Council - Regular Meeting

I'm now calling this meeting to order. Please stand for our invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we ask for the 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. Attention, salute, pledge.

Ms. Tubbs, roll call, please. Pro Tem Washington?

Here.

Councilor Smith? Councilor Conger? Councilor Higdon? Here. President Dyches? Here.

Presentations, we have one, a proclamation recognizing Lucius Concrete as Business of the Month, and that would be Councilor Washington.

I think I'll do it in two weeks.

Oh, okay. August the 17th? Yes. Okay. Approval of agenda. Is there anyone who would like to make a motion to approve the agenda for the August 3rd to 2026 council meeting as printed or with the deletion or addition of?

As printed. Moved.

Second.

Motion by Councilor Higdon and a second by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Tubbs, roll call please.

Voting with Pro Tem Washington. Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Visitors, to address the council, we have two. You will have three minutes to speak, and when you get to the microphone, please identify yourself and your address and address the council as a whole body, not as one individual. The first one to address the council is Wesley Snyder for the notification of the Grayson Invitational.

Hey, my name is Wesley Snyder. Our address is 5, 2, 1, 7 North flip drive, North port, Alabama, 3, 5, 4, 7, 3. I'm using this platform to spread awareness for the Eccles middle school, Grayson, invitational volleyball tournament. The Grayson invitational is a volleyball tournament in memory of our late son, Grayson Snyder. The tournament will be held at County High as well as Northport Intermediate School on September 11th and 12th. Grayson was born at DCH with an undiagnosed congenital diaphragmatic hernia. That is when the diaphragm is not properly developed, which, in Grayson's case, can cause internal organs to shift, causing the lungs to be underdeveloped. Grayson was live flighted to Children's Hospital in Birmingham, where he fought for 103 days before passing away. All of the proceeds will go directly to Ronald McDonald House of Alabama. If it wasn't for the Ronald McDonald House, my wife, Fisher, and me, we would have been lost. Kristen, Fisher, and I stayed at the Ronald McDonald House during the 103 days that Grayson was fighting in the NICU, which was one block from Children's and UAB. This allowed us to spend time commuting from Northport less time commuting from Northport to downtown Birmingham, and allowed us to spend more time with Grayson. My wife and I had actually been talking about creating an event that would help other families experiencing similar situations while also keeping Grayson's name alive. During this time, Amy Chambly, the volleyball coach for Eccles, reached out to my wife and proposed hosting a volleyball tournament. If it wasn't for Chambly, the Eccles admin and staff, and most importantly, the local community being on board with this tournament, there's no way that this event would be as successful as it has been if it even were to happen at all. So to any individual, business, church, or any other entity who has contributed to this tournament, we just wanted to say thank you. This will be the third year of the tournament. Through the efforts of our surrounding communities, we've been able to raise $30,000 for the Ronald McDonald House, In honor of Grayson, we sponsored two rooms at the house and while also educating individuals on the mission of this charity. There's no minimum or maximum amount of donations for sponsors. If someone says, hey, man, I only have $2, great, send it over. Every penny's gonna go. If somebody would like to donate items like toiletries or food, I can meet you and pick them up. We collect pop tabs, we do it all. The first year, the tournament, don't quote me, but I believe there were eight teams in the tournament. So far, there are currently 16 teams registered for the tournament. Um, the A teams are Eccles, Duncanville, Northside, ACA, Sipsi Valley, Chelsea, Brookwood, Northridge, Homewood, Bumpus, and Auburn. The B teams are Eccles, Northside, Chelsea, Hale County, and Homewood. Um, if anyone would like to contribute in any way, please reach out to Eccles Middle School, the Eccles volleyball team, Amy Chambly, my wife, or myself. Our contact information is on the flyer that I've placed copies of in the back of the room. Thank you all for your time.

Thank you so much, and we're sorry for your loss, but thank you for coming and addressing us about the tournament.

Yes, ma'am. Thank you all.

What is a good way that we could get in touch with you if somebody does reach out to us?

So these flyers have my email as well as my wife's. Councilwoman Conger and Councilman Turnley-Smith, they have my personal number.

Okay.

Give it out if it's for this. We don't care. We'll be fine. Okay. Or Echols, just call and get it figured out. So I'll leave a couple of these up here.

Yeah, that would be great. Thank you. That'll be fine. Thank you, sir.

Thank you. Next, Ms. Shawna Goodman, please.

Hello.

My name is Shawna Goodman, 11301 Evergreen Avenue, Northport 35475. I, the audience, Code Orange, section 42, 196. What is considered under the code? Trash, garbage, debris, and other listings, because I still continue, and I was told by Officer Sanders, code enforcer, There is still, and he said it was not trash, it was not garbage. It may not be that to the owners, but my eyesight, the rubbish, it looks like junk. There is still a shopping cart in the yard that Mr. Sanders told me himself that it was not in violation. So I would like to know who, set the rules on what is according to the ordinance. Code and ordinance. Because anybody with common sense knows that a shopping cart should not be in the front yard.

Our definitions of what garbage and trash are are listed in our city ordinance. I do have a copy of it that we brought, so you're welcome to have this one if you would like.

Okay, so I can't get an answer.

Okay, yes, so garbage means and includes refuse vegetable and animal matter, all refuse matter arising from produced by or that attends the preparation, use, cooking, dealing in, or storing to bread, meat, fish, fowl, fruit, vegetables, and any general form of food for human consumption and any other matter. And trash is defined as trash means and includes any paper, cartons, cardboard, boxes or other materials which are thrown away or rejected for further use but does not include dirt, ashes, brick, lumber, concrete or any waste material from any building or repair operations of construction of any kind.

Debris, do you have a definition for the debris or the rubbish? So at any given time, anybody within the city of Northport could have?

We do have a definition for litter. Litter means garbage, refuse, rubbish, and waste, including but not limited to any paper, cartons, cans, metal, glass, plastic wrappings, boxes, or cardboard, whether or not is of value, and further, whether or not such litter is, I can't pronounce that word. Okay. The term shall also include any abandoned, unattended, or discarded icebox, refrigerator, or other container which has an airtight door, lid, snap lock, or other device which might be removed from the inside, washer, dryer, or any other appliance. This term shall be especially not include the term trash as defined in this section.

It's not, it does not make sense to me that it's okay for a resident to have a shopping cart in the front yard. And it's degrading for my property. My property is my investment. And with that seen within the neighborhood, that depreciates my investment. Am I not correct? So I just talk to nobody else. Is that how this goes? I don't know.

We are not in the position to override what Officer Sanders does. That is not within our purview, not in our wheelhouse. He goes by our ordinance, and I'm assuming some of it is subjective, but he follows what the ordinance says.

without a HOA. Okay, so even, does the code and ordinance override a HOA? I'm just, I'm asking. So if there was a HOA, or it was not, and it didn't include the rubbish, or if there was one, I don't wanna put this, Can anything override as if it was a?

Ms. King, you can answer that, but I do not believe an HOA can override.

No, an HOA cannot override. They can be more restrictive, but they cannot be less restrictive.

Okay. So actually, it's nothing that I can do about the grocery cart in the yard. I would like to compromise. I would like to compromise with my neighbors because I don't have any problem with anyone. just on the appearance, I'm 65 years old, and over 40 some years, I have done commercial, residential, I now work for the city of Tuscaloosa as a custodian, and I think it was a, to me, and what is being said here is an insult to my intelligence, because what I see, and what I know to be rubbish, from what I see is just, Trash is what is considered in this ordinance of Northport.

Ms. Goodman, did you meet with Chief Burton? Did he come out?

I met with him. What she complained about that day was bags of fertilizer that she was referring to as rubbish, I guess, or trash. There is a shopping cart there. There's nothing in the shopping cart. It looks like they used that shopping cart to maybe transport the trash soil, because there are a lot of plants there.

No, that was not the house.

Yes, ma'am, that was the house. I just drove by that house today. I got pictures. I got pictures, too.

But it was not that house. I don't know.

And the other thing she complained about was a neighbor with Halloween decorations, but as we told her before we can't enforce Halloween That and I agree with you if since that's gonna get the job done.

I agree with you on that but You got a kind of conflicted Like If someone, and I guess when there is a complaint that the council doesn't go out to see the complaint or view the complaint, no? It's President. And I've been out there.

Ms. Goodman, let me explain. Yes, sir. If you have questions about the ordinance, President Dyches and the council can try to answer questions about what the ordinance means.

Mm-hmm.

In this situation, Chief Burton and his office went out and looked. And... I'm going to say this the best way I can but try to be clear. There's no one sitting on this panel that has the authority to tell Chief Burton to file charges of any kind against anyone. We don't have that authority. They can set the ordinances and we can have those ordinances on the book. This man is charged with making those decisions and he came out. So if you're asking for a definition on some things, then here are the people that can give it to you. If you're asking this council and myself to tell him what to do, we don't have that authority.

Okay. Can I ask this question? Who has the authority?

That man right there.

No one has authority over him.

No, no, no. He has authority. No one here can tell him who to put in jail, who to write a ticket to. No, but if I come out, I spent 33 years in law enforcement. If I write you a traffic ticket, technically you're being arrested. If he writes you a litter citation, you're technically being arrested. you're just not going to jail okay no one here we cannot tell him to go to mr higdon's house and write him a ticket for littering we don't have that authority okay yes he has miss tubbs is his direct supervisor but she cannot tell him to go write someone a citation that's that's the point i'm trying to make if you need them to explain to you How the ordinance reads, I'm sure they'll do their best. But Chief Burton has gone out there and in his decision...

I don't consider that trash or rubbish. I know you do. I personally do not and Sanders does not. And I'm sure that the homeowner does not. Now, what he did do that day was go back and talk to that homeowner and they removed some more of the stuff that you... That was in that yard. I think they have a cat tree or something out there in front of the yard now. I think they went on the city to pick that up. But they've done a lot to address your complaints.

Because there was a lot. Yes, ma'am, there was a lot. You are correct. They have done minimum. They have. But I just thought that overall, the city of Northport, would rather look a different way than what my neighborhood is looking right now because of three residents.

There are more than three homes in that neighborhood. I'm sure you can start in HOA.

Well, the one with the rubbish that most... there are some grass things there are some grass situations I don't because we don't have an HOA I don't want to be the person all the time I have asked them some of the neighbors to come they don't want to be bullied tortured like our Facebook page has been doing me they took it down but I had already screenshot it so then I mean that part that's fine but see I'm I don't think that they're gonna bother me. I don't think that they're gonna bother me. I have had the guy to come to the house, but that haven't happened anymore. And as I was saying, Ms. Tubbs, or is it, no, I can't address her. Counsel, is there any way that we could compromise on it? I mean, just let's try to work with everybody on this. because they put it on the back part of their houses. I know the guy with the Jeep. He's not going to do it. It don't even run. The tires are flat. Every now and then, he come out and he pump the tires up, so he put air in the tires. I know what Mr. Sanders has said, but that's not true, because one tire is going down now. I just came from home. So if they will work with me, Put it on the back. I have friends come from out of town. And that's the first thing they see was all this.

I get your concern, but we can't trample on their right to do what they are legally, or legally can do.

Okay, so Ms. Goodman, I will get with the rest of the council, Ms. Tubbs and Chief Burton, and we will take your concerns under advisement.

Please, because I am a citizen. I've been living in this city for 20 years. 20 years.

Thank you. Thank you. We have no unfinished business, no new business, resolutions of a temporary nature. 9B1, Mr. Matthews.

9B1 is a resolution that would authorize amendment number six with TTL's master service agreement. This is their agreement that covers all the engineering services on the Northport Shore Sports and Recreation Complex.

Okay, are there any questions or comments from Mr. Matthews? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution authorizing the city administrator to execute amendment number six to the master service agreements with TTL Incorporated for the sports and recreation complex at Northport Shore in the amount of $25,400. Do I hear a motion? So moved.

Second.

That is a motion by Councilor Higdon and a second by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Tubbs, roll call.

Voting with Pro Tem Washington? Yes.

Yes.

Yes. 9B2, Mr. Matthews.

Yes, this would authorize the final balancing change order with GFC Construction on the Earthworks Stockpile Project in North Port Shore. This amendment would decrease the contract amount by $75,362.73. Are there any questions or comments for Mr. Matthews?

The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution authorizing the city administrator to execute the final balancing change order with GFC Construction Company Incorporated for the North Port Shore Earthworks stockpile in the deductive amount of $75,362.73. Do I hear a motion?

So moved. Second.

That's a motion by Councilor Higdon and a second by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Tubbs?

Voting with Pro Tem Washington? Yes.

Yes.

Yes. 9B3, Mr. Matthews.

Continuing to close things out at River Run Park, this would authorize a final balancing change order with Civil Con LLC for package number one, which was the site work and utilities. This would decrease the contract amount by $126,407.09. Okay.

Are there any questions or comments? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution authorizing the city administrator to execute the final balancing change order with Civil Con LLC for for River Run Park, package number one, site and utility, in the deductive amount of $126,407.09. Do I hear a motion? So moved. Second. That is a motion by Councilor Higdon and a second by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Tubbs?

Voting with Pro Tem Washington? Yes.

Yes.

Yes. 9B4, Mr. Matthews.

Yes, this one is the agreement with Alatech Computer Solutions for maintenance and monitoring of the network at River Run Park. This would continue an agreement at the same cost as last year, which is $1,975 per month, and it would renew annually unless either party opted out.

Okay. Are there any questions or comments for Mr. Matthews? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution authorizing the city administrator to enter into an agreement with Alatec Computer Solution LLC for a monthly fee of $1,975 for maintenance and monitoring of network at River Run Park. Do I hear a motion?

So moved. Second.

That is a motion by Councilor Higdon and a second by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Tubbs?

Voting with Pro Tem Washington? Yes. Yes.

Yes. 9B5, Mr. Matthews.

This will authorize execution of a lighting agreement with Alabama Power in the Bellwood subdivision, providing additional lights, poles, and fixtures, and upgrading some other fixtures. The upfront cost is $4,254.61, and that would involve a monthly cost of $106.10. Okay. Are there any questions or comments for Mr. Matthews?

The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution authorizing the city administrator to execute the lighting agreement with Alabama Power for the Bellwood subdivision and the buy-down cost of $4,254.61. Do I hear a motion? So moved. I will second that. That is a motion by Councilor Higdon and a second by President Dyes.

Voting with pro tem Washington. Yes.

Yes.

Yes. 9B6, Mr. Davis. Oh, Will. I'm sorry. Will.

Unfortunately, Mr. Davis is, I believe, overseas at the moment. So I'll be filling in for him tonight. This is a resolution approving an amendment to the certificate of incorporation for the Tuscaloosa County Road Improvement Commission. The amendment will alter the name to the Tuscaloosa County Road Improvement Authority.

Okay, so it's basically just a name change.

Yes.

Okay. Are there any questions or comments? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution approving the amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation and authorizing the mayor and city administrator to execute documents related to the amendment and of the Tuscaloosa County Road Improvement Commission Incorporated. Do I hear a motion?

So moved. Second.

That is a motion by Councilor Higdon and a second by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Tubbs. Voting with Pro Tem Washington.

Yes. Yes.

Yes. 97, Chief Marshall.

Yes, ma'am. This resolution would authorize the sale and surplus of a 2006 Ford F-550. This was a reserve rescue non-transport capable unit. We reached out to the Tuscaloosa County Fire Protection Association for any interest, and we did receive interest for purchase through Vance Fire Protection District. Their chief's here today if you have any question for them, but this will allow sale and surplus to them.

Okay. Are there any questions or comments? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution authorizing one 2006 Ford F-550 as surplus and authorizes the sale of said vehicle to the Vance Fire Department Protection District in the amount of $3,500. Do I hear a motion?

So moved. Second.

That is a motion by Councilor Higdon and a second by Pro-Tim Washington. Ms. Tubbs?

Voting with Pro-Tim Washington?

Yes.

Yes. Yes. 9B8, Chief Marshall.

Yes, ma'am. This is a resolution authorizing a surplus of a 2000 Pierce quantum fire pumper that served us for over 25 years with the new truck. This was gone into reserve status and we're asking to surplus and authorized sale at auction.

Okay. Are there any questions or comments? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution authorizing one 2000 Pierce Quantum Fire Pumper as surplus and authorizes said vehicle to go to auction. Do I hear a motion?

So moved. Second.

That is a motion by Councilor Higdon and a second by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Tubbs?

Voting with Pro Tem Washington?

Yes. Yes.

Yes. 9B9, Ms. King?

Yes. 9B9 and 9B10 are almost identical resolutions. We have two merchandise stores at River Run Park, one which is currently leased by Baseball Lifestyle, the other is leased by PBR Tournaments, and they sell merchandise in those stores. The lease agreements are virtually identical. We are modifying the lease agreements to go from monthly payments to a 20% commission fee, and that's the only change. Everything else will remain the same. Okay.

Are there any questions or comments for Ms. King? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution authorizing the city administrator to execute the amendment Baseball Lifestyles Agreement. Do I hear a motion?

So moved. Second.

That is a motion by Councilor Higdon and a second by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Tubbs?

Do I do a Pro Tem Washington?

Yes. Yes.

Yes.

9B10, Mrs. King. This is the exact same agreement or agreement amendment that I just discussed, but this is for PBR. That's Alabama.

Okay. Are there any questions or comments for Ms. King? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution authorizing the city administrator to execute the amendment to the PBR Tournament's Alabama LLC agreement. Do I hear a motion?

So moved. Second.

That is a motion by Councilor Higdon and a second by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Tubbs?

Voting with Pro Tem Washington? Yes. Yes.

Yes.

9B11, Ms. Ram. Yes, ma'am. This resolution will authorize the city administrator to execute engage in appraisal services for various properties in an amount not to exceed $75,000.

Are there any questions or comments? The form of the motion is to adopt the resolution authorizing the city administrator to engage in appraisal services not to exceed $75,000. Do I hear a motion?

So moved. Second.

That is a motion by Councilor Higdon and a second by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Tubbs. Voting with Pro Tem Washington.

Yes. Yes.

Yes. Consent agenda. This ranges from minutes to bill listings to PO requisitions. Are there any questions or comments concerning any of these? The form of the motion is to approve the consent agenda for the August 3rd, 2026 council meeting as printed or with the addition or deletion of. Do I hear a motion?

So moved. Second.

That is a motion by Councilor Higdon and a second by Pro Tem Washington. Ms. Tubbs.

Voting with Pro Tem Washington. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Public hearings, we have none tonight. City Administrator's Business.

Yes, I just want to remind everybody about our Heroes Banner Program. So this program would be able to purchase a banner that would be displayed in our downtown. It is for current members of the United States Armed Forces or those that have served in the past, and we will have those ready to be displayed over Veterans Day. You can email heroes at northportal.gov for more information, but we would like to encourage everyone to participate if they would like.

Is it just downtown?

Yes. So this year, we're going to use our new light poles downtown, have banner brackets. So we are going to put them downtown. We will be able to extend as our streetscape projects go. Hopefully, eventually, we'll have all of Main Avenue, First Street, and Bridge Avenue with banners.

Good. I have nothing tonight. Mayor Phillips? Nothing tonight. District 2, Pro Tem Washington?

I have nothing. Thank you.

District 5, Councilor Higdon.

I have nothing.

Adjournment. The form of this motion is to adjourn the meeting at 6 p.m. Do I hear a motion?

So moved. Second.

All in favor say aye. Aye. This meeting is adjourned.