Council - Regular Meeting

by Councilman Boulding, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Let's pray. Father God, we just thank you so much for this day and all your many blessings. Father, we just ask you to pour your blessings over the city, over this council, and over our mayor. Father, we just ask that everything that is conducted in this meeting tonight is pleasing in your sight. Father, we thank you for your son Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the and justice for all. Thank you. Mr. Williams, if you will call the roll, please.

Thank you very much. At this time, we'll get the approval of the agenda. But however, in the work session, we did remove items 12D and E from the agenda, if I can get approval for the agenda as amended.

Motion by Mr. Spence, second by Mr. Hendricks. All in favor of the motion? Thank you. At this time, we'll have a message from Mayor Tyler.

Thank you very much, Ms. Simmons and counsel. There's really one item that I would like to speak about today, and that is going to be regular agenda item B, which is the resolution to approve the tax abatement agreement with the IDB and JAR Properties, which is constructing the Wilson Hotel in downtown Florence. There's several reasons. We could get into the... to the legal aspects of the tax abatement agreements recommended by the IDB, a board of about 10 members of professionals here who evaluated this and have made this unanimous recommendation to us. But I want to take more of an approach

Thank you, Mayor. Do we have any reports from anybody? Do we have any reports from the department heads? Standing committees?

Yes. President Simmons, the Planning and Building Committee met June 17. We called the meeting to order at 4.03. In attendance was Melissa Bailey, Mayor Tyler, Council President Simmons, Council Member Bolling, and Justin Mason. I'll try to make this as quick as possible. Regarding the planning department, currently, they're working on a couple of projects. The Seven Points streetscape is ready to go to bid. And this project, Melissa explained that this could be a phased project. So we could break it down into three or four different phases. One of the things that she pointed out was there's a

Thank you. Any more reports from standing committees? We have no public hearings. At this time, we will have business from the floor pertaining to items on the consent and the regular agenda. With a five minute time limit, you may come to the podium, state your name, and your address. And this time, we're going to start with anyone in my right who would like to. My left, my bad. In the middle.

Thank you. Anyone else in the middle? Okay. To my right.

Thank you. Is there anyone else to my right? Okay, there be none. Mr. Williams.

CHAIRPERSON WONG. Do we have a motion? Motion. Motion by Mr. King, second by Mr. Spence. All in favor of the motion?

It's been motioned by Mr. Hendricks, seconded by Mr. Spence. All in favor of the motion?

OK, we don't have a second on that one. Didn't get a second.

DEBBIE CRITCHFIELD C. Dear Hill, motion for immediate consideration.

Do we have a second? Didn't have a second.

Chair Hill, motion for immediate consideration. Second. Motion by Mr. Spence, second by Ms. King. All in favor of the motion?

Motion by Mr. Bowling, second by Mr. Spence. Any discussion? All in favor of the motion?

Do you hear a motion for immediate consideration? Second. Motion by Mr. Spence, second by Ms. King. All in favor of the motion?

Motion by Mr. Bowling, second by Mr. Spence. Any discussion? All in favor of the motion?

OK. General business. Don't have any. At this time, we'll have business from the floor with a five-minute time limit. We'll start to my right. In the middle. To my left. Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see it.

Thank you. Anyone else in the middle? To my left.

Thank you. Anyone else to my left? At this time we'll have council members' reports with a five minute time limit. Ms. King.

Thank you everyone that came out tonight to attend this meeting and everybody watching from home. I have had many people reach out to me regarding the IDB recommendation for the Hotel Wilson. I am doing my best to return every email and call and I appreciate everyone who's taken their time to share their thoughts. I have spent a significant amount of time researching this matter at this point, but I still do not feel that I have enough information to make a final decision. This is an important issue that deserves careful consideration. I am disappointed in the Board that much of the discussion

Yes. Thank you, Ms. Simmons. I'd like to thank everybody for being here tonight. By a non-second does not mean it's a no. It also doesn't mean it's a yes. The reason why I chose to stay silent was because in the past two days, I've gotten more information on this. than I've gotten in the last month. When this recommendation was made by the IDB, I don't know what protocol is, but I feel like they should have came before the council and explained everything, explained their decision. I feel like that's very important. Communication through this whole process has not been good. But yet, like you

Well, we want to thank everyone for being here tonight and those who are watching on YouTube. And just to our city employees and what they do each and every day, we appreciate you and want to recognize you. Actually, I want to say something about Karaoke Idol. This year was really great on July 16th in support of the Salvation Army echelon. So that was a great night for them and money raised. I have a lot of stuff here. I'm just going to be very... I'm disappointed in the IDD board did not get with us. I'm going to echo what Josh and Chapel. I think if we've known this for four weeks and we've

Thank you, Mr. Spence. Thank you for everyone being here. I know second tonight did not mean that it's a done deal. We need more time to reevaluate. And I am certainly for business and business and economic growth here in the Shoals. And I think I can speak for all of the council that we are for that. IDB board. Yeah. If you all will get with the council, that is their request. That is their request. So I just ask that you please so it can move forward so we can collaborate. If that's the request, if this is going to help this move to the next phase, I just ask that you honor. I can't make you

Father God, we just thank you for this day. We thank you for your many blessings, Lord God. I just pray for discernment and direction, Father God, in our city and how we lead for the mayor, for the council, and for the constituents that we serve, Lord God. We just lift you up, and we praise you, and we honor you, and we thank you for all that you are doing for us. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.