Council - Regular Meeting

I am now calling this meeting to order. Please stand for our invitation and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we ask for wisdom and guidance as we conduct the business of our city. Help us to make decisions that serve the citizens of Northport with fairness, integrity, and respect. Amen. And I would like to welcome Girl Scout Troop 29516 from Teslas Academy up to the podium. They are going to actually lead us in our pledge of allegiance. So, if you guys would come up around the podium. Fabulous. Okay, ladies. I'm turning it over to you.

Attention. Salute. Pledge. I pledge aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you for having us. I would like to thank uh Miss Congress for uh bringing the troop here or that was where they went. Bye ladies. Not even going to stick around. They they they were going to eat, I guess. Okay. Um roll tub roll tubs. This is going to be another night. Roll call, Miss Tubs. Pro Tim Washington here. Councelor Smith, Councelor Conger here, Councelor Hickden here, President Dykes

here. Uh, we have one proclamation tonight uh recognizing Milligan's Home Improvement Store as business of the month. Councelor Hickden and Mayor Phillips, would you like to go to the podium? Is there Okay. Okay, we can do that. We can absolutely pivot like that. So, um, let me go ahead and let's do approval of the agenda. Is there anyone who would like to make a motion to approve the agenda for May 4th, 2026 council meeting as printed? So move. Second. That is a motion by councelor Hden and a second by proim Washington. Are there any questions or comments? Hearing none, Miss Tubs. Voting with pro Tim Washington.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay. We have one visitor to address the council. Mr. Brian Townsen, I believe, wanted to speak regarding public transportation. If you can make your way to the podium and tell us your name and address.

Um, good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name's Brian Townsen. My address is 800 Energy Saver Boulevard in Northport, Alabama. And I'm not sure the zip code. Please forgive. That's okay. That's okay. You're good. So, keep on. Yes, sir. Go right ahead.

Okay. So, like I say, my name is Brian Towns and thank the ladies and gentlemen of the council for having me here. Um, I cannot go without. This is my friend brother Gary went his wife we all attend Church of the Highlands and they're on the prayer team and very much prayer warriors which brother Gary is a prayer leader in the church. So saying that um moving on to what it um I'm totally blind of course y'all can see that but uh what what I wanted to bring to your attention is that there's no transportation and we have we have scarred we have talked to numerous people about trying to see about it. We've talked to some that said that they would pay for $60 one way, but I mean that's just that's just way out of my league because like I say, I'm on disability and um if anybody's aware that's not very much. But um I did talk with um Mr. Russell through Mr. Russell's office to a Miss Jennifer and she told me that at one time y'all had a contract with the Tuscaloosa Transit Association.

Yes, sir. Well, I was hoping is I'm in district three. I believe that's Miss Conger. Yes, sir.

So, yes, ma'am. And I only live two miles from where they'll pick up. two miles, which I know might as well be 150 miles because they um they said they know can do. But I I I've talked with them and I've done a lot of research and done a lot of praying and um I was just hoping that y'all would listen to me with open heart in mind and know that there's other handicapped people like myself that could use transportation like what what I need. I mean there's there so many other many ways that you know the handicap I don't think gets treated correct but I was thinking like I say with open heart open mind that y'all would y'all would be able to maybe have a meeting in the minds and help with this. I don't see why not being y'all. I mean, if you had it one time, you could do it again, I suppose. And

let me see. Okay. Transportation precludes provide the opportunity. Yeah, the transportation is what I'm needing to seek employment because after where I live at and not poor mouthing, but after where I live at and my other utility and everything, I don't have very much to make it on. Right.

So, it took a lot for me to come up here, especially being blind to to face y'all. each and every one of y'all. And all I can ask is, you know, maybe if y'all could get transportation, maybe I could go to the water park one day.

Well, um, thank you so much for coming and we appreciate it. And yes, I do believe, Miss Tubs, that many years ago we did have a contract with Tuscaloosa and they did come through and they made one route um which was in uh mostly in district one and two around downtown. I don't know the exact route because it's been prior to any of us being on this council, but we will get with Miss Tubs and I believe there's already communication that has been made with the city of Tuscaloosa regarding that.

I don't know what their proposal was. I don't know anything about that. It's been a couple of years since we talked with parking and transit authority about this, but I'll be glad to get back with them. And then we can also look and see if there's other agencies that provide fund uh transportation in and around that area. We'll be glad to do that.

Yes, ma'am. We we have through the transportation and different other people that we have talking to from the um talked to Stacy at the mayor's office and she she went to the grindstoneone trying to find everything and all the ones that we found is either they don't do it or they trying to take I mean they asking for like $60 one way and Oh wow. If I was to do that, I'd be owing them at the end of the month after I paid my whole check paycheck to them. I'd still be owing them. Absolutely. I mean,

so thank you so much. And Miss Tubs, I believe or Miss Mixon has your number, name, and number. Miss Miss Nixon's a good lady. And once Miss Tubs finds something out, one of us will give you a phone call and let you know what we found out. Well, I appreciate y'all's time and God bless y'all. And like I say, please have the open mind with it because I'm sure I'm not the onlyest handicap and once that that word gets out that they are just say the Tuscaloosa Transit in Northport, I'm sure that they these others that could, you know, jump right in and be right on time for them because I know that I'm not the only handicapping,

right? Biggest I mean and this is a prosperous town. Yes. Yes, sir. Well, thank you so much for your time and God bless y'all for coming as well. We appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, we have no unfinished business. We have new business.

Um I don't believe so. I was watching nobody came in. So, okay. We'll I mean we can we can inter we can work them through if they come in. Miss Ram, I apologize. Um 9A1, Miss Ram. Yes, ma'am. We are proposing some amendments to the zoning ordinance. Um these amendments will clarify our regulations and amend the table of uses. Um these recommendations do come as a favorable recommendation from the planning commission and we will have a public hearing on May the 18th.

Thank you so much. I will offer that up as a first reading. Um next on the agenda is 9B1, Mr. Web. Yes, we received bids for the water treatment plant process residuals removal and disposal. Lowest responsible bidder was is to Nali Water Solutions LLC in the amount of $179,880.

Okay. Are there any questions or comments? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution awarding the bid for water treatment plant process residuals removal and disposal to Denali Water Solutions LLC. The lowest responsible bidder meeting specifications and to authorize the city administrator to execute all necessary documents for said project. Do I hear a motion? So move. That is a motion by councelor Hickden and a second by proim Washington. Miss Tubs, roll call, please. Voting with pro Tim Washington. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. 9B2. Mr. Webb again.

Yes. Each year, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management requires all municipalities with wastewater systems to complete municipal water pollution prevention annual report. This report sets forth actions and schedules necessary to maintain affluent requirements contained in our in our discharge permit. It also helps prevent the bypass and overflow of raw sewage within the collection system and the treatment plant. The actions include for this year continue with the uh placement of the water wastewater infrastructure that on the city's um GIS system, continue implementation of the city's pump station replacement plan, and continue implementing the outfall line relocation project.

Thank you, Mr. Web. Are there any questions or comments? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution adopting the annual municipal water pollution prevention report. Do I hear a motion? So move second. That is a motion by councelor Hden and a second by pro Tim Washington. Miss Tubs, roll call, please. Voting with proim Washington. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. 93. Mrs. Starns. Yes, ma'am. Public works received bids for custodial services for the community center. Um, your real next step was the lowest bidder meeting all the minimum bid specifications. Are there any questions or comments?

The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution awarding bid file number number 26-09 to your rule next step for the furnishing of custodial services for the Northport Community Center. Do I hear a motion? So move. Second. That is a motion by Pro Tim Washington and a second by councelor Conger. Miss Tubs, roll call, please. Widing with Pro Tim Washington. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. 94. Mr. McGee. Uh yes. This is to accept the 2025 uh audit. Uh we just heard in work session uh details of that audit and we would ask that you accept and approve that.

Mr. McGee, is this something that is online for um citizens to view or not? It will be. It will be as soon as we get uh passed tonight. We'll get a readable format. It's on our website. It'll be uh deposited through the state. There's a number of places that it'll be available for citizens to view, but it will be on our website. Great. Thank you so much. Are there any questions or comments? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution accepting the 2025 audit report as completed by LCROY Richardson PC. Do I hear a motion? So moved. Second. That is a motion by councelor Hickden and a second by Proim Washington. Miss Tubs. Roll call, please. Voting with Pro Tim Washington. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Yes. 95. Mr. Mc McGee again. Uh yes. This is to allocate and reallocate uh Northport first funds from 2025 and 2026. It is uh 69 just over 69,000 of 2025 funds. Uh a million843 of 2026 funds totaling for a million 913 toward a variety of of uh projects that you'll see attached packet. I won't go into the details of it, but we went over it in work session. Be glad to if you'd like me to.

Thank you very much. Are there any questions or comments for Mr. McGee? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution approving the allocation reallocation of 2025 and 2026 Northport first funds. Do I hear a motion? So moved. Second. That is a motion by councelor Hickden and a second by Proim Washington. Miss Tubs, roll call. Voting with Pro Tim Washington. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

9B6. Mrs. Tubs. Yes, this is to enter an agreement with the University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Services. They'll provide a series of training sessions and also a um to help give us some consulting assistance with our social media and website content. That is amazing. We definitely need some assistance in that area. Are there any questions or comments? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution authorizing the city administrator to enter into an agreement with the University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences for professional education services in the amount of $23,000. Do I hear a motion? So moved.

Second. That is a motion by councelor Hickden and a second by Proim Washington. Miss Tubs, roll call, please. Voting with Pro Tim Washington. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. 97. Mrs. Nelson. This is authorizing to execute a contract with KO Builders for the River Run Park Maintenance Building. We opened up bids. We received five biders and K&A was a low bidder at $55,000. Thank you very much. Are there any questions or comments? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution authorizing the city administrator to execute a contract with K&A Builders Incorporated for the maintenance building at Riverrun Park at Northport Shore in the amount of $55,000. Do I hear a motion? So moved.

Second. That is a motion by councelor Hickden and a second by Proim Washington. Miss Tubs, call roll, please. Voting with Pro Tim Washington. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. 9B. Miss Nelson. Again, this authorizes the city administrator to execute a municipal rideway agreement with Everlasting Properties. This is for a storefront owning that will project into the ride ofway at 401 Main Avenue and there's no funding expected on the city's back. Okay. Are there any questions or comments? The form of this motion is to adopt the resolution authorizing the city administrator to execute a municipal rideway agreement to Everlasting Properties LLC for the location of 401 Main Avenue. Do I hear a motion? So moved.

Second. That is a motion by councelor Hickden and a second by councelor Conger. Miss Tubs, call roll, please. Vetting we pray. Tim Washington. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. 9B9. Miss Nelson. Again,

this authorizes the city administrator to execute a master services agreement in TODS one and two with Hazen and Sawyer for storm sewer improvements. This will be for corrugated metal pipe inhab um impl re rehab and replacement. This tods number one and number two will be for design and engineering services. Are there any questions or comments for Miss Nelson? Hearing none. The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution authorizing the city administrator to execute a master service agreement with Hassen and Sawyer and task order directive number one and two for storm sewer improvements. Do I hear a motion? So moved. Second. That is a motion by councelor Conger and a second by pro Tim Washington. Miss Tubs, call roll, please.

Voting with pro Tim Washington. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. 9B10. Mrs. Nelson. This authorizes the city administrator to execute change order number three with W construction for Riverrun Park package number four. These are for minor changes made during construction as needed and this is budgeted. Good deal. Are there any questions or comments? Hearing none. The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution authorizing the city administrator to execute change order number three with war construction for Riverrun Park package number four in the amount of $75,592.38. Do I hear a motion? So moved. Second.

That is a motion by councelor Hickden and a second by Proim Washington. Miss Tubs, roll call, please. Voting with Pro Tim Washington. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. 97 uh 9 C is consent agenda. The these range from bill listings to minutes to PO requisitions. I believe everybody has had a chance to look at these through work session. Does anyone have a question or comment hearing? None. The form of the form of the motion is to approve the consent agenda for May 4th council 2026 council meeting as printed. Do I hear a motion? So moved. Second. That is a motion by councelor Hickden and a second by pro Tim Washington. Miss Tubs, roll call, please. Voting with pro Tim Washington. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. U public hearings. I would like to remind everyone that during public comments. We encourage you to share items of concern. There is a three minute limit. Please direct all your comments to the council as a whole and not to an individual. 10 C1. Mrs. Ram.

Yes, ma'am. This is a um an ordinance that will approve a conditional use to allow upper storage dwellings in a recreational zoning district. The property is located south and west of 300 Riverrun Park South. Um this does come with a positive recommendation from the planning commission. They also recommend that the maximum number of condo units be limited to 18 units. The item is ready for a public hearing and vote of the council. I will open the floor for a public hearing for agenda item 10 C1. Is there anyone that would like to speak for or against this project? Hearing none, I'll close the floor for a public hearing for agenda item 10 C1. Are there any questions or comments? The form of the motion is to adopt the ordinance authorizing conditional use approval for upper story dwellings in a recreational zoning district for the property located south and west of 300 Riverrun Park South with the proposed development including a hotel with 144 rooms with an additional 54 hotel rooms that could be converted into 18 condominium units for a total of 198 bedrooms. I will make this uh put this up for a motion. Do I have a second?

Second. That is a motion by President Dykes and a second by Councelor Hickden. Miss Tubs, roll call, please. Voting requ. Yes. Abstain. Yes. Yes. Um we uh city administrator's business. Yes. I wanted to let everyone know that Congressman Robert Adhalt will have remote office hours. He will not be here himself, but he will have his staff members here. on May 15th from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 pm here at city hall. So again, it's May 15th from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Good deal. I have nothing for this evening. Mayor Phillips, nothing. Um, Pro Tim Washington,

I have none. Councelor Conger, I have none. Um, I believe that leaves councelor Hickden. Nothing for me. All right. The um We have an executive session. The form of the motion is to adjourn the meeting into executive session to discuss economic development. The session is expected to take 30 minutes. The council will not take action after this executive session is concluded. The time is 552. Do I hear a motion? We need to have the executive session certified. Certified. Certified. Thanks. And I will adjourn this into sec executive session.

Got a motion. A motion. I realized that this is a motion. I was getting ready to say that. Do I hear a motion? So moved. Second. Thank you, Councelor Hickden and Proim Washington. Roll call, please. Voting with Pro Tim Washington. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. It is 553. We have gone into executive session.