City Council - Regular Meeting

taking their seats. We're going to go ahead and get started here. Ned, if you don't mind calling roll. Sure. 4:00. Mr. Cesy here. Mr. Lucas here. Mrs. Henry here. Mrs. Golden here. Mr. Cyber here. All five present.

We have got a relatively short meeting, but we have got a presentation link. So, let us let us move through this real quick and we'll we'll come to you. Uh, we have a public hearing relating to the zoning approval for the sale of alcohol in the city of Athens by Swan Creek Spirits. That is just due to a transfer of ownership. Nothing to vote on. Uh on the consent calendar, we have a resolution approving travel education expenses for personnel of the electric department, the total amount of 1635. Hunter Allen, we have a resolution approving travel education expenses for personnel of the human resources department, the amount of 180. We have a resolution to set a public hearing for the regular meeting on March 23rd, 2026 to consider the request of Morell Engineering to annex just under an acre of property located at 22728 Pepper Road and zone the property B1 within the corporate limits of the city of Athens. We have a resolution to approving the establishment of the Athens America 250 Alabama Committee to help lead the community's planning and programming celebration of the nation's 250th anniversary to celebrate local history as part of America's history. We have a resolution to appoint William or Mayor William R. marks as the voting delegate for the Alabama business meeting of the league on April 30th, 2026 in Montgomery and appoint council president Chris Cyber as first alternate voting delegate.

Yeah, Councilman Cyber that uh that just by some state law now requires us we we've done that forever. Did the the mayor and the president a president promoting delegate? So, nothing unusual about it other than they need a resolution now. Sure. For the last couple of years, they've needed that. Okay. Does anybody have any questions on any of these items? Okay. Who will take that consent? Oh,

item F is a resolution to allocate the FY2025 surplus and a portion of the remaining FY2022 surplus to the police department, fire department, street department, sanitation, IT, general administrative department, planning department, and building department to to capital projects. Does anybody have any question for the mayor or Annette? I think we've been pretty well briefed on these, but does anybody have any further questions on those? All these projects will come back to us. They will as they are purchased. They will. The money's already been set aside. This is just the departments turned in what their capital

list were and so this is just allocating them to the departments. When they get ready to purchase the items, it'll come back to you. Okay. And we had more requests than that. So Annette met with the department heads in some of them and we cut down some of the requests. Don't mean that if they become critical, we'll bring them back to you. And they were all very important. We just tried to set priorities and you know somewhere in that what $2.8 million range to disperse among the department. So they'll come back to you. Okay. Any other questions on that guys? Okay. Who will take that one? I will.

Does that need a rule suspension? It should not. The mons the fun funds have already been set aside. So, okay. Item G is a resolution approving travel expenses for Council President Chris Cybert for Leadership Alabama in the amount of $1,6.99. I'll turn that over to Councilwoman Henry. But does anybody have any questions on that? Who will take that one? Chris, you will take that. That doesn't need any kind of rules. Is that

Was that James or that was you? Was it? Item H is a resolution consenting to an assignment of Crown Castle's franchise agreement and pole attachment agreement. You may have any questions for Shane on this one. Does anything change there? Nothing has changed. The Crown Castle is uh as it relates to the operation of their small cell network, but Crown Castle is selling all of those holdings to a different company. And so company now will assume the the right to

it will as as well as the responsibility of uh of following the city's ordinance for any changes to the small cell uh process that Eric administers. All of that will those responsibilities follow through to the assenee. Any further questions? I guess I get I know we've always been back and forth on teeth and cleanup, but hopefully this one has some teeth in the cleanup piece. That's what we always seem to struggle with, isn't it?

Okay. Has Crown and Castle been among the ones that left a mess or is it been more uh phone lines? You happen to know the this this relates to the small cell structure that's those that have been in close in in downtown that structure was has built out. Eric, you may want to address that. That structure the small cell structure was built out last year. Is that correct?

Yes, that's correct. Well, my question was since those are mostly located, you know, pretty high up on the poles, the the complaints I get is more ground clutter from is that more telecommunications and I think Okay, that that's I was just want to make sure I was correct in that. Thank you. Yes. Any other questions on this one? [clears throat] Okay. Who will take that?

Lucas. Okay. And then our final item uh is a resolution concerning an economic development incentive program for small businesses in city council district 3 and district 5 of the city of Athens. We talked a little bit about this similar to our overall Main Street program allocating some funds to specific districts to hope to revitalize and grow and

and Justin has met with Councilman Lucas and uh Councilman Gold, Council Person Golden, Lady Golden, and uh but anyway, I think it's a good opportunity for us to branch out from this main street. Thank you for considering it. I think it's a good opportunity. I then if uh if Miss Henry or Coach Cesy or you, Miss Sabert has a situation in either of your districts that it should be considered to come back to city council and let's consider these small business opportunities just outside Main Street. think it's a great idea that uh and Justin's going to kind of take the lead from the city standpoint working with the council member and some of the members that y'all set up in your district to kind of review the applications. So looking forward to it. It is not for startup business. There is no money upfront. It is you will uh bring just like you did with Main Street an opportunity to increase your business. look at invoices you spend the money and look at a reimbursement schedule of up to a certain dollar amount. So, uh, let's check it and each one of those will come back for you to you for final approval.

I know we talked about it last meeting, but does anybody have any questions regarding it? Okay, we will need rule suspension on that one. Okay, who will who will take that resolution? And then the rules. That's you.

Okay. Do we have anything, Mayor Annette? Anything to add? I know we've got a presentation, but I don't other than some excitement from the high school here in a little bit. But before that, they're gathered out here.

We've got a presentation by Jimmy and David. And I think it's really important as we with all the growth that we are we have. We have some critical needs uh to rebuild and to redo and uh our sewer treatment plant. And I think these guys have a plan to present to city council tonight uh to possibility of going to the bond market to do what is necessary. This is not a wish list. These are things that are critical. And so I'll if you're okay with it, Miss Summer, we'll kick it to Jimmy or or David. Either one.

Yep. You guys go ahead. [snorts] Uh, want to thank the council and mayor for the time to go over what we're working on right now. And as the mayor indicated, we've got some critical expenditures coming and some uh definitely some shortfalls and what we needed. And to that end, we've been working on the master plan for a while. We have a five-year plan that we've got to execute. And with that, we've hired Refellis consultants to do a rate study to see what we needed to cover our on&m as well as our uh capital needs for the next five years. And to that end, tonight we're going to go over the five-year plan. David Maher is going to walk you through that, see what those particulars are on that issue. And when he finishes, we'll let uh uh Michelle Galvin, our refellish consultant, uh come up and go over the financials to explain what we're seeing there and where that's going to lead us in terms of down the road here on changes we need to make to rate structure and such. With that, I'll turn it over to Mr. Maher. Okay. Well, thank you again. Um like we talked about uh for our capital improvement, we're going to look at some key assumptions for what went into the plan. Uh we're going to talk one more time about the projects that we need to do in the next five years and then sort of lay out a funding plan uh for how to do this going forward. One more. And so again, just to review, uh the majority of these projects are sewer related. You know, last time we talked last month, we talked about the growth portion of these projects and how to fund that potentially through fees. This is going to talk about pretty much the whole scope of how we're going to go about these projects. You know, typically when we fund these projects, we do it two ways. Either cash on hand or we have to go to the bond market, borrow the money. When we borrow the money, we have to pay off the debt to borrow the money, the principal and

interest. So, we're going to talk a lot about what we call debt service payments and how we're going to go to the bond market social efficiency that we can cover the debt that we will inherit to do these projects. So, again, we had the phase one wastewater treatment plant improvements. We're estimating the cost to be around $40 million to do what we have to out there. Uh the funding source is we're going to use some of the existing debt we have from the 2024 bond and then talk about going potentially in the next few months. So, 2026 bond is what you'll see. We have different lift stations, you know, Ren Island Creek, it's a lift station and sewer improvements on the west side of town. The wastewater, the water treatment plant, electrical and pumping improvements that we're currently designing. Uh the Cane Breaker southeast area lift station. This is going to uh handle a lot of the sewer on the east side of town. So, Cambridge Lane, Highway 72, you know, most of that area that's a lot of development's happening. We have to do upgrades to that station. uh our water tanks, you know, all need to be rehabbed. Just normal maintenance, you know, aging of assets. A lot of them are 20 20 years plus since we've rehabbed those. And the other projects, the majority of that is the strain road sewer improvements that we're committed to uh seeing through. And so again, right now we're anticipating, you know, in 2026 to borrow around $20 million. 2028 we're looking at potentially 18 million plus. You know, again, the loan principle you see there, the term is typically 30 years and we're using four and a half percent interest. And so that annual debt payment, we'll get into that here shortly. And so, uh, to talk about the water and revenue forecast, I'm going to hand it over to our, you know, we went out and sought a consultant that we've worked with in the past that has expertise in all this. And so uh Michelle is gonna come present how they built in what the information we gave them to the model that we've come up with the path forward.

Good evening. Michelle Galvin with Rafelis. So I'll be going through the water and wastewater revenue sufficiency forecast that we put together as part of this study. So we did review um a projection of future customer growth uh to account for the incremental revenue that would come in with additional customers and the city is in a uh period of relatively high growth historically over the last 3 years. The city has added about 6 uh8% growth uh per year for water accounts and 7 and a half per year for sewer. So we did take a slightly conservative forecast and assumed a 5.6% 6% annual growth for water customers and a six 5.8% growth for sewer customers through 2030. The basis of projecting our operating costs is based on the 26 budget that we escalating escalated using various escalation factors like a CPI adjustment. Um so we forecasted that over the next 5 years to see what the utility would need to produce for rate revenues. Uh we reviewed the capital improvement program funding sources and as David mentioned we did include uh two new debt issuances. So that was uh looked at as part of our study and the city is considering increasing their impact fees for water and wastewater pretty significantly. So we did factor that revenue into our forecast to help minimize the rate burden onto existing users. So the water revenue at uh existing rates which includes the annual adjustment of 2 and a.5% per year represented by the uh line on this graph that's the rate revenues and you can see that they are sufficient to meet the operating cost uh other transfers and uh revenue requirements as well as that incremental debt service that we reviewed. So under existing rates in the 2 and a.5% index, it is projected to meet those requirements and fund

deficiencies currently um being forecasted for sewer that we'll get into in a second, but also allow you to pay for capital projects that are much needed for the system. For the sewer revenue, you can see by again the line on the graph, um the revenues are not projected to be sufficient to meet the ongoing operating and maintenance costs. and the uh projected debt service even with that strong growth and the 3% annual index. Um this is largely because the sewer system is currently operating at a deficit and with the projected increase of about $ 1.9 million of debt service by the end of the forecast. Um the current 3% annual indexing is not projected to meet revenue requirements. So, we are recommending that the city continue the 2 and a.5% annual indexing currently implemented for the water system, but the only change we're recommending is to switch it. Currently, it's on a July 1 schedule. Change that to an October 1 schedule to better align with the city's fiscal calendar and help setting budgets and all of that. And on the sewer side, we are recommending a rate increase of 7 and a half% on April 1st of 2026 and then a second 7 and a half% 18 months later on October 1st, 2027, followed by two 5%s the following year and then a continuation of the 3% annual indexing that the city currently does for the sewer system. So under these proposed rates, you can see that by the end of the forecast, the sewer system will be self-sufficient and will be able to meet the operating costs, including the future debt issuance assumed. Um, and any additional surpluses will be used to continue to fund ongoing capital improvements needed for the system. And so this will show you how your existing rates for a single family home

using 400,000 or sorry, 4,000 gallons a month. Um, under existing rates it's at $60.70 and by 2030 we're forecasting that to be $73.89. Even with these increases, the current average of the other utilities nearby is $7844. And what's important to recognize is that we have not factored in any additional rate increases these other utilities are likely to implement in the next 5 years. But even by comparing the existing average by 2030 the $7389 is still below the existing average of nearby communities. So we are recommending that the city continue with a 2 and a.5% water rate index. Um the only change we're recommending is to switch that again to an October 1st implementation. And then we are um recommending that the council consider adopting a five-year sewer rate increases as shown in this presentation. And then starting in fiscal year 2031 continue with a 3% annual indexing but like water switch that to an October 1st implementation so that better aligns with the city's fiscal year. And with that we are here to answer any questions you have but otherwise thank you for your time today. I don't know who this question would be directed to may or who but uh think of going to the bond mark and everything will this impact uh east and west train road any kind of way

no sir it will not have an impact on that we still have a commitment uh Mr. Lucas of that 4.5 million and moving forward with the drainage issues on the west side. Uh I think that commitment is still solid and uh after we clear up the drainage and move whatever we can toward the sewer then I think we really look at where we are and what the next step will be for the sewer part of it. I don't anticipate this to have an impact in any way on our mission for Strain Road.

Well, what I'm asking is if we don't have the money to finish Train Road, if we're going to the bond market, why don't we get that now? Strain Road been been needing help for a long time. And [clears throat] uh people are getting restless and keep asking about when it's going to happen. I understand. I I understand. I just would not know what to bring forward to you to say. Is it an additional 5 million, 10 million? What is that? And right now, I'm not able to answer that until we get the drainage and start pulling down from the 4.5 and see what we have left. I hope that uh it's not a huge dollar. You got a a great question. Should we go forward uh with more money? Um that's really up to y'all, up to us to try to if you'd like for me to. I just don't know where to throw the dart and what dollar amount to look at. I'll be able to get with uh Jimmy and David and others and see uh I you know it's about a10 to12 million project and what part of that 4.5 will be left over to cover that. I I just I don't want to guess. I'd like like to have a little better numbers.

I understand that. um when we dive into it, you know, it's it's one of the projects that need uh fixing as bad as anything in the city. Yeah. So, that's that's my thought on that.

Yes, sir. Well, I appreciate that. And again, this is not a wish list of projects to be completed. This is things that's going to have to happen or uh we're going to have to shut down development. And Coach Cree and I met with a group of developers what, two weeks ago, coach. and uh ask them if they had input and uh just basically put it out on the table and say let's make it as small as we can for the current users for water wastewater and then what do we do for new development as it comes along to put the majority of this cost on new development much like other cities have already done. And so we're trying to get through it with the the best way we can to not have a serious impact on our current users. Coach, you haven't had any feedback or phone calls after our meeting, I don't think. And Jimmy or David, you neither one of you had a have had a phone call from that meeting.

Okay. The and I think the unknown on strain because I'm I agree, but I think the unknown is how much will the drainage work fix? I can understand that. But what once that is fixed, then we probably have a better idea of what's next. My main reason for asking, I don't want it to keep getting pushed down. No, like it's not important cuz it's very important to me and you know it's important to the scissors that live in that area.

Totally understand that issue and let's get the drainage. We got after you and I met with the family out there, we've got an idea with uh Aaron to try to draw off a map of what the family said to us and uh and we need to follow up on that and get the ditch work done on West Train Road and then see what we have uh about fixing the sewer. We got some issues there that need to be obviously need to be resolved. As you know, it's been there 50 years and we need we are committed to take it on. We need to fix it. Right. I agree.

Yeah, I I agree as well. Um, does anybody have any questions? I know obviously anytime we talk about rate increases, that's a something we give serious deliberation to, but the issue is and with all surrounding municipalities that we've talked with is sewer precludes development and it very costly and so it's almost always at a deficit in every municipality. And so, but you have to typically bring it prior to development. And so, we just that's that's kind of it makes the challenge funding it. But does anybody have any questions? Okay. If if we don't, do we have Thank you, Jimmy. Thank all all you guys for doing that. Um, do we have any further additions for the meeting? Not that I'm aware of. Nothing has been brought to our attention. And uh I know we got a public hearing on it, but I know my friend Steve and Adam is ready to move forward with their project and we'll see how the public hearing goes and leave it up to city council what the next step is.

All right. Well, if that's it, we'll take about a fivem minute break and we will

We got a lot of guests, so we'll go ahead and get started. You can just have them come on in, Kim, if you want and recognize them appropriately.

70 girls, I think. [applause] Man, we got the whole team here, didn't we? That's great. Looks like they came from the Olympics, all these gold medals. Miss Sabbert, I told them they need to be coming in doing flips and turning cartwheels and all kind of things, and they assured me that they could. Well, y'all look great.

You're 70. Said 70, I think, is what Gia said. You got one on crutches there, Miss Sbert. Be careful. Is everybody in? Is that everybody?

I couldn't see. Let me tell about these young ladies and these great sponsors just real quick. Athens Cheer brought top honors after bringing all of their Golden Eagle spirit to the mat. The Athens Cheer program sent 50 student athletes to Orlando to compete in the Universal Cheer Association National High School Cheerleading Championship and International Cheer Union World Cheerleading Championship. premier competitions for high school cheerleaders across the country and around the world. Competition was held on Friday, January the 30th through Sunday, February the 1st with teams evaluated on their spirit, their crowd engagement, use of props and motions, stunt techniques, showcase ability, their energy, and their overall performance of excellence. Athens cheer composed of two teams earned the following honors. Athens High School Varsity Cheer first place Super Varsity Traditional International Cheer Union World Cheerleading Championship Gold Medal and Championship jacket. Woohoo.

[applause]

And then following along beside them, the Athens Middle School Junior Varsity Cheer First Place Junior Varsity Traditional International Cheer Union World Cheerleading Championship Gold Medal and Championship Jacket. Woo! Again, great job. [applause] Third place, Junior Varsity Non-Tumbling Divi Tumbling Division Game Day Universal Cheer Association National High School Cheerleading Championship, a bronze medal, and a trophy. Great. [applause] Here's the greatest news. This marks the ninth year that Athens Cheer has competed in Orlando and the fourth consecutive year to capture a gold medal and white championship jacket. Athens Cheer earned UCA national championship titles in 2023, 2024, 2025, and ICU World titles in 2023 and 2026. Athens Middle School varsity cheer also claimed the title of AHSAA 6A junior varsity co-ed state championship. All right. Both [applause] [cheering] both teams are led by Athens High School's cheer coordinator, Gia Russell. Thank you, Miss Russell. Varsity cheer coach Tessa Farmer. Junior Varsity Coach Ashley Loveless and Assistant Cheer Coach Paige Hicks and Nikki Moore. We are incredibly proud of all of our cheerleaders and coaches for their dedication, their teamwork, and their spirit. They did an amazing job representing Athens schools with excellence. It's great to be a Golden

Eagle. [applause] Thank you, ladies. Y'all good. Y'all need to stand up. city council where we can get a picture of all of this fun. [laughter] Y'all may have to have to get in the in the in quick and in the front. Miss Russell, y'all get in there. Yep.

Let me get this thing out of your way. Would you like to say a few words? [laughter] All right, good deal. See if I can Thank you so much. [applause]

Anybody not Mr. really all of our administrators that support us in this endeavor. It's they they start tomorrow working on next year. So, um we really know they didn't raise their hands, but this is Farmer and this is Ashley. [applause]

Yes, she can. And honestly, she took several that never been on the map before and with no experience and so these ladies really do a fantastic job. So I'm so pretty good group. Please do. And thank y'all again. Thanks for being here. [applause] Thank you. Thank you.

Keep up the good work. Could you be seen? You have to jump now. Tag team it. It's easier to drag it that way.

Hey, last week I got kicked Red Devil. Daddy grew up with my kids. I went down

one state. Yeah, we'll give them time to make their way out.

Michael, what's the next name? Michael Woods. Woods. Yeah. And you've already swore out the war. Yeah. And this is the funny thing, Shane. I swore I went to They told me say, "You got to make and I had to go to which I did, but that's not right. You know, if I'm tell Yeah, I just mentioned it to the mayor, too. Thank you.

Yeah. And again, we'll say congrats to our cheerleaders and coaches and parents. They've been consistently good for some time. Thank you guys for allowing us to do that. We appreciate it. Uh with that, I guess we'll formally call the meeting to order. If you want to do a roll call on that, sir. Mr. Casy here. Mr. Lucas here. Mrs. Henry here. Mrs. Golden here. Mr. Cyber here. All five present. I'll do the invocation and the pledge of allegiance will be offered by Mayor Mars. If you would just stand please bow your head.

Dear heavenly father, we thank you for this day. We thank you for the many blessings you've given us. Lord, we thank you for this this group of girls, this team that's been consistently good. We ask that you be with them. Uh for those that continue to be in school here as cheerleaders and be with those who are graduating and going on to uh other things in life, let them remember how special this was and thank you for giving us the opportunity to recognize them. We ask that you be with our people here in the community as we have unseasonable weather uh whipsaws and just be with them, keep them safe, keep them warm. We ask that you be with us tonight as as we continue to make decisions that affect our community and our constituents. And Lord, just give us uh courage, guidance, and wisdom. Lord, we ask all these things in your name. Amen. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Okay, thank you for that. Mayor Marks. First item of business is approval of city council minutes and work session minutes. Can we get a motion for that? Motion. Second. Okay. Can we get a roll call on that, please? That seconded by Mr. Lucas. Mrs. Golden. Yes. Mr. Lucas. Yes. Mr. Creasy? Yes. Mrs. Henry? Yes. Mr. Cyber? Yes. Five. Zero nays. We don't have any special city council minutes nor standing or special committees. So, we'll go to our report of officers. Mayor Marks.

Uh, yes. Thank you, Mr. Sabbert. Uh, I recently sent, I believe, each one of the city council members a uh a copy of the state house advocate. Uh, this is a newsletter that's produced by the League of Municipalities during the legislative session. And Annette and I track this pretty carefully, particularly if it has anything to do with kind of snap snipping away at our revenue streams for the cities. And I just I hope that you read through it. There are some bills that have been introduced either in the House or the Senate. And oftent times it's real critical that we voice our opinions. And uh if you have ideas, suggestions, please if you want to send them back to us, we're happy to voice those. But there are some critical issues that are out there now. And some of them have an an impact on our revenue stream. So, uh if they're out there and you want to voice opposition, please feel free to do so. Or if you want to brag on them and uh and on support them, then please do that also cuz they have a tough job. They'll have most likely a thousand bills that'll be introduced in the House of Representatives and probably 4 or 500 in the Senate side and until they cross chambers, they're open for debate and discussion. There's also another piece of local legislation that uh has been advertised in the paper that Annette and I have talked about and uh and we're trying to corral that and try to get a better understanding of its intent and uh so we'll uh we'll follow up with that. U I think uh other than that, let me go ahead. It's on the consent calendar, but I want to give a shout out just like these young ladies that was here today. uh Blair Hunter,

other people you have uh on your consent calendar uh the fees, the some of the reimbursement to six employees that spent what Hunter, they spent 10 days,

nine days in Oxford, Mississippi. And I want to personally just call out each one of these guys because they work their rears off. And that's what we do when other cities and towns get in trouble with the ice storm. We send people to help out. And we got hit a number of years ago in Florence and other people uh sent folks to help us out. So I just want to give a special shout out to Eli Gilbert, Jeff Hines, Dustin Jackson, Will Thomas, Brandon Pepper, and Chase Carter. They had boots on the ground in Oxford, Mississippi. helping them get through the storm damage and uh these guys worked hard. So, just want to give a shout out to them, Hunter, and please pass along. Thank you. [applause] And I think Mr. Sbert, that's all I have at this time.

Okay. Thank you, Shane. City attorney, do you have anything? Nothing for me, Mr. President. Mr. Lucas, nothing. Mr. Casy, nothing. M. Henry,

yes. Uh, just one thing. I see I thought I saw another couple of our mayor youth commissioners here earlier. Um Bella Newbie is one of our Athens mayor's youth commissioners. Uh they are tasked with u attending city council meetings and learning about the process and it's a great thing when our youth are willing to get involved. So thank you. I I could have sworn I saw another girl in and out earlier but anyway if if I missed her, sorry. Thank you for for being here. I think it's a great thing. It's really great to see young people try to get involved uh particularly at a time when not all adults choose to get involved. So, thank you for that. Thank you, Mr.

M. Coleman. Nothing for me. Okay. Thank you. Nothing for me either. Uh, our first item is a public hearing relating to the zoning approval for the sale of alcohol in the city of Athens by Swan Creek Spirits. That's at 1260 US Highway 72 East, Sweet G, Athens, Alabama, 35611. It's a transfer of ownership. We'll open this public hearing for any comments for or against. Okay. No comments.

And Mr. Cybert, just uh for the record, that goes back to the approval and uh again, Steve and Adam are both anxious about this. So, it'll walk through the process and we'll walk it through as fast as Annette and her folks uh can make it all happen. So,

Okay. Perfect. All right. Uh our next item is public remarks regarding any agenda items. If anybody'd like to speak on agenda item, you can come up, tell us who you are. Be happy to address that. Um, Amanda Schulty, 1036 West Washington Street. Um, it's probably no surprise. Um, I would like to address item G. So there recently there was something going on um in with a national organization where a person that is employed by the person in this agenda item was picked up into ICE custody and is now sitting in the New Orleans County Jail on an ICE hold. And I just would like you to table this agenda item on paying this money for this considering that Leadership Alabama is such a prestigious honor that um I'm not asking to determine uh immigration status or criminal liability. I'm just asking that the council determine whether taxpayer funds should be approved while matter connected to a sitting council member is under federal review. That's all I'm asking. I'm not here to argue. I'm just saying that there is one of his employees that are sitting in ICE custody and I just don't want this to be held um as a liability for the city. So that's all. Thank you.

So I'm interested is how's this related to ICE? You're you're paying Chris Cyber $1,000 in reimbursement for Leadership Alabama. And I think that it looks bad for the city to pay money when he has got an employee that everyone in here knows that is now picked up and sitting in ICE custody. It has nothing to do with ICE. That's what I said that this isn't out of criminal or immigration. Okay. Thank you. Yep. Thank you. Now, this isn't paying him any money. What?

This this isn't paying him any money. It is reimbursing him for money. So, I just asked you to put it on hold. So, because you're reimbursing, I'm just I didn't ask to not pay it. All I said was until the issue is resolved, if you don't mind it. I'm sure you won't, but is there anyone else?

Okay. All right. We will move on to our consent calendar. Councilwoman Henry. May it resolve by the city of Athens, Alabama, and the city council on the meeting of this date to approve travel and education expenses for personnel of the electrical department in the amount of $1,63548. Be it further resolved, excuse [clears throat] me, to approve travel and education expenses for personnel of the human resources department in the amount of $180. Be further resolved to set a public hearing for the regular meeting on March 23rd, 2026 to consider the request of Morell Engineering operating business as Riyadea LLC to annex plus or minus 7.77 acres of property located at 22728 Pepper Road and zone the property B1 neighborhood business district within the corporate lit limits of the city of Athens, Alabama at the parcel as noted. Be it further resolved to approve the establishment of the Athens America 250 Alabama Committee to help lead the community's planning and programming celebration of the nation's 250th anniversary to celebrate local history as part of America's history. We have further resolved to appoint Mayor William R. remarks as the voting delegate for the annual business meeting of the league Alabama League of Municipalities to be held April 30th, 2026 in Montgomery, Alabama and to appoint Council President Chris Cybert as the first alternate voting delegate.

We get second on that. Second. Any discussion? All right, Annette. Mrs. Henry, yes. Mrs. Golden, yes. Mr. Cesy, yes. Mr. Lucas, yes. And Mr. Cyber, yes. Five, zero nays. Item F, Councilman Cesy,

resolution to allocate fiscal year 2025 capital appropriations. Whereas on December the 22nd, 2025, the city council approved a fiscal year 2025 budget amendment to appropriate $2 million of for capital expenditures. Whereas on December the 19th, 2022, the city council approved a fiscal year 2022 budget amendment to appropriate 2,750,000 for capital expenditures of which 1,277,816 remain unallocated. Therefore, be it resolved by the city council of the city of Athens of Alabama to allocate the fiscal year 2025 surplus and portions of the remaining fiscal year 2022 surplus as follows. The police department $493,000. Fire department $180,000. Sanitation or excuse me, street department $575,000. Sanitation Department $1,450,000. Well, information tech and technology $89,000. General administrative $7,000. Planning department $20,000. Building department $68,000 for a total of $2,882,000. Second.

Is there any further questions on that one? All right, Annette, would you call the RO? Mr. Creasy? Yes. Mr. Lucas? Yes. Mrs. Henry? Yes. Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mrs. Mr. Cyber? Yes. Five. Zero Naz. [clears throat] Next item I will hand to council pro Tim Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Cyber. Uh we will entertain uh item G on the res on the calendar and I ask that uh Councilman Casey enter that please. It resolved the city council of the city of Athens, Alabama to approve travel expenses for Councilman Chris Cybert in the following amount $1,06.99 for January 13th to 16th, 2026 for Leadership Alabama. Is there a second?

A second. Okay. Is there any discussion? May we have a roll call, please? Yes. [snorts] Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mr. Lucas? Yes. Mrs. Henry? Yes. Mr. Cyber? Abstain. Four yays and one abstension. Thank you very much. And at this we'll turn the meeting back over to Council President Cybert.

Item H, Councilman Lucas. Resolution consenting to an assignment of Crown Castle franchise agreement and pole attachment agreement. Whereas the city had a franchise agreement with Crown Castle with respect to the operation of fiber optic transmission lines and related equipment located within the city of Athens. Whereas the city also has a pole attachment agreement with Crown Castle. Whereas Crown Capital has entered into an agreement to sell its nationwide fiber solution and small sales business to fiber Fininoco LLC and small sale hold incorporation. And so crown council requests the city consent to assign these above reference agreement whereas the city council is willing to grant its consent to the assignment. Now therefore be it resolve the city consent crown castle assignment.

I'll second that. Second. Any questions? Any uh comments on that one? Okay, we get a roll call, please. Now, Mr. Lucas, yes. Mrs. Henry, yes. Mr. Cesy, yes. Mrs. Golden, yes. And Mr. Cybert, yes. Five yay, zero nays.

Item I, Councilman Casy. [snorts] resolution concerning an economic development incentive program for the small businesses in the city of in the city council district three and district five for the city of Athens. Whereas the city of Athens has been experiencing tremendous growth but due to various market factors all areas of the city do not experience the same economic development opportunities. Whereas the city council desires to initiate a program to promote the economic development of the city of Athens through an effort to provide economic development incentives for all those retail stagnant or economically distressed areas within the city. Whereas there are many areas zone for retail business development within the city council district 3 and city council district 5 and are retail stagnant or economically distressed. Whereas the city council desires to support stren support support strengthen and enhance small local business in these areas through the program. Whereas the program will be aimed at supporting and incentive small local retailers, restaurants and and non-professional personnel ser person personal services service businesses to make permanent physical improvements to their b businesses. Therefore, be it resolved, the city council hereby appropriates and sets aside 200,000 for programs 100,000 allocated for projects within district three and $100,000 in district 5. The mayor is charged with administering administering facilitating the program. The mayor shall report and

recommend to the city council proposed grant recipients for the city council consideration at the public meeting prior to the release of any funds. Move to suspend. Second by Mr. Lucas. We get a roll call on the rules, please. And that Mrs. Golden. Yes. Mr. Lucas, yes. Mr. Cruy, yes. Mrs. Henry, yes. Mr. Cyber, yes. Five, yay. Zero nays. Any [snorts] questions on the program itself? The resolution could be a good thing for sure. Absolutely.

I think it'd be a good thing and I be glad to see it in district three. I hope we get some applicants for get something done in that area. Yeah. And just to clarify, Justin Travis is going to take the lead from the city standpoint to work with each council member about the uh application process and you have a copy of that. We've talked through this good bit and remember it will all come back to the city council for final approval. So, we're excited about this. It branches outside of Main Street in a good opportunity. Thank you. It's going to be a great program. I don't think there's been a second to the item, so I'd like to offer my second to that, please.

Second from Councilwoman Henry. All right. Can we get a roll call on that? Mr. Cruy? Yes. Mrs. Henry? Yes. Mr. Lucas? Yes. Mrs. Golden? Yes. Mr. Cyber? Yes. Five. Zero. Okay. I don't think we have any other items of business. Mayor Shane, Annette, council folks. Okay. It's an opportunity if anybody wants to come up and address the council any matters that are pertinent to city business.