seconded by Councilman Cesy. This was good work again, Erin, and we appreciate um B as well helping. Um any further thoughts on it? Okay, we get a roll call on that. Mrs. Golden, yes. Mr. Cesy, yes. Mr. Lucas, yes. Mr. Cyber, yes. Fore zero nays. Item P. Councilman Cesy, a

a resolution awarding the contract for shaved ice provider at the Athens Sports Complex or Sportslex. Whereas the city of Athens, Alabama received sealed bids for a mobile retail business to engage in the sale of flavored shaved ice products to athletes and attendees at the City of Athens, Alabama Sportslex for the 2026 through 29 baseball, softball, and soccer seasons. Whereas the city received bids from two shaved ice vendors and the park and recreation department has been working with this program with its program participants to select the most appropriate vendor. Whereas the city parks and recreation department recommends that the city council award the contract to Kona Ice. Therefore, be it resolved, the contract for the shaved ice provider at the Athens Sportslex is hereby awarded to Kona Ice. Right. Can we get a second on that?

Second. Any questions, comments on that? I don't know how anybody can vote against shaved ice. They hadn't been out there in August if they did. Um, okay. Can you call the roll for us? Mr. Crees? Yes. Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mr. Lucas? Yes. Mr. Cyber? Yes. Four. Zero. Naz. Item Q. Councilman Lucas.

Item Q. Adam Q is bid open for construction of city as utility electric department one substation Garrett Electric Company Corporation submitted the lowest bid for the project at the price of 1,899,955 copation is test therefore resolved by the city council of the city of Athen Alabama at it regularly meeting on March 23rd 2026 at 4:30 p.m. as follow the electric service director is authorized to accept the low bid of $1,899,955 from Garrett Electric Company incorporation for the construction of the sworn cart subdivision. Cost expenses related to this resolution shall be paid from the following funds of the city ads 2022 warrant fun.

Uh I move that we suspend the rules. Second. We got a second on the rule suspension from Councilwoman Golden. We get a roll call on the rules please. Mr. Cesy. Yes. Mrs. Golden. Yes. Mr. Lucas. Yes. Mr. Cyber. Yes. Forier zero nays and then can we get a second on the resolution please? Second second by councilwoman golden any questions thoughts on this okay can we get a roll call on that please Mr. Lucas yes Mrs. Golden yes Mr. Casy yes Mr. Cyber. Yes. Borier zero nays.

Okay, that's the end of our formal business. Do we have anything else to add, Mayor Annette Chain? Okay, our final section is for general public comment on matters pertinent to city business. So if anybody like to come up and