City Council - workshop

Little guys kind of making their way in, but we're gonna go ahead and get started with our work session, stay on point here. Annette, would you mind calling the roll for us? Sure.

Mr. Creasy? Here. Mr. Lucas? Here. Mrs. Henry? Here. Mrs. Golden? Here. Mr. Seibert? Here. All five present.

Okay. First, we have a couple of public hearings. The first one is a public hearing relating to ascertaining, fixing, and determining the amount of assessment to be charged as weed liens on certain properties as a result of people we've sent letters to and they haven't cut them yet, but we do have a number of those the mayor reported to me today that have come off the list. So we'll have a public hearing regarding that and then a resolution concerning a few that have not taken action yet. Any questions on that one?

Yeah, Councilman Seibert, we are working well with all these property owners, and like we said, we received a check, what, a net $3,400, $3,439, which was, I think, 13 of these total liens against the property owners, and they've been resolved. It was like $264. 61 cents or something like that time 13 and uh they've been resolved we received a check so your updated version should have 13 less than what the version original yeah your original is so we're we're happy to resolve these and it's important for our neighbors and our community all right who will take that resolution i will

Okay, second public hearing is relating to a zoning approval for the sale of alcohol in the city of Athens by Olive Gordon Holdings, LLC. This is for the new Olive Gordon Italian restaurant, which has broke ground. Any questions on that one? There's no resolution associated with that. uh item number three is publicly related zoning approval of sale of alcohol in the city of athens by kvat food stores which is food city on looks for your road there is a resolution associated with that who will take that resolution any questions on that when they've opened obviously we all know and are doing well This will give them an alcohol license. Okay, that's it for public hearings. On our consent calendar, we have a resolution to reappoint Della Darby to the personnel board for a five-year term ending August 10th, 2031. Item B is a resolution approving the purchase of one John Deere 60P compact excavator from Warrior Tractor at a cost not to exceed $121,000. to be funded from the street department's existing capital expenditure fund. Item C is a resolution approving travel education expenses in the total amount of $687.16 for personnel of the street department. Item D is a resolution approving travel education expenses in the total amount of $587.06 for personnel of the sanitation department. Any questions on any of those? Okay, who will take the consent?

I will. Yes, Chris, thank you.

Okay, regular meeting. Item E is a resolution awarding City Council District 3 economic development incentives to First Impressions, Design, LLC, The Bridge, The Shop at 904, Kids Journey Child Development Center, Tennessee Valley Cooperatives, Max Sports Bar and Steakhouse, and Mechanical Electric Wholesale Supply, commonly known as MUSE. Any questions on those? Good to see some of this money we set aside being pushed out.

Mr. Seibert, I'd just like to comment and congratulate Mr. Lucas and Justin for handling these. Thank y'all. I think this is great for the small business people in the district and hopefully they will put it to good use, I'm pretty sure. And again, just to emphasize, this is money that small business will spend on upgrading their property and then to be reimbursed. It is not cutting a check. that you're handing someone. It's a reimbursement for things that they get done. Right, Justin? And that's been emphasized throughout the whole process.

Okay. Good stuff. Who will take that? Lucas? Are these yours? Do we need to do a roll suspension?

We don't. The money has already been appropriated. Okay.

Got it. Item F is a resolution approving reimbursement to Councilwoman Dana Henry in the amount of $928.14 for attendance at the Electric Cities Conference and the ANGA Conference. Item G is a resolution amending the July 27th, 2026 resolution authorizing the Electric Services Director to accept the negotiated low bid from KBE Incorporated by revising the bid amount to $499,650 for the control building and relay panels for the Athens Utility Swancott electric substation with costs and expenses to be paid from the 2022 warrant fund. Any questions on that one? Who will take that? No suspension necessary, correct?

We will need to suspend on G and H. We do?

Okay. Who will do the rules on G?

I will.

Okay. Item H is a resolution authorizing the Electric Services Director to accept the low bid of $247,545.23 from Grayson Carter and Son, contracting for the civil grading work at Bell Miner substation, Tanner, Alabama, with cost expenses to be paid from the 2022 Warrant Fund. Any questions on that one? Okay, who will take that? Who will do the rules? Item I is an ordinance authorizing the sale and issuance of the city's $42,425,000 principal amount of general obligation warrants series 2026. Who will take that? We do need rules on that since it's an ordinance.

I will.

Okay.

They're here. If City Council has time and wants to have any comments for me to add in a cane, I mean, gosh. Johnny, a cane, either one.

I don't think I've got, I know these, the update I got was these bonds sold very quickly, so that's a good endorsement of the city, is that? They sold out right quick, didn't they? Yeah, that's good news. Okay. Is there anything else? Mayor? Annette? No, Shane's not here yet.

I don't have anything. Thank you.

Anybody on council?

We've got a lot of young people here tonight, or we'll be here in a little bit. And so we'll kick it off. And whenever you take a short break, we'll get these young people up and

We can't technically start until 4.30. Sorry, guys. Y'all got to hang out. But we'll take a short break here, and we'll be back at 4.30. Thanks. We're going to go ahead and get started. It's 4.30. Be respectful of everybody's time. Annette, if you don't mind calling the roll.

Sure. Mr. Creasy?

Here.

Mr. Lucas?

Here.

Mrs. Henry?

Here.

Mrs. Golden?

Here.

Mr. Seiber?

Here.

All five present.

Okay. Our invocation will be offered by Councilwoman Golden, followed by a Pledge of Allegiance by Mayor Marks.

Now with me. Father God, thank you for this time where we can come together and see to the needs of our community. Thank you for the people that are here, the community we live in police, the fire, all that protect us for our mayor and council and for the concerned citizens here. We ask that you bless our work tonight and guide us in the way that you would have us to go. to honor you. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Amen. under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, guys. Thank you to Councilwoman Golden for that, and Mayor Marks and all our helpers. Can I get a motion to approve City Council minutes and work session from our last meeting?

So moved.

Seconded by Councilman Lucas. Can we get a roll call on that, please, Annette?

Mr. Creasy?

Yes.

Mr. Lucas? Yes. Mrs. Henry? Yes. Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mr. Seibert?

Yes.

Five yays, zero nays.

We don't have any standing or special committees. We'll move to our report of officers. Mayor Marks.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Seibert and city council. Let's kick off with a good thing tonight. We had some 8U baseball boys that won the state champ and went down to, where did you go, guys? Baton Rouge. Baton Rouge. Well, good. Baton Rouge, and then they showed out down there. And then we've got some 8U softball young ladies, girls, that's coming in the back. They got a trophy bigger than all of them. And they had also a great season. So, Chad, Bert, any of you that want to come down, let's recognize the coaches and these young people.

I'll put the list up there, Chad.

Yeah, they went to Oxford, Alabama and competed in the USA 3A state tournament and came out as champions. They beat Molton 15-0, Marbury 14-2, Alberta 15-4, and Cottondale in the championship 10-5. All right. Coaches, Joseph Higgs. Come on, Joseph. Yes, sir. Blake Boyette. Vincent Azzarello.

Allen Wilson.

Matthew Payne. And Joe Higginbotham. It's still working.

Andrew Mazzarelli.

Hayden McWhorter. Henry Higginbottom.

He's a little jealous.

And Jackson as well.

And Brooks Boyer. Hey, Brooksie. Come here, fellas. Three, two, one. Thank you. Our next group, our 8U softball all-star team. Two weeks ago, we acknowledged our 6U. So our softball program is doing really well. And Lucas does a great job. He's our softball coordinator. So I appreciate everything that he does for the league. So our softball team. They won the Silver Bracket U-S-S-A World Series State Championship. So they did a great job. The Lawrence County 4-3-0, Green Hill 15-7, Tuscumbia 18-3, and then Green Hill again in the championship 19-8. We'll start with the coaches, Roni Jackson.

Meryl Scott. Thank you very much.

All right, now for the girls.

Ava Vinson.

Good job.

Lillie Mae Grabo. Great job, man.

Great job. Three, two, one.

Thank you all. Good job, guys. Thank you.

We don't have anybody to give that to. Thank you. Thank you, guys.

Y'all have a good one.

Thanks guys, congratulations to y'all.

He had the Azarello shirt on. He forgot his shirt. What'd you do? He picked up a hat somewhere, somebody did.

Okay. Thanks for that. Anything else from you, Mayor?

Let me just, if I can, run through real quickly because Mr. Lucas and I have met and we met with the team that's been helping out and put this together, the engineer team. Let me give you a quick rundown on where we are with Strain Road, if you're okay with that. And I'm just going to read from the engineer report, if you would. I might ought to see it. That's it right there. We're at 95% design review, and we had a meeting with the engineers, and let me just read this. The City of Athens and the project team recently met. The 95% of Strain Road community improvements phase one, mainly the majority of it on the west side of Strain Road. Project team provided an update on property acquisitions, easements necessary to support the construction, Several easements have already been secured or in progress. The remaining property requirements are being addressed in coordination with the affected property owners. Completion of these will allow the project to proceed with ADM in the review process. The 95% design plans were reviewed by the city, proposed alignment changes were accepted, and the project team continues to coordinate with utilities to confirm existing utility locations and finalize in all the necessary relocations. Funding and financing for phase one was also discussed. The project is progressing through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund or CWSRF process. This loan closing and funding availability currently anticipated in early 2027. As you will recall, we had been promised a loan of about $4.5 million. We will proceed with that. We received, I think, around $128,000 or somewhere about that, Annette, I think. And then the rest of it, as we do the work, we will have to pull that money down. Nobody has sent a check to the city of Athens for 4.5 million. It's much like the other event that you have with the districts here. You do the work and then pull down the money. And we've verbally been told that we will consider forgiving the principal. And boy, are we counting on that. Based on the current schedule, we anticipate reaching 100% design by the end of August this year, in a couple of weeks, and the regulatory review and advertising to go to bid in October, hopefully. Bids hopefully will be opened in November, with construction expected to begin immediately following the contract award. Remember, this is phase one. mostly on west side of Strain Road, Strain Road West. Phase two is underway and looking at that. In this, we're also looking at how we handle the traffic in and out of Strain Road and on Luke Street, particularly we have some people that go in and out for their jobs, opportunities, and we're going to have to build a temporary road uh road to get in and out while we continue to do this work so a lot of moving parts but it's moving in the right direction and and again i know it's been a long process but this is not an easy process mr lucas and this city council is committed to do this work and i think it's the first time in ages that we really got a plan and fallen through with it so just wanted to give you an update on that and that's all i have at this time

Okay, city attorney, Shane.

Nothing for me, Mr. President. Just congratulations to the ball teams.

Yep. Yep, they've done well.

Mr. Lucas. Yes. I'd like to thank the mayor for that update. It sounds good. It looks like we're moving in the right direction. I'd also like to thank some people in the audience that worked on the committee with us to get these... grants out, incentives out for the business that will be receiving a check. Who worked on the committee? Ms. Beverly Frazier, Mr. David Cecil Malone, Sharon Carter, Laverne Gibbard, and we can't leave off Justin. did an awesome job of getting this together, and we thank the mayor and our attorney for keeping us on the right track. We had to do everything legal, so we'd just like to thank those people for helping out on that committee. That's all.

Okay. Mr. Gracie. I would like to just say something about our police department. They do a pretty tough job, an impossible job sometimes. It's a very thankless job. And we've had some issues as of late that they have handled with great professionalism. And I just wanted to say that we appreciate what those guys do for us.

miss henry uh saturday is the summer seven event from athens main street which would be around the square area from three until seven and uh everybody welcome to come out and hang out in our local square have a good time that's cool i don't have anything either um kids started school this week so

Say a prayer for the teachers, I guess. Parents are happy, but hopefully they can all get to and from safely and the year has started off well from everything I hear. First, we have a couple of public hearings. First one is a public hearing relating to ascertaining, fixing and determining the amount of assessment to be charged as weed liens on certain properties as a result of the city abating overgrown grass and weeds So we'll open this public hearing for anybody who'd like to comment. Joe?

Yes, we noticed several properties that had overgrown grass, sent enforcement letters, no response, and we sent crews out to cut the grass.

Yep.

Okay.

Yes, sir. I'd also just note for the council, this resolution concerns 18 different properties that have been cut by the city, and it includes a total expense now of weed liens of about $17,783. The advertisement that went in the newspaper included, in addition to these that you have in your resolution, about 13 other properties that you do not have before you tonight. Why are those not included in this resolution? Because those folks came in and paid. In other words, the owners of those properties paid those weed assessments, and so there's no need to go forward further with enforcement to collect. So the resolution tonight, if adopted by the council, will charge an assessment on each one of those properties. It will show up on their October tax bill that they get in the amount that the city has incurred for cutting the cost of those weeds. It will also be recorded as a lien in the probate court records. So if somebody tries to sell their property, then at the closing table, that lien is going to show up, and it's going to require somebody to pay. This, again, is a part of just the city's efforts to try to renew and to secure approvals, or excuse me, to secure enforcement of the weed lanes that it's been doing. As you know, the city's been engaged in this process for a lot of times. Code enforcement's noticed an uptick in overgrown weeds throughout the city, and so this is a mechanism city can use to try to enhance its ability to show folks that if the city does end up having to cut the grass, there will be a collection tool on the other side of that and the lesson to be learned from this from property owners and chief you back me up on this is you can always cut your grass cheaper than the city can cut your grass if the city goes through the process and has to do the publications right chief and the whole that amount is going to be a whole lot more than if you just get a mower you go out there and cut it yourself that's it mr president thank you anybody else

David Malone, 1300 Somers Drive here in the city. You mentioned in the weeds, this past week I had a young lady to come to my house and she was complaining she owns some property on Plato Jones. And they put a sign in her yard telling her that it needed to be cut. She lives in Atlanta. and she keeps it cut but it's been raining so much the guy that she pays to do it got a little bit behind but what i'm up here for is that across from this young lady's property is some property that the county took years ago now i own some property down in that area myself and i don't see why you can't get them to cut it. I talked to Chairman Daley about two months ago and told him that it needed to be cut. It's two lots I know of on the corner of Bridgeforth and Plato Jones. They haven't been cut since the county took them. It used to be weeds, now it's bushes and trees. So if you're gonna make individual land owners clean theirs, make the county clean the ones that they took. It's only fair. And see, the lady that came by my house, hers is right across the street from the property that the county took. They didn't put anything on the county's property. But you should make the county clean that if they took it, they took it because they said it was a drug house. They tore the houses down, but they didn't do anything after that. And so it's been years and nothing has been done. And it's on the corner of Plaza Jones and Richford Street.

Okay.

Yeah.

Okay. Anybody else? Okay. Thank you. Our resolution, Councilman Golden.

Therefore be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Athens, Alabama, as follows. Council hereby assesses the sum set forth in the resolution to be the cost reasonably incurred by the city in connection with the abatement of public nuisances located at the respective properties set forth in this resolution, which shall constitute a weed lien on the following subjective properties. And these are listed in the ordinance.

All right. Can we get a second on that, please? Any questions on this one? Okay, would you please call the roll on that?

Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mr. Creasy? Yes. Mr. Lucas? Yes. Mrs. Henry? Yes. Mr. Seibert?

Yes.

Five yays, zero nays.

Our second public hearing is related to the zoning approval of the sale of alcohol in the City of Athens by Olive Gordon Holdings, LLC. This is for the Olive Garden Italian Restaurant at 16206 Athens Limestone Boulevard in Athens. We'll open the public hearing. Any comments on that? Okay. We'll close that public hearing. Third public hearing is relating to the zoning approval of the sale of alcohol in the city of Athens by KVAT Food Stores, which is Food City, 17878 Lucas Ferry Road in Athens. We'll open that public hearing as well. Anybody have any comments for or against? Okay. We'll close that public hearing. Councilman Creasy.

Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Athens to approve the following applicant for retail beer and wine on and off premises alcohol license. It is the opinion of, it is our opinion that the business has met requirements of the City of Athens alcohol ordinance.

All right, can we get a second on that?

Second.

Second by Councilman Henry. Any questions on this one? Okay, we get a roll call on that please now.

Mr. Creasy?

Yes.

Mrs. Henry? Yes. Mr. Lucas? Yes. Mrs. Golden?

Yes.

Mr. Seibert? Yes. Five yays, zero nays.

So that's all of our public hearings. Next we have a section for public remarks that regarding any of the items we have on the agenda for the night. If anybody would like to come forward, give us your name and address. You'll have three minutes. Okay. We will move on to our resolutions and our consent calendar. Councilwoman Golden.

Be resolved by the City Council of the City of Athens, Alabama to accept the consent calendar as presented in the work session. Items A through D. Hey, can we get a second on that, please?

Second. Second by Councilman Creasy. Any questions on any of these? Okay, can we get a roll call, please, now?

Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mr. Creasy? Yes. Mr. Lucas?

Yes.

Mrs. Henry? Yes. Mr. Seibert?

Yes.

Bob Yays, zero nays.

Next will be our regular meeting, item E, Councilman Lucas.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Athens, Alabama, does hereby ratify and approve the following grants, first impression, design, LLC is located at 1216 US Highway 31. The grant is for $19,000 in aid of the expense and cost related to the subproject. See the bridge located at 1627 High Street South. This grant is for $19,000 in aid of the expense and cost related to the subproject. See the shop. 904 located at 904 brown fair street which intends to construct various physical improvements the grant is for eighteen thousand five hundred in aid of the expense and costs related to the sub project d is kids journey child development center located at 1105 and the roof jamar street this grant is for five thousand three hundred dollars in aid of the expense and cost related to the subproject. E is Tennessee Valley Corporate, Incorporated, located at 1910 Highway 31 South. This grant is for $12,600 in aid of the expense and cost related to the subproject. F is Mack's Sports Bar and Steakhouse, Incorporated, located at 1733 Jefferson Street Southeast. This grant is for $16,400 in aid of the expense and cost related to the sub-project. G is Mechanical and Electrical Cell Supply Corporation, MUSE, located at 811 US Highway 72. This grant is for $9,200 in aid of the expense and cost related to the sub-project. This is the 10th day of August 2020. Thank you for that, Amy.

Can we get a second on that, please? Second. Second by Councilwoman Golden.

Any questions on this one, guys?

It's good news. We're deploying this capital into the community and into the community businesses, so that's what we intended to do. So I'm happy to be a yes vote on this. Would you call the roll, please, Annette?

Mr. Lucas?

Yes.

Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mr. Creasy? Yes. Mrs. Henry? Yes. Mr. Seibert? Yes. Five yays, zero nays.

Item F, Councilman Creasy. Be it resolved by the City Council of Athens. TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING TRAVEL EDUCATION EXPENSES FOR DANA HENRY, $523.45 FOR THE ELECTRIC CITIES CONFERENCE AND $404.69 FOR THE ANGER CONFERENCE.

CAN WE GET A SECOND ON THAT, PLEASE? CAN WE GET A ROLL CALL ON THAT, PLEASE, ANNETTE?

MR. CREASY?

YES.

MR. LUCAS?

YES.

MS. HENRY?

ALLESTINE, THANK YOU.

Mrs. Golden? Yes. And Mr. Seibert?

Yes.

Four yeas and one abstention.

Item G, Councilwoman Henry.

Therefore, it be resolved by the City Council, City of Athens, that the Electric Services Director is authorized to accept the negotiated low bid of $499,650 from KVA Inc. for the control building and relay panels for the Athens Utilities Swan Cot Electric Substation. The cost and expenses related to this resolution shall be paid from the 2022 warrant fund of the City of Athens.

Move to suspend.

Can we get a second on the rules, please? Second. Second by Councilman Creasy. Can we get a roll call on the rules, please, Annette?

Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mr. Creasy? Yes. Mr. Lucas? Yes. Mrs. Henry? Yes. Mr. Seibert? Yes. Five yays, zero nays.

And then can we get a second on the resolution? Second by Councilman Lucas. Any questions on this one? Okay. Can we get a roll call on that, please?

Mrs. Henry? Yes. Mr. Lucas? Yes. Mr. Creasy? Yes. Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mr. Seibert?

Yes.

Five yays, zero nays.

Item H, Councilman Creasy.

Therefore be it resolved that the Electric Service Director is authorized to accept a low bid of $247 million Excuse me, 47,000. Okay. 500, I was just checking to see if y'all were waiting. $545.23 from Grayson Carter & Sons Contracting Incorporated for the civil grading work of Belmont Substation, Tanner, Alabama. The cost expenses related to this resolution shall be paid for in the following fund, the Athens 2002 Warrant Fund.

Move to suspend the rule.

We get a second on that?

Second.

Second by Councilwoman Golden. We get a roll call on the rules, please, and out.

Mr. Lucas? Yes. Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mr. Creasy?

Yes.

Mrs. Henry? Yes. Mr. Seibert? Yes. Five yays, zero nays.

Can we get a second on the resolution?

Second.

Seconded by Councilwoman Golden. Any questions on this one? We just about made Grayson's day, I think. 247 million. Okay. And if no questions, can we get a roll call on that, too? Mr. Creasy? Yes.

Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mr. Lucas? Yes. Mrs. Henry? Yes. Mr. Seibert?

Yes.

Five yays, zero nays.

Item I, Councilwoman Henry.

Be it ordained by the City Council, City of Athens, And to authorize the sale and issuance of the city's $42,425,000 principal amount of general obligation warrants. This would be known as the series 2026. Move to suspend. We get a second on the rules.

Councilman Lucas. Can we get a roll call on the rules, please, Annette?

Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mr. Lucas? Yes. Mr. Creasy? Yes. Mrs. Henry? Yes. Mr. Seibert?

Yes.

Five yays, zero nays.

And then can we get a second on the ordinance?

Second.

Second by Councilwoman Golden. Any questions on this one? All right. We get a roll call now.

Mrs. Henry? Yes. Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mr. Creasy? Yes. Mr. Lucas? Yes. Mr. Seibert?

Yes.

Five yays, zero nays.

Okay. Do we have any items to add from anybody?

Nothing from the council? Okay.

Final section we have is for general public comment on any matters that are pertinent to city business. If you'd like to come up and make comments, you'll have three minutes and give us your name.