City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the business meetings for the city of Pratville. We have one public hearing tonight and then after that we'll move into our regular council agenda. Madame clerk, will you please call the role? Councelor Newman here. Councelor Jackson. Councelor Chambers here. Councelor Merrick here. Councelor Whan here. Councelor Stretch. Councelor Langley here.

All right. Having a quorum present, I call this public hearing to order. One item on our public hearing agenda for tonight is a resolution to authorize the mayor to have overgrown grass and weeds at 208 Mihary Street, 432 Summer Hill Road, and 1504 South Memorial Drive abated and charged any incurred expenses for the abatement process pursuant to chapter 46, City of Pratville Code of Ordinances. Is there anyone here that would like to speak in favor of this item?

Yes. In favor? Okay. Not seeing any. Is there anybody here who wishes to speak in opposition of this item?

If you could speak uh sign in and provide your name and address for the record. Good evening. Good evening. My name is Malcolm Johnson. I reside at 970 Fireside Drive and I'm uh here to talk about 1504 South Memorial Drive. About a year ago, I'm the pastor of Renaissance Baptist Church. We purchased that property. We abandoned, we tore down the building that was there and we thought we would be able to build our church there immediately. Unfortunately, architect contractors kind of delayed the process. Every time I thought we had a good date, got slipped and still being slipped and it turns out the grass grew a little bit taller than it should and around the place that we had demolished the building. And when they sent the notifications out, it didn't come to me. It went to that address. As you know, there's no building there. We don't go there. Even when I checked the mail, I didn't see anything in the mail. And in talking with Robert today, he mentioned that he sent a certified, but it got rejected. And so, everything's cleared. Everything is good. It's already taken care of. Uh he he assured me that, but I need to come and address you because he couldn't pull it off the agenda. So my point is I don't want to go through the for lack of a better terms the hassle of going to a public hearing and all these other things. Just wanted to uh bring it to your attention that that's our apology, our fault. Didn't really know it was that bad. But again, it is what it is and we take full responsibility as a church and we've taken care of that and we wish that would not go any further so we can save everybody some time as we go forward. So thank you for your time and thank you for your attention.

Yes, sir. any any questions for Hey, uh just quickly, I appreciate you coming up and letting us know that. Um and you've contact you've had contact with code enforcement and had that um the issue resolved and we appreciate that. Uh that's the way it's supposed to work. Okay. So, I hope everything went well in that process and um just because we passed the resolution, uh if you've already done your your due diligence with them, then there will be nothing to be done from that point forward. Thank you for coming forward tonight. Thank you. Thank you.

Is there anyone else uh who would speak in opposition to this item? Hearing none, uh this public hearing is closed. [snorts] At this time, you're invited to stand for our pledge of allegiance and our invocation. The invocation tonight will be given by councelor Mary. I 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. [snorts]

Let's pray. Dear Lord, thank you for this wonderful day. Thank you for this city that we call Prattville, Alabama. Thank you for the citizens that are here. Thank you for the citizens that that love this community and and make this a place that everybody likes to come to. continue to look over us, Lord, as we make decisions on on the future of our community. Uh look over for our first responders and and thank them for uh everything that they do for us. Special uh thank you to our veterans, our past, our present, and our future leaders of tomorrow as we uh recognized them on Veterans Day and Veterans Day week last week. And dear Lord, look over our sister Thea as we continue to pray for her and her family, the loss of your mom. If there's anything you need, dear, you know, you have your family here. In this we say, Lord, amen.

Amen. [clears throat] All right, Madame Clerk, at this time, will you call the role? Councelor Newman here. Councelor Jackson here. Councelor Chambers here. Councelor Merritt here. Councelor Wley here. Councelor Strechett. Councelor Langley here.

All right. Having a quorum present, I do call this meeting to order. The character trait of the month is generosity, which is letting others know by my words and actions, how they have benefited my life. Next item on our agenda is approval of our minutes from public hearing November the 4th, 2025. Everybody should have received a copy of those minutes. At this time, the chair will entertain a motion to approve these minutes. So move. Have a motion by councelor Merrick. Do we have a second? Second.

Second by councelor Chambers. All in favor of approving the minutes, please raise your right hand. Any opposed like sign and the minutes are approved. All right. Um, at this time we will welcome any comments from persons present regarding tonight's agenda and things on tonight's agenda only. Anyone who wishes to speak on items on tonight's agenda line up in the middle aisle. You'll be called up to print legibly your name and address. Then you'll have up to five minutes to address the council. When you approach the microphone, uh could you please state your name and address for the record and then you may begin to speak.

I'd like to say good evening to everyone

to the honorable mayor Lisby, chair of the council, the council members, and others. First of all, we appreciate you're allowing us to come before you tonight to speak on agenda number seven, I believe. We are tenants of 103 joint tenants, 7th Street. And we're here tonight to further appeal to you, to allow us more time. You're at your mercy and we imploring you to please cooperate with us until we get the matter resolved. And it's not as though we haven't started doing anything because we have completed the first requisite of the council and now we just have to give our attention to the house and life goes on. You have so much coming at you. But I promise you, it's not that we have been trying to defy anything that you said we should do. We just need more time and more consideration. And all of us in here are alike because we are all human beings and we are all trying to live and pray let live. And so we're no different. from you. If it's not one thing, it's another with us. But you're in charge. You have been appointed by the people to make a

difference in the lives of the citizens in a county. And from what I can see, you're doing a good job. But I can tell you that I pray that you will not only work with us, but you will work with other citizens on Seventh Street because I believe too that they are also trying to follow whatever citations you have given for us to restorate our property. We just want to thank you for what you're doing thus far and we're just falling at the mercy of each of you to give us some more time and more consideration. And we did meet with the uh I believe the planning development manager on Friday and there's some information that was collected to present to uh those who are should receive the information and then prayerfully you will consider that and then we can move forward. But we need more time. And we're asking you to please consider that. [snorts] We're not being defiant. And we understand why you want these structures repaired or restorated. But then we just need resources. And I believe that God is going to provide. And not only are we speaking to you, we're speaking for th to those in the audience, too. Because there are some good people across the board. And I believe that we can all work

together and see this matter resolved. We want to thank you. Yes, ma'am. Would you please state your name and address for the record? My name is Jackie Jones. Okay. And um we're tenants of 1037 Street. Okay. But my home address is in the paperwork that I submitted, we submitted on Friday. All right. Um, is there any counselors have any questions for Miss Jones? I have a question. Um, was this the home that was on the agenda at our last meeting that we voted to demolish? Yes, that is correct. Okay. So,

I'll go ahead. I was just gonna say they they have contacted uh code enforcement and the planning department and are working with them um and they have turned in the application and been given some extension through them. Okay. Wonderful. That's that's exactly what needs to be done. My question to you and thank you so much for coming um

because it it does take a lot to come up here and and to speak and and to do so as as beautifully as you did. My question for you is prior to two weeks ago um when this was on our agenda, I specifically because I did vote yes to demolish the home, but prior to that vote, I did ask our city attorney, had we heard from the homeowner at all? Have we heard anything? Have we had any type of correspondence from the I guess the mandated information that we have to send out from the [snorts] city of Prattville. Have we heard anything from you guys? So my question is because I'm trying to understand up here. I had no idea that you guys had been working on the property. The information that I received as a city councelor was that in that meeting that we had not heard from y'all. So my question is, have you been talking to someone or has someone been talking on your behalf and we've got a problem within what we do? because clearly there is a break in communication if you have been doing that because the information that I got that night prior to the vote was that no we have had zero correspondence regarding this property or I would have never voted to dilapidate your property. So that is my question to you and if you can answer that publicly to all of us I think that's a wonderful thing for us to know but if you can't right now we can get together and and talk about that

later.

Well actually um Mr. Johnson Mr. Chris Johnson and his team started working with us a while back and there were some things, you know, on their agenda that they had to follow through on and they did so. We um and they did so in my opinion humanely trying to understand what we needed to do. and um but he also had us to understand that he had a job to do too. So we were working cooperatively trying to get the issue resolved and it's nothing I don't believe that they did and it's nothing that we did somehow or another. I don't know the the wires have just gotten crossed up, but I know that we have been communicating with the city of Prep and we have started uh working on those mandates, those things that are requisite for us to do. So just so that I am understanding prior to our session two weeks ago you had been in correspondence in communication with someone in the city of Prattville.

Yes. prior to the two weeks ago. Okay. went down and excuse me, I'm not a full tank of oxygen tonight, but we did go down and we talked with someone at the uh planning and development department and we provided all the information that was needed there and they were supposed to supply that information to those of you who need it in order to give us further consideration.

Yes, ma'am. Um, Council Langley, I believe that the backup documents for the packet for the last meeting um had the correspondence up until March and then from March to present there was no correspondence except for with the contractor that was brought back out and and so um there was correspondence with the city and that was provided in the backup documents up until March of this year. Thank you for clarifying that. But it is to me, I can only speak for myself, but it's very important for me before and I have learned my lesson before I vote. I will go and and look for all of that information myself because I voted to demolish your house based on information that I feel was inaccurate and I apologize for that.

Thank you. Well, we we just want to thank all of you Yes, ma'am. Starting with the mayor and others who are trying to work in our behalf to help us resolve this problem. Is there anybody else that has questions for me? Councelor Jackson.

Yeah, Mr. Jones. Um, [clears throat] I know you and I have talked quite a bit now. How many structures did you guys have uh demolished on that property? Because I know they have the house, but what other structures have you guys had removed? There were there were three and um one of the structures was very endear because of the history behind it. But we just all concluded well maybe we need to just let it go because I just won't belabor the hour but anyway there were three there were three It's just the house.

Yes, ma'am.

And I I believe there may have been some destruction, you know, during these storms and so forth because right now the 10 is blown back. And I think uh you were going to give us when I say you, I mean collectively. going to give us time to u maybe put a tarp or something on it until we can get some more advice, you know, maybe from a structure engineer or someone about what we should do in going forth here after so we can just be allowed.

Yes, ma'am. And I believe um so so you met with the I'm sorry, were you finished? Yeah. So, you met with um my understanding from the information we received is you met with planning and code enforcement on Friday and they have extended the deadline for you to provide the plan. So, um so the action that we took and then the action that's on the agenda tonight isn't [clears throat] doesn't mean we're going to come out there tomorrow and tear the house down. you are already in the process with code enforcement and the planning department and they have extended that uh that time frame for you and then so you're continuing to work with them will will be the process to keep the the demolition from occurring.

Okay. All right. Any other questions for Miss Jones? All right. Thank you very much. Ma'am, did you have something to add? No, I didn't. Okay. Because we've been working together. Okay. Well, thank you very much for for coming forward and like I said, your your cooperation with the code enforcement and the planning department uh and the extension that they have granted you um supersedes what what we've done here as long as you're going through that process with them. Thank you to all of you, Mr. Jackson. I believe has that district. Yes, sir.

And so I guess perhaps we can through him and through through Miss Owens at the development department. Yes, ma'am. Well, he they can keep everyone a breast of what is being done unless we have to get back with Mr. Johnson and his team. Okay. Yes, ma'am. As long as you stay in communication with them uh and and and go through the guidelines and and follow the things that they have for you, then um you're you're still under that extension. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Is there anyone else to address [clears throat] the council uh issues? I'm sorry. Excuse me. Do I have to write my name? Do we have to write our name on?

Yes, ma'am. If you would print your name and your address and then that is for the record. And while she's doing that, anyone else that would like to speak uh on an item that is on tonight's agenda, uh please be ready to come forward. uh allegibly print your name and your address and then state that for us um as you begin to speak. Thank you. Thank you.

Oh, I'm sorry it was your pen. I thought it was Jackie Nicks 706 running circle. I want to speak about items seven and six and seven on the main agenda. Uh I'm not going to be labor. Uh I have sent a detailed email to the council about my concerns with the uh the financial um the way the finances have been managed by the library and I want to urge you to not uh reappoint these board members because of these concerns. Uh, and once again, I I sent this email on November 12th, and it went into great detail, but the the point that I want to really um hammer home is that in fiscal year 25, there was a $64,000 surplus. Not that I am stating that there was any kind of nefarious activity for that because the the main branch was closed for six months. That's fine. However, there is no line item in the budget for fiscal year 26 that has this $64,000. And we are seeing cuts in the book budget, in the programs budget, in the um the digital books, [snorts] the the Libbyy's app, that $64,000 would more than cover these programs. We wouldn't have to cut

our toddler time and baby time and and and um tab and and so the many other things. We wouldn't have to cut back on books. We'd be able to have take care of inflation and maintain the same number of books. What happened to that $64,000? It's not anywhere on the new budget for uh fiscal year 26. And my [sighs] the two persons who are on the agenda to be reappointed, if you reappoint them, then that means you agree with the way they are handling public funds. There is a lack of transparency. None of this is forthcoming. I I urge you to investigate this. Investigate it yourselves. Look at the look at the budgets. Look at the line items. Talk to the board members. But to just go ahead and rubber stamp this and allow this, then that is stating that we don't care about fiscal responsibility and we don't care about transparency. So, I do urge you to reject the two nominees from the existing uh Prattville Library Board. Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Nick. Is there anybody else who would address the council?

Please print your name and address and then state that for the record. Hey there, it's Meredith Mure. It's 11:05 Duramis Court. Um, I spoke last council meeting to all of you about my interest in being on the library board. So, I'm addressing resolutions uh five and six on here. I went home and I sent a copy of my application to everyone just to make sure that you were able to review it. Um, I just want to I know you know that it's important because these appointments last for three years. So, and this is supposed to be someone that represents the best interests of the city and by extension the county as well because it is a joint board. And when I spoke to when I sent it out, I got a response um from a couple of you, but Mrs. Langley informed me that she had not received my application before I sent it to her. Um, and I don't know if that's because she was just sworn in. And that's highly possible because I don't see why you would send her previous things unless you're trying to catch her up or if she requested it specifically. But that bleeds possibly Mr. Newman because he was also just sworn in. He did not receive it. And I just want to make sure that you either have enough time to look over every single applicant because I don't know if that means you as a whole did not receive all the applicants for this board. I don't know if the applications go directly to the board and then they give you who they would like or if you receive all of them and then you take the board's uh recommendation in consideration. So I don't know what the current situation is. If you guys have clarification, I'd appreciate that. Um, but if you could either stay this if you don't have all the applications, that way you can make sure you pick someone that is the best outlook for the city. That way you can, you know, serve your community as well as you can. Um, or if you have all the applications and you feel that you have made a decision, you're free to do so. But if you don't, please stay at that way. You can look over everything. That's it.

Okay. Does anybody have any questions? Yes. If uh Paula, would you mind kind of giving her a breakdown of how the process works? So typically when we have reappointments that come up, the board itself will ask if they are interested in re being reappointed. If they are interested and the board recommends that they be reappointed, they send the recommendation in. We don't go out and look for current applications if the board itself is looking to reappoint them. Gotcha. So it's possible that there's other applications out there that you did not receive or if I had not sent mine to you, you would not have seen it if I had not come before. Is that correct?

Yes. Uh I mean yes, I did receive your application and then after last meeting um I knew who you were and what what the application was about. Um is that there are other applications but again we don't send them out when they do that. The only time that we typically send out new applications is when someone resigns from the board's opening and there's no there's not someone there to replace them. We send them any applications that we have on file at that point. Okay. All right. Perfect. Well, I have made myself known. I don't know who else is here, but that's all I have. We don't have anything else. Any other questions for Miss Mir? No. All right. Thank you.

Yes, ma'am. Miss F. Um John Lee Finnegan 211 Dear Trace I get the E newspaper and the Sunday Montgomery advertiser had an article about the naming of the lyric and why I'm speaking now is because it might come up later. Anyway, it said that council president Michael Why said he expects two draft no ordinances addressing the issue to be presented during the council meeting set for Tuesday, November 18th. And of course, there was nothing on there. However, I don't know if they're going to come from the floor. And if they come from something comes from the floor, that means citizens have not seen it. We don't know anything about it until you bring it up from the floor. So I almost feel that it should be presented from the floor and then held so we can see it. I mean I have no idea what's in it. I have no idea if it's these are going to be two ordinances from the floor, but I really think that you don't vote on them. You present them and then you know we could you could vote on them at the um next council meeting. But that's all I wanted to bring up since it was in the newspaper.

Yes, ma'am. And I and I'll address that since it was okay my statement that was in there. Um I ex I what I what I stated was I expected to have something for this meeting. Um there were two proposals that were submitted by two different council members. They are going through the process and they will not they are not on the agenda tonight and to my understanding um they have not fully been through um legal uh the legal oversight and then um through the counselors being able to see that as well. So I don't foresee that coming from the former. Yeah, it it it if it is

I my hope would be if it does come next meeting that it would be in the the regular packet just like everything else and the citizens would see it. But do you understand what I'm saying? That comes from the floor. We citizens have no idea. Then of course we don't see the packet until um Monday. you know, we see we see the agenda because Diane goes down and and takes a photo of it on Friday, but you know, citizens don't see it until um till Monday, right? Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else who would like to address item on tonight's agenda? [cough and clears throat]

Yes, sir. If you'll print your name and address and then state that for the record. Maverick Roberts, 327 Diller Street. I'll address the um resolution number one um basically dealing with um overgrown weeds and the process of how that works. Um, and if everybody's being held to the same accountability. Um, I had a resident uh explain to me that behind the North Highland Community Center, the weeds are about 5t tall now and um, everyone should be held to the same standards. So last time when I spoke they there was a question about is it ethical for the councilman to um be a member of the council and be over this land that's overgrown now. And you know I the question for me was I would rather the ethics commission expl whether it's ethical or not for a city councilman to own this property in our community. So, we just want to make sure that we get it cut. You know, the weeds are up pretty high. Uh uh they saying animals are in that those bushes. I'm thinking it's probably just coons and possums in there, but

yeah, you know, it's still hiding harboring uh wildlife. That's all I got on that. Okay. And is that address on the agenda tonight? It it just the first thing when they say overgrown weeds. Okay. And those are related to specific addresses, but you are more than welcome at any point um to if you have an address where you feel like there's an issue, uh you are more than welcome to to email mayor at or city council at pratville.go. And that's what my question was to find out how that process works.

Sure. And and that if you may if you send it to mayor at if you want to CC city council at pratville.gov um we will all get that and then um the mayor will direct that to the code enforcement division uh of the police department and they will go out and um and and take a look at it and if there's action required I mean we we have overgrown lots on here every single meeting. So I know they're and they're looking at with the dilapitated homes, you know, to look at a revitaliz revitalization plan and see your house on that plan

and you live in one and you're like, I'm dilapitated. It it's heartening, you know, and it makes you have to tighten up and save and start making repairs when you didn't think you had it. But I think it's a good thing for the city. Everybody is in a in in the mode of, hey, Prattville's making some changes, but it went along on a long time without it. So, everybody is trying to adjust now and get their business together and their properties together. So, thank y'all. Yes, sir. Thank you. Is there anyone else who would like to speak on items on tonight's agenda?

Please go ahead and um print your name and address and then state that for the record. All right. Good evening. My name is Will Sanchez and uh from 1050 Chuck Ridge in Pra. First of all, I just want to say uh thank you for the current appointments that are a part of the library board here that serves both the city and the county. out of which two of the members do include uh Mr. Donnie Bethl and Gloria Kendall. In general, each one of those members, they play a key role because they're part of a very u diverse team of professional backgrounds. We have personnel there that that are familiar with law, others that work with it, with education, with construction and uh each function plays a key role into the successful full operation of of the library. In general, they all have been focused into making library a better place. my wife volunteers there and I just simply the the energy that's there and the and the cheer and the cheerfulness of the employees how the work over there also shows and um just simply want to say thank you for their current appointments and I'm looking forward for the two that are currently going to be renewed and at the same time I think it's time they put their effort over there which has shown because as you see across the state several libraries have been losing money because they haven't been following the the codes and regulations from the Abama public library system here the team here they have made sure that they have followed and they have been getting their money from the state thanks to their efforts also and uh given the efforts that they have put over there so far it'll probably be good also to start to start thinking about additional funding for library to take care of the building as you probably know there's a wall issue there that came to partial collapse that right now is being supported and has been made to stay in

place but I think it's time to probably start looking into making it better place here in the city and to improve it and to have us serve better with the current team that they have. And if there's any questions also for the finances, I'm sure that there's concerns that have been brought by citizens. We're not the experts. We don't know their budget, their alliance, their finances. I've done some budgeting before and I know that at times money may be accounted in different funds, but that's something that you all as council members can actively communicate. Communication is key to find out exact exactly how the funding is being used because I highly doubt that the being fun some of the fairest [snorts] causes or anything. I'm sure it's there and it's a matter it's being used for other purposes in the library to to serve the people here in the city. Thank you.

Thank you. Are there any any questions for Mr. Sanchez? All right. Not hearing anybody. Is there anyone else who would like to speak on item on tonight's agenda? Yes, ma'am. Miss Robson, please remember to print legibly your name and address and then state that for us.

[clears throat] Good evening. She might need city councils. Okay. Okay. Okay. Go ahead. We can hear you.

My name is Barbara Robinson. I live at 123 White Oak Court, Praville, Alabama. My concern is since you all said it has to be referring to what's on the agenda and it's talking about demolition. My concern is that all the houses within the last year or two has been in the black neighborhood. And I would like to know what is the purpose of demol to demolition to just destroy homes. What's the purpose of it? And what is it that how it benefit the city? I just need to know because there are some people are not financially stable or some people are even mentally challenged because I know one home that was destroyed, all the people that lived in that house on a street, they was mentally challenged people and they wouldn't had the resource to do whatever it was. at the time that you're giving them. So, I'm just trying to figure out I just want to know because most every time I ask a question, I never get an answer. So, I'm hoping tonight that something can be explained to me what the process is and what what is it that you all start looking at to make it do what make you all to have to put this on the agenda to destroy a neighborhood?

Well, Mr. Robinson, that it it is in um under our city ordinance and so there is a an extensive pro process that this goes through through the code enforcement division and the planning department. Um and that there's a lot of steps that that goes through before it ever makes it to the agenda before we see it. Now, we get backup documents that show us the different steps in the process, but um I'm I'm sure that um if you contacted the mayor's office tomorrow, they could he could get you in touch with the planner or the code enforcement um officials and they could explain that process to you from start to finish

because it's really need to be it's because it it's really upsetting because a lot of times when [clears throat] the owners ers or the heirs to the properties by the time they get the information decisions has already been made and it's very unfair but I will try my best mayor you'll look for me you can look for me because you know I'm coming

yes sir if you call me tomorrow morning you I'll be on your front porch before noon because I'll sure be glad to sit down with you and explain you some of the processes and everything and And I would like to um I guess rebuttle some of your comment about all of them being in the black neighborhood. Well, actually I right off the top of my head I know Lee Circle there was a house there, Cooper Avenue, uh Lower Kingston I believe. So it's been some spread around uh the community, but a lot of times and there are several different processes here, but I'll just go ahead and make this real quick. Um, a lot of times we get uh complaints from citizens uh our code enforcement folks and we do have two different sets of of of codes. Um, and the pro and part of the process is two different uh departments working together at this point in time but that could be changing as we try to be efficient and effective as as possible. But then uh also there's some some uh push from um political bodies to to uh help clean up their districts and everything. So there there's several ways to um uh for the process to go through, but you have my phone number

and got that right. You call me in the morning. I'll be I'll be there. I'll be there uh in your driveway. Okay. Then if anybody else got something to help me,

does anybody else have any questions for Miss Robinson? Well, I just have a suggestion. It prior to my time obviously on the council and then now we have dealt with this, I would say just about every session um to some degree. And so I would suggest that we offer uh some version what I don't know what we call it, but a a town hall of sorts so that there's full transparency to all citizens. Um, I know Mayor Gillespie, you don't have you you are willing, but you don't have the time to explain this to every citizen who has questions about this. And then we run into the issue of ensuring that exactly the same thing is said to every citizen, you know, and so if we have a a town hall where we have the appropriate departments here, we have handouts for our citizens to inform them and to let them know with full transparency what this process looks like. I think that is something that is would be educational to us as a council. It would be educational to the citizens and I think that that's something that we need to plan on um definitely by the first of the year.

Okay. We can work through the city staff to try to put something like that together. So I appreciate that very much. Any any other questions for Miss Robinson? None. All right. Thank you, ma'am. Okay. Thank you. Is there anybody else who would like to speak uh on an item that's on tonight's agenda? Not seeing anyone. Uh Mr. Mayor, do you have a report? Yes. And if I might privilege. Yes, sir. Invite our fire chief and special guest to come forward.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. Um, tonight I'd like to present to you uh Mr. Ryder Piper. Uh, sent you guys an email on some actions that he did. So, I'm going to let Chief Manners kind of explain that in more detail and then uh we'll kind of present some things to Mr. Ryder here. [clears throat] On November 3rd, 13-year-old Ryder Piper was home with his family when a fire occurred in the kitchen of his apartment. Ryder quickly retrieved the fire extinguisher and returned to find the fire already advancing up the walls to the ceiling area of the kitchen. Ryder acted quickly, utilizing the fire extinguisher to suppress the rapidly progressing fire while his family notified 911. Pppel Fire and Rescue Engine 3 and Rescue 23 responded to the incident to find the fire out as a result of his actions. Ryder is to be commended for his quick thinking and courageous efforts that prevented further danger to his family and numerous neighbors. [applause] [applause] you.

It's a great job. Very proud of you. And hopefully maybe in about five years we'll have another employee here. So, good job. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Rod. [applause]

That's uh amazing. Someone um that age being able to comprehend what was actually going on and be able to pull all that together. Well, counselor, it's good to see everyone again. Um I'm going to deviate a little bit from my um comments here because it's somewhere in here I was going to bring um speak a little bit about 1037 street but uh if I can extend my point of privilege like to have our city attorney talk a little bit about some of the process because he has been working with uh some of the residents or their agent on 1037 street like to bring everybody up to speed be able to show some of the um additional processes additional permitting that we've had for these cases like this. So, yes, sir.

Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, council. So, as we've been discussing the process for dilapidated structures, um, you know, first and foremost, and I did speak with councelor Jackson on this a little bit earlier today, but it is instituted by the code of Alabama. Um, and that kind of lays out the exact details and timelines that the city has to follow as we follow up under state code. Um but specifically u as to 1037th street um yes they have met with planning and they are in the process of completing the application for a dilapidated structure permit. So what that does is that assures them they've applied for that permit they get the permit. It's valid for six months. the city even though we pass a resolution declaring it dilapidated and authorizing the demolition with that permit and then making the progress on the structure planning and codes does not move forward um because that's how the process is intended to work put it in the owner's hands rather than the city's hands. So, I'm I'm so glad they've stepped up and have met I think over four hours on Friday um getting educated on the process and walking through the process. And I do think councelor Langley had an excellent suggestion about coming up with some sort of a handout that kind of gives a brief overview of what this process entails. Um but as always, happy to answer any questions about it specifically. Okay.

Does anybody have any questions from Mr. Rod? [cough] [clears throat] Okay. Oh, I'm sorry.

No, I I do have a question. Um I'm just trying to understand, Andrew, how when I specifically asked last week, I I understand and I'm I'm new up here. Okay. So, when I get this 60-page packet, I'm trying to figure out what all is in it. Um, but because of the Robinson situation, I'm I'm very attuned to um voting to demolish someone's home. So, I specifically asked the question, have we had any communication, I may have said correspondence, but I think I said communication regarding this particular home. And the answer that was given to me was no. But what I'm hearing from from the family and I guess from from you and and Bill is that they had been in communication. It it directly impacted my vote. So I don't understand how they've had communication, but yet when I ask right before a vote, the answer given to me is no. So maybe that's something we can talk about, but to me that's that's poor that's poor information. It's it's unfactual information that's given right before a vote that's very important in regards to dilapidating demolishing someone's home. I take that very seriously and I depend on you to give me that accurate information. So maybe that's something you and I need to talk about. Yeah, if I if I could, Council Langley. So, um, so we were given the information of all the correspondence that happened prior up until March. That was all in the backup documents. Um, when the question was

asked about communication with them um since since March, there was none until after the meeting that the that we knew of that that Mr. ODM knew of. Um then it was brought back to our brought to our attention after the residents or the owners talked back with code enforcement and said that their contractor had made communication and that was not in the file at that time. So the information we were given was that there was no correspondence since March when there was correspondence from the contractor but not the owners themselves. So that has been corrected and that information was provided by code enforcement that it was left out of the file in the packet. Uh that they had gone back and added that and then the the owners came and met after the past meeting when the vote had taken place.

But it gets to us and it wasn't factual. Right. But I'm but but but I'm saying that it was factual based on the information we had which was the exact same information that the city attorney and the mayor had.

Yes, I get that. But but we as the city there's there's there's some missing links somewhere because we're the we're the legislative body that votes. It's on our head and I vote on the information that I'm given. And so we need we need a committee to look into this. We need to ensure we need to understand how this happened. And it sounds like somebody's been looking into it, but we need transparency to understand what went wrong, how did it go wrong, and to ensure that this never happens again because someone's house gets torn down on my vote.

That's I fully understand and and I agree with you that I I was just trying to make the point that the mayor was Mr. gave us the information they had, which is the exact same information we had. Okay. I appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you, Andrew. All right. Any anything any other questions for Mr. ODM? All right. Mayor, you may continue with your report, please.

Okay. Well, if I can just piggy back a little bit more um off of the 1037th Street is that they have met with staff uh and mostly when they talk start talking about the planning division, the reason why it's there is because our building inspectors are there. The actual code enforcement that we have working in our police department, they are not the building uh experts. And I believe, help me out, Mr. Andrew. Uh we're basically going to be a little bit of a transition. Uh this um address was already in the hopper so to speak over in the police department that moves forward. Uh it would probably be more primarily going to the planning which is the building inspectors as well. So we are working on some of that process. But now one suggestion I might have because staff uh they work very very hard. They have a lot of things that come across uh their books. Everything from uh the dilapidated structures, the overgrown uh grass and weeds and um garbage and the rubbish [laughter] rubbish and and actually animal control is in one division there. When it comes to these dilapidated structures, if part of a process might be put it on to the counselors, that way you can police your own district and then report that to our building inspectors for them to take it [snorts] to the next step. Just one suggestion, food [clears throat] for thought, but uh let's see. And again, um council um Langley, I just like to say I'm sorry for the loss of your mother and and uh wish you strength and well-being during this challenging process for you there, you and your family. So, but uh

counselors, um thank you for the point of privileges. Yes. Uh good evening. I want to thank uh the American Legion and VFW for partnering with the city of Prabal to host the Veterans Day ceremony. Think this event was well attended and a very nice tribute to all of our veterans. Want to make sure I want to make sure that everyone is aware that if you're interested in serving on a city of Prabal board applications are on the website for anyone to apply that is interested in serving. That's um so many different boards and committees. We do have our district one representative. He's going to be uh I guess you have resigned from a couple of your boards, MO and IDB in um industrial development. But uh if you know of anybody that wants to serve because on the MO it's a citizensbased um [clears throat] position that [snorts] you serve on you look over um some of the projects that come. We're going to be coming to the various communities around and before it actually gets to the vote of the of the overall mayor's committee. Is that about right?

Yeah. The no board actually the citizens committee is one that I was on and and it was one I was going to bring up in some of the comments, but it's absolutely a great opportunity for somebody that wants to be involved. The three tiers, the bottom lower tier, the citizens board gets cluded. All the federal dollars that are spent are are out for uh competition between McGomery County, Toga County, and Elmore County and the cities therein for specific uses, sidewalks, traffic signals. A lot of the things that we're doing improvements around the city are comes from that NO dollars where it's an 80% federal dollars, a 20% city match. It's great. It's a great program. So, there is there is an open for that. That's that's that's one committee I would say if somebody wants to be on come talk to me about it. I give you the background on it. You can you can uh you know get a chance to work with the planning committee and the city engineer and the mayor. It's it's great. There's there's a lot of volunteer opportunities out there. A lot of need for volunteers. So that's that's a great one.

Yes. And like you mentioned street sidewalks um storm storm um piping projects as well. So it's uh definitely it's um someone's interested in I guess engineering and and the egress ingress around travel might be a very very good fit for that. So I encourage everyone to uh get on our city website and look at that and and move forward. However, if you say if you're interested in having any applications on file uh if you are interested in in a very specific area uh to go ahead and have that on file can help uh not only the counselors up here but also sometimes the chairs of those boards. So, um even if there's not opening now, it never hurts to go ahead and get [snorts] that on file today. councilors, you know, the city uh had a pay study performed seven years ago and I think in next year's budget should visit having a new new study performed for the city. It's important to make sure make certain that the city stays competitive and um with with pay in composition and compensation. Uh on that note, I think we need to also look at updating the 24 comprehensive plan as well. uh basically a little over five years now and uh need to u keep that up to date as PRA is growing. Counselors last week um several others we did meet at the library with a structural engineer to review the status of the library building. We're still waiting on preliminary numbers but it appears that it will cost around $3 to $350,000 just to stabilize the building. uh after that as we learned there that might have to be some leveling of the floor, some more uh upgrades to carpet and probably time for lights and so forth. But um I think we all know that the library is also in need of more square footage to ad adequately accommodate and provide services to the community. Uh with that, you can anticipate that a library

building addition will be somewhere around the four to5 million. I recommend that the funding for the library, which is a education resource, come from the education one cent sales tax. I think everyone has heard me discuss this before and it was previously thoroughly discussed and agreed upon using this funding with councilor strip. As all of these prog progresses move, I will keep you updated. Counselors, I wanted to inform last week that our swimming pool was not drained by staff, that it drained itself. And obviously, we have had severe challenges with the pool, and I need guidance on long-term planning for the swimming pool. There are several [snorts] opportunities for [clears throat] grant funding through a DECA and the LWCF program that we're seeking, but we'll be able to discuss that uh in upcoming parks and reccks meeting um I believe be sometime after the first of the year. Uh, as I mentioned earlier here in my notes, want to talk some about 1037th Street, but whatever u recommendations or ideas um anybody has, but we have been working uh to improve that process and um be glad to work with anybody on that and and move that forward. Uh I just want to hope uh that each of us have a happy Thanksgiving. and I hope it's going to be with your family and friends. And um that's the end of my report.

Thank you. Are there any questions from the council for the mayor? Thank you, Council Lang.

I have, you know, I always have a couple of questions. Um, first of all, regarding your um, food for thought, um, I don't I personally don't have the training or the abilities to monitor any type of dilapidated housing. And so if if our ex if our existing department is so over booked and so busy, I think that we may need to look into um hiring them some help because we clearly are not qualified to do that. And so that's just something that I would like to kind of throw back and maybe we need to look into that. Um, the second thing is the the pay study, the 2018 pay study. Um, thank you for the email that you guys sent to me this week or um earlier uh after the session. Um, I will not be signing a non-disclosure agreement to view the pay study. Um, as an individual counselor, I have no more rights than John Lee Finnegan sitting right there. As a body of counselors, there's inclusivity. And we do as a legislative body have more rights than one citizen. But Thea Langley sitting up here does not have any more rights than any other citizen um in the city of Prattville. And so giving me the opportunity to view a pay study as an individual citizen um especially in asking me to sign a non-disclosure agreement in order to view a public report that the city has paid [clears throat] what I'm hearing is $52,000 for. It is a

completed project. And if you remember, mayor, I spoke with Stephen Condre with Condre and Associates out of Georgia. And I spoke with him personally, and I asked him, "Do you make it a habit of presenting unfinished work to the municipalities that you work for? Because remember that is based upon what you said at the last meeting that is the reason that as a citizen or as a body I guess I don't know of of council members that we should not be able to see that because it is a draft. Well in talking to Mr. Condre he he literally laughed and he said absolutely not. We do not submit unfinished work. The work that we submitted to the city of Prattville was a completed pay study. So the AG, yes, 100% the AG has several opinions out there regarding pay studies are um I guess it's just in not part of the the open records act, but this is not this is not a draft. This is a pay study that we have I was not a participant of this because I was not voting in the for the budget for this year. But [snorts] this is a pay study that since 2019 we the body has used in order to approve and vote for salaries for the employees of the citizens of Prattville. I mean of the employees of

Prattville and for this pay study to not be made available [snorts] to number one the entire council as a body and number two if if I'm able to get it as one citizen one member I'm one member is nothing of the city council it takes the body so I just wanted to say that I'm still pushing for that pay study. Um, the Alabama Open records acts on the side of transparency. There is no information in this pay study that is pertinent to exactly Joe Blow or Mary Parish. This is a municipal pay study based upon municipalities in the state of Alabama. And so I'm I'm still pushing for that and I I will turn you both down on the opportunity to receive this because I will not sign a non-disclosure agreement to receive this pay study.

Okay. Thank you.

Well, um thank you for your comments there. One suggestion I might have is spend some more time with our city attorney because what I read from last week was um basically their quote and um in the future any uh emails that you do send to me if you don't mind please use your city email and also if there's a question uh ask me directly because I think on that email thread I think there was 11 up to maybe 20 other people on on that thread. So but I'll be glad to answer. Yes. Any questions I possibly can, but a lot of the questions for various projects are actually u best answered by the department heads.

Yes, sir. The only the only question, the only email that I have sent um as a city counselor in regards to um I may have sent something to the city council, but we've we kind of went over all of this with the whole email situation at our last meeting, but um yes, sir, you you did share with me that I used the wrong email, and I apologize for that um on both accounts, but you mentioned just now that what you read last week based upon what our city attorneys um came up with. I would like that to be made um public to the city council so that we can all have that information and we can all see that at the same time. So that would be wonderful. Thank you. Well, the information I read he drafted right over here and uh so I still have it on my phone and I'll be glad to to send it to you.

Yes, sir. Yeah, that would be great if we could all get that. That would be wonderful. Thank you. Glad to on that. Thank you so much. Um one thing I would like to ask of the council though is that um there's a lot of uh things going on in Prable. We there's a lot of progress in travel and I would like for everyone to request everyone to be uh show some professional courtesy to our department heads and anytime there needs to be a meeting or anything along that line uh with them have discussions with them please uh get on their calendar and and meet them and in a professional manner. So

sure any other questions for the mayor. If I might finish up on one thought I had here. Uh, and maybe as we do move into the next round of pay plans, maybe you can see exactly um how the process works there and maybe that' be very informative for you. Yes, sir. And I hope we have the 2018 by that time too. Thank you. Any other questions for the mayor?

Yes. [clears throat] Um, mayor, I know we have this application that Jones are working on and I know was it the DA the dilapidated structure permit application and I was looking through it and I think I sent the council and Andrew an email. I think a part of that application is requiring them to submit their social security numbers and also asking them to provide proof uh of a loan from a bank to be able to uh take care of these projects. And I I I sent an email to them. I I I think that's kind of a sticky area. I don't know if we should be asking them to provide us their uh social security numbers and then having proof from the bank or uh some other financial institution to be able to complete these projects. So is that something that we may be able to look over as a council and kick it back to one of the committees to go through this process? Um

well my recommendation of a actually for you get with the author of it you're with Andrew Odm over here and um go yeah and I think I did send an email to I bombarded Andrew last week and I called him today and apologized to him. I sent about three or four emails. It all huh I said it's all good.

Yeah. So I bombarded him last week. But that's something that kind of um I would love for us to address requiring them and um I guess too I think we need to tighten up um the process because we did uh vote based on the information we had in our packets to uh demolish their home. And luckily I was able to talk to Miss Jones uh uh that Wednesday morning. someone had her reach out to me and I called her and we talked and it bothered me a little bit because uh I didn't know when the uh company may come in to tear down the home. And at that time we talked for a while and uh at that time is when she told me that they did have contact um with the contractor and that the contractor she told me who the contractor was and I actually talked to him and that's when he informed me that he had been in contact with code enforcement on I think October the 18th and October the 13th. And um at that time I told him it would be wise to send that to us and to code enforcement and code enforcement did update the information stating that they uh did have conversation with him on October the 8th and 13th. But I just think um I don't know if that's something that we may have to come back to committee again and tighten up this process because after talking to her knowing that they've spent thousands of dollars being older uh residents and uh with the project being in their family for over 100 years and then being on fixed incomes. they're, you know, spending 15 $20,000 to rectify some of these problems that, you know, we've asked them to do because they did tear down uh three structures. So, I just would like for us to possibly come back

to committee to make sure we tighten [clears throat] up this process. Uh because like I said, I was a little I was on pins and needles, you know, because I didn't want anyone to show up that day to tear down that that home that they've already uh put a lot of money into.

Yeah. I would just state that it I don't think we have any processes, procedures, or ordinances that we should not regularly be looking at and and and doing revisions on if necessary. um the code enforcement since it is that portion of the ordinance. Uh since code enforcement is a division of the police department, that would be the public safety committee that would um take that ordinance um and review it and make sure that the ordinance is good and then um get with code enforcement on their policies and procedures and ensure that they follow the ordinance and that they provide the information that we need in a timely manner. So, I don't I agree. I don't have any problem at any time re revisiting or reooking at uh any policies, procedures, or ordinances. It's not something that we uh that we pass or maybe somebody prior to us passed that we say it's just set in stone. We're never looking at it again. Um so, I yeah, that's not a problem that would, like I said, for code enforcement need um to originate in the public safety committee.

And I totally agree with you. That's uh you know one comment I me mentioned um at another meeting. We got two new bookends here and sometimes a new new set of eyes out there can do can do can be very uh beneficial on that one. Um now the backup documents I guess they're getting those. When are you guys getting the backup documents? On Friday we get them on Friday. On Friday. Okay. Okay. And that's to give us about as soon as we can probably get those uh those backup documents

and and those backup documents and that agenda that comes to us then is an opportunity for us to review that to look for any errors or any mistakes that need to be corrected before it is published to the public.

Right. and um and any kind of questions that staff can can uh help. You know, of course, uh depend on what type of uh code violation that we're talking about. Some of it is in the uh in the police department, some over here in planning as we already know, but uh um I know in the police department, I believe it is Captain Walker who is actually over some of this. So I don't want to take any work away from Chief Thompson, but um but Captain Walker is is over this discussion

and um Major Stackers, I believe. So but anyway, we can um improve the processes always open to it and like I say, [snorts] the one that we're working [clears throat] working on now u I'm glad we have it in place because I think it's u this is the first one. I think it's paid dividends already. All right. Any further questions? Councelor,

I did want to have one thing to say to um councelor Langley and Jackson and the mayor. Three of you made me think of something and it's a good point. You know, it's the first one I've had to vote on as well around demolition. And I know that it's not the end when we vote on it, there is a continuation of a process of people uh uh interacting. But it does concern me a little bit. I know for me and maybe we can address this at the in the public safety uh portion there may be a a trip wire or a point where it's getting you know that that 90day prior to it's going to come before demolition or whatever uh that the the the the counselor in that district is notified because I know I personally would like to know if there's a house in my district that was going to be coming up with demolition that I can at least maybe go reach out and talk to the people ahead of time to to to tighten up some of the loose ends or figure out what's going on or make contact that that's what I signed up for and I me personally and um you know that might help offset some of the concerns we have because it is something I want to make sure is straight before I raise my hand on too and like I said I know it's not the end of it when we when we vote on it that night and there's there's a lot of other things that go into it but

and just as a reminder maybe just for the folks at home that one other part of this this whole process is that first off the structure and help me out when I need it um whenever this process uh first comes to you comes to the council is to for it to be declared a a dilapidated structure, right? And then through that other process is when you get to this point, but you know, if if we're 30 days out from that knowing it's about to happen, you know, get notified in your district that there's one coming up, I I wouldn't mind it. I'd reach out myself personally, you know.

Yeah, that's correct, Mayor. And it it's a determination by the building official. And I mean, this is not just looking at the exterior of the structure. This is an indepth going inside. Is this unsafe? Is it at a point where it can collapse on someone? And those findings have to be made before the first letter is ever sent out. So that's kind of how the process gets started. Okay. And I'd also mention being the chair of the public safety, I'll be glad to get that meeting put together and any feedback from you guys would be appreciated. Okay. Any other questions for the mayor at this time? One more. Council Jackson

and one of the emails that I bombarded Andrew with uh went back to the um [clears throat] [snorts] whether or not uh the council body will be able to have access to the financials uh for the library. Um, we found I mean there was a resolution I don't know if you received it but I know I sent it to the council and to Andrew but one of the resolutions from 1984 and then in 1992 it says to require certain information including minutes financial audit activities and services rendered by certain agencies or organizations receiving funds from the city of Prattville directly and indirectly. Um, I'm not going to read all of it, but it says, "Whereas such agencies covered by this resolution shall change from time to time, but the clerk shall [snorts] maintain a roster of aable agencies that a partial list of agencies contemplated to be covered by this resolution is as follows." And of course, T County Health Department, Central Alabama Aging Consortium, Senior Citizens Centers, Harvest House, and the Taga Prattville Public Library. So that was 84. Um, and it says at that time we should be able to receive copies of all minutes, board or committee meetings, naming those persons attending, copies of all relevant audits and financial information, summary of research uh, services rendered and planned objectives. And that was going back to uh, November 2084. And then they came back in n July 28th of 92 and they basically said the same thing that we as a council should be able to receive all their financials uh on a a regular basis. So we sent that I sent it to Andrew and I think he's going

to look into it further, but it says that we should be able to have access to their financial records. Yeah, I would I would just point out that um Andrew did respond to that this afternoon and there is some question about the legality of um maybe the resolution just because we pass a resolution if it's not in accordance with state statute. We don't supersede that. So there are even with the resolutions there are some questions um that he explains in the response there that he is looking at uh in order to to provide that information for us.

I wouldn't know I didn't know if you were aware uh 1984 resolution. No sir. 8492. I'm sorry. What? Yeah. 8492. 892. Okay. No, sir. I was not. Any other questions for the mayor? Thank you. All right. Not hearing any at this time. We will go into reports from the council on special committees. Councelor Newman. I'm sorry I didn't hear what you said. Uh reports from the council on special committees. No. None. Councelor Jackson, no. Councelor Chambers, no sir. Councelor Merrick, no sir. Councelor Strick, no.

Councelor Langley, sir. All right. And I have none as well. All right. At this time, we'll receive a report of the status of the city finances from Mr. Oakley. Yes, sir. [clears throat]

First page in your packet is the general fund revenue report and it shows that we have received $792,356 in October and that is after all the September related receipts were pushed back into the prior year. This represents a 22.4% increase over the previous October. [snorts] Next page is the tax breakdown comparison. And on the tax side, we were up 2.65% when compared to the previous October. [clears throat] Next three pages show the general fund expenses broken down by department. And with 8.33% of the fiscal year complete, we have spent 11.5% of our budgeted expenditures in the general fund.

[clears throat] Next page is the wastewater enterprise fund income statement. The wastewater fund reported [clears throat] a net loss from operations of $288,118. And this was due to the approval of the September receipts from the Prep Waterworks Board. Both operating expenses and overall expenses are coming in under budget for the first month of the year. [clears throat] [snorts]

Next page is the sanitation enterprise fin statement. Sanitation fund reported a net loss of $199,942 for October and this was also due to the approval of the September Practical Waterworks Board receipts. Overall expenses are under budget for the month at 5.6%. The next page is the judicial special revenue fund income statement. The judicial [clears throat] fund generated a net income of $32,751 for the month and expenses are under budget for this fund as well at 3.94%. [clears throat] Next page is the bank balances report and the total of all bank balances citywide at the end of October was 47,377,815. And the final page in your packets, the accounts payable and debt balances report and total outstanding AP and debt balance citywide at the end of the month was 67,162,71 while the city's non-enterprise fund debt was 36,339,71. [clears throat] That the end of your Any questions for Mr. Oakley? All right. Not hearing none. Thank you. At this time, uh, we have an opportunity to create a consent agenda. There are 14 items for us to consider on this agenda. And they are resolution number one to authorize the mayor to have overgrown grass and weeds at 208 Mihary Street, 432 Summer Hill Road and 1504 South Memorial Drive abated and charge any incurred expenses for the abatement process pursuant to chapter 46 city of Prattville Code of Ordinances. Resolution number two to declare the garbage and rubbish at 107 Fleetwood

Road a public nuisance and authorize the mayor to abate and charge any incurred expenses pursuant to chapter 46 city of Prattville code of ordinances. Resolution [snorts] number three to declare the garbage and rubbish at 115 Thames drive a public nuisance and authorize the mayor to abate and charge any incurred expenses pursuant to chapter 46 city of Pratville code of ordinances. Resolution number four to declare the garbage and rubbish at 152 Cosby Court a public nuisance and authorize the mayor to abate and charge any incurred expenses pursuant to chapter 46 city of Pratville code of ordinances. Resolution [snorts] number five to declare the garbage and rubbish at 224 Cynthia Street a public nuisance and authorize the mayor to abate and charge any incurred expenses pursuant to chapter 46 city of Prattville code of ordinances. Resolution number six to declare the garbage and rubbish at 225 Stewart Street a public nuisance and authorize the mayor to abade and charge any incurred expenses pursuant to chapter 46 city of Pratville code of ordinances. Resolution number seven to declare the garbage and rubbish at 248 Rosemary Lane a public nuisance and authorize the mayor to abate and charge any incurred expenses pursuant to chapter 46 city of Preville code of ordinances. Resolution number eight to declare the garbage and rubbish at 609 Allenville Road a public nuisance and authorize the mayor to abate and charge any incurred expenses pursuant to chapter 46 city of Prattville code of ordinances. Resolution [snorts] number nine to declare garbage and rubbish at 709 Hillrest a public nuisance and authorize the mayor to abate and charge any incurred expenses pursuant to chapter 46 city of Pratville code of ordinances. [snorts] Resolution number 10 to declare the garbage and rubbish at 711 Hillrest Drive a public nuisance and authorize the mayor to abate and charge any incurred expenses pursuant to chapter 46 city of Pratville code of ordinances. Resolution number 11 to set a public

hearing to declare the abundance of overgrown grass and weeds at 107 Fleetwood Road, 1356 Street and 115 Thames Drive to be unsafe and a public nuisance and order their abatement pursuant to chapter 46 city of Prattville code of ordinances. Resolution number 12 to accept improvements and maintenance of McCain Landing, Mlan Landing, uh plat number two and plat number three. Resolution number 13 to grant a retail beer off- premise only and retail label wine off- premise only license to Prattville Convenience LLC doing business as GX Mark1. And resolution number 14 to consent and approve the transfer of the cable system franchise from knowledge of Alabama incorporated doing business as WOW internet cable and phone to Bandit Midco Incorporated. Do I hear a motion to create a consent agenda?

Motion uh motion by councelor Jackson. Do we have a second? Okay. Second by councelor Merritt. All in favor of creating a consent agenda, please raise your right hand. All oppose like sign. All right. And the consent agenda is now before us. Do I hear a motion to adopt the consent agenda? All right. Motion by U. Yeah. Um, yeah. I'm sorry. Second. Do I hear a second?

Second by councelor Newman. I'm sorry, John. I All right. Second by councelor Newman. Uh is there any discussion on a consent agenda? Hearing none. Uh all in favor of adopting the consent agenda, please raise your right hand. All oppose like sign and the consent agenda is adopted. All right. This point we will move into our regular agenda. Item number one is a resolution to authorize the mayor to enter into a construction agreement for a Montgomery Metropolitan Planning Organization or MOO project between the state of Alabama acting by and through the Alabama Department of Transportation ALDOT for project number CRPM-0126 CPMS reference numbers 100080794 for traffic signal upgrades at the intersections of East Maine and Chestnut Street, East Main Street and Washington Street, and East Main Street at Northingington Street at a cost not to exceed 1,267,614 net cost to the city not to exceed $253,522.80. Councelor Jackson, will you introduce this resolution? Whereas on April 15, 2025, city council of the city of Prattville adopted resolution 2025, page 100 authorizes city staff to submit an application to NO for the fiscal year 2025 Montgomery NO's carbon reduction program for traffic signal improvements at the intersection of East Main Street and Chestnut Street, East Main Street at Washington Street, and East Main Street at Northern Street, and where the state and city desire to enter into a construction agreement for federal aid project for said traffic signal upgrades for project number CRPMN0126

CPMS CPMS reference number one000080794 at a total cost not to exceed 1,267,614 net cost to the city not to exceed $253,52280 and whereas this is a budget expense in the capital projects fund therefore be it resolved by the city council of City of Prattville that the mayor is hereby authorized to enter into said agreement with ALD DOT for construction services for said project and funds in an amount not to exceed 1,2674 1,267,614 net cost to the city not to exceed $253,522.80 80 cents are approved and appropriated on fiscal year 2026 budget line item capital project funds east main street signals carbon reduction. Be it further resolved that said agreement be executed in the name of the city by the mayor for and on its behalf and that it be attested by the city clerk and the official seal of the city be affixed there too. Be it further resolved that upon completion of the execution of said agreement by all parties that a copy of such agreement be kept on file by the city clerk. So move.

All right, we have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. Seconded by councelor Chambers. All right. Is there any discussion on this item? I just wanted to bring up that this is an example of the MO dollars right here where where the federal program is out there and the city does a competition basically by, you know, the planning department's done their part. you know, the engineer does his part and we've capitalized on that pool of money and we've we've won in a sense this opportunity and we're only, you know, matching it with net net funds and we're getting this as part of a federal carbon reduction program. So, I think it's a great program. I'm glad to see the city capitalize on this type of thing.

Thank you. Is there any other discussion? All right. Not hearing any. All in favor of this resolution, please signify by raising your right hand. Any opposed? like sign and a resolution is adopted. Resolution number two is to award bid number 025-013 to Murphy Excavation LLC for the Court Streetscape for the Transportation Alternative Program TAP project number TAP MNTA24941. CPMS reference number 100078548 and 100078230 and at a total cost not to exceed 3636,4226.50 net cost to the city not to exceed $127,285.30 councelor Jackson will you introduce this resolution? Whereas in resolution book 2024A page 153 on June 18th 2024 the city council of the city of Pratville authorized the mayor to enter into an agreement with Krebs Engineering Incorporated for professional s engineering services for the TAP project number TAPN TA24941 CPMS reference number 1078548 and 1078230 with the state of Alabama and whereas spec specifications were drafted for said project. And whereas three seal bids were received, open, and read aloud on November 6, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. in the council chambers. And Murphy Excavation LLC was the lowest responsible bidder at a total cost not to exceed $636,426.50. And whereas this is a budget expense in the capital project fund. Now therefore be it resolved that the city council of the city of Prabia hereby award bid number 025013

to Murphy Escavation LLC in an amount not to exceed $636,426.50. Net cost to the city not to exceed $127,285.30 for said sidewalk project and said funds are approved and appropriated from fiscal year 2026. Budget line item, capital project funds, Court Street park and sidewalks. Be it further resolved that the mayor is hereby authorized to execute any and all documents necessary to carry out the intent of this resolution. So moved. All right, we have a motion. Do we have a second?

Second by councelor Newman. Is there any discussion on this item? All right, hearing none. All in favor of this resolution, please signify by raising your right hand. All oppose, like sign. and the resolution is adopted. Resolution number three is to authorize the release of funds for the purchase of one 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 work truck and one 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD work truck through state contract number MA24000000004917 from Maxweeni Auto Group Clanton LLC for engineering at a cost total cost not to exceed $87,76547. Councelor Jackson, will you introduce this resolution? Whereas a need has been identified to purchase one 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 work truck and one Chevy Silverado 2500 HD work truck. And whereas Chevy Silverado 1500 four-wheel drive crew cab truck is available through state contract number MA24000000004917 from Xwinny Auto Group Clanton LLC at a cost not to exceed 41,42687. And whereas the Chevrolet 2500 HD four-wheel drive crew cab work truck is available through state contract number MA24000000000000004917 from Mweeny Auto Group Clanton LLC at a cost not to exceed $46,338.60 and whereas these are budgeted expenses in engineering. Now therefore [snorts] be it resolved by the city council of the city of Prattville that funds in an amount not to exceed $87,76547 for the purchase of said trucks are

hereby authorized and approved to be paid to make Sweeney Auto Group Clinton LLC and said funds are approved and appropriated from fiscal year 2026 budget line item engineering capital outlay. So move. All right, we have a motion. Do we have a second? Second.

Seconded by councelor Chambers. Is there any discussion on this item? Okay, hearing none. All in favor of adopting this resolution, please signify by raising your right hand. Any opposed, like sign. And this resolution is adopted. Resolution number four to authorize the mayor to enter into an agreement with International Database Corporation doing business as bidet for bid posting and advertising at a cost not to exceed $2,6525 per year. Councelor Strick, will you introduce this resolution?

Whereas the city of Pratt will post and advertise his bid notices through the online platform vendor registry. Whereas vendor registry is acquired in the fall of 2020 by international database corp dba bidnet and whereas the vendor registry software will sunset on December 31st 2025 and transition to bidnet. Whereas the bidet software is available at a cost not to exceed $2,6525 per year. Whereas said software is a budgeted expense. Now therefore be resolved by the city council. The city of travel that the mayor is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with international database corp. Doing business as bidet for said software at a cost not to exceed $2,6525 per year. Be it further resolved that funds in the amount of $2,6525 are hereby authorized and approved to be paid to international database corp doing business at bidnet and said funds are approved and appropriated fiscal 2026 budget line item city clerk operating supplies. So moved. We have a motion. Do we have a second?

Second.

Seconded by councelor Mary. Is there any discussion on this item? Hearing none. All in favor of this resolution, please signify by raising your right hand. Any oppose like sign? [clears throat] All right. And this resolution is adopted. Resolution number five is to reappoint Donnie Bethl to the Itaga Prattville Library Board of Trustees. Councelor Merritt, will you introduce this resolution? Yes, sir. Whereas Donnie Bethl's term on the Ita Prattville Library Board of Trustees will expire on November 30th, 2025. Whereas it is the desire of the city council of the city of Prabell to ensure the continuity of the board's operation. Now therefore, be it resolved by the city council of the city of Prabell that Donnie Bethl is hereby reappointed to the Ita Prrow Library Board of Trustees and said term shall expire on November 30th, 2029 or until a successor is duly qualified and appointed. So move, Mr. President.

All right, we have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. Second by councelor Chambers. Is there any discussion on this item? Yes,

Jackson. Um, I don't know if there's a requirement that we automatically reappoint someone that's serving on a board, but with the amount of, I think I've said before, media scrutiny that we've received, also with the number of people that have voiced a desire to be a part of this library, I would love for us to open it up to the ones that have expressed a desire to be a part of this board, who've all submitted their applications to be a part of this board. Um, I think it would be the right thing to allow those who've expressed I mean, and according to the law, we as a council could potentially uh do interviews ourselves. And I think that's a consideration considering when everything goes left or goes right, we ultimately have to take responsibility for whatever happens at the library. So, with the amount of uh and again, it's nothing against Mr. Bethl or uh Mrs. cocking doll, but I would like to see us um open it up to those who've expressed a desire because we had a young lady come before us two weeks ago to say that she would love to participate and sounds like she may be an asset and like I said, I would love for us to open it up. I know there have been others that have submitted the applications and I I would like for us as a council since we are ultimately responsible, it would just show a good faith effort that we're willing to work with our constituents that um are coming before

us and have expressed a desire to be a part of this uh board. I think it just shows that we're we're going to hear you. We see we see you and we hear you and we're willing to work with you. I mean, and if we go through the interview process and uh Mr. Bethl and Mrs. Cochend Doll are the best choices, then so be it. But at least we're opening up to this young lady and others that have expressed a desire to participate and be a part of this library board.

Thank you, Council New. Yeah, I was going to say this is definitely something that I wanted to make sure that if I was elected I wanted to take a really serious hard look at. I know the tumultimous time that our library has had over the last year or so and um I didn't want to take this lightly this appointment. Um I do think that there are arguments for both sides of uh you scrutinization when it comes to appointments where the the council may get involved. But I also know we have precedent uh that we've already established in the process. We have a two-term limit uh for uh people to be able to serve on on boards and I think that's a a great back stop to keep uh somebody from you know uh being on one too long. Um I do also think that not only have we established president but by having people on the board and then enter into a second term. gives that uh board or committee continuity. Uh uh if there's if there's a a good serving member, then they can continue to serve in their in their capacity. I've spoken to both of these uh appointments at length uh over the last uh few months um different times and um um if I felt there was an issue uh I definitely would address it now with a no vote and then move for reooking it. And I think that's how we've got our process now. I do think we can look at our process and maybe tweak it and um uh you know uh just like I'm hoping we look at all of our processes this quadrinium but um um um in this particular case I I I don't think there's any need Mr. Mr. Bethl is a a 30-year military veteran uh with an extensive legal degree or legal experience, I should say, a legal degree and legal experience. And um I think uh like was expressed earlier by one of our citizens, you know, bringing a a a plethora of backgrounds together only makes a a board stronger. And I say that after serving years on the IDB and currently on the 911 board and many of

the other boards. So, um um while I understand and and don't disagree with councelor Jackson and his uh approach in this particular case, I don't think it's necessary. So, that's my my two cents. Okay. Thank you. Are there any other comments?

Yes, sir. real quick. Matter of fact, I'd reiterate a lot what you you said, uh, Council Newman, but, you know, I was just kind of I was looking over the uh the uh the information received in the packet and I mean, I know uh this guy's uh already been serving and I mean, Indiana University School of Law, graduate of 1990, he's a retired colonel in United States Air Force. So, I think he's got the credentials and uh I don't see any reason why we would not want for him to continue serving on this on this particular board. Thank you. Are there any other comments discussion?

I would like I'm sorry. I would just like to say that there's I have absolutely no problem with either of the two applicants and I do agree in the wide variety of um exposure and I don't know the ages of our board members but I'm old and I don't know the latest technology. I don't know what what gets young people interested, you know, um except shopping, you know, with my girls like like I used to. And I think that bringing some younger people onto the library board is something that we we need to look at and we need to think about. And I don't know what applications are necessarily out there. Um I I know the ones that that I was emailed um over the past two weeks, but that is something that I think we should look at as well. So, it's it's certainly I I know Miss Gloria. I've known Gloria for many many years, and it's it's nothing against what we currently have, but um precedent, I think, is is something that we can always reflect on. And um precedent [snorts] doesn't mean that that's what we have to do moving into the future. And I think that moving into the future with some younger um more um with it um thoughts and ideas is not a bad thing. So I would like to see us have an application process personally.

Okay. Is there any other discussion? And one last um you know and I know you mentioned Mr. Bethl's uh military background and I know that um previously uh Mr. L. White with his military background has expressed multiple times that he would like to uh particip participate um on the library board. I think he, you know, some of those people again, you know, they they've expressed a strong desire to participate, but you know, similar backgrounds, but I think we just need to open it up. But that's just my two cents. I just like to council Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead, Council D. Go ahead.

Just respond. I respect that and I appreciate you sharing that. Um, and u Mr. Dale White, his his uh experience as well. I mean, he's not the spring chicken, but [laughter] um but we definitely respect his service and appreciate him. Um and yes, if this wasn't um a reappoint, I could understand a little bit differently. In this case, we are reappointing somebody that apparently the board feels has done a good job and just based on credentials and a lot of the things that I hear about him. I have spoken to him on the phone, uh gotten to know him a little bit better and asked questions. I just feel comfortable saying that in this case reappoint is is is sufficient for me.

Thank you, councelor Mer.

All right. And I just wanted to add that this shouldn't if you if you're not selected or if you don't you know go through the process first that shouldn't discourage you from applying again. So, I just wanted to say that just because you don't make the goround this time, just just you know, you have the talent. Um, I'd say do it again because you are the future. Thank you. Any other discussion on this item? Okay. Not hearing any. All in favor of this resolution, please signify by raising your right hand. Okay. All oppose like sign and resolution number five is adopted. Resolution number six to reappoint Gloria Kaikendall to the Pratville public ATA Prattville Library Board of Trustees. Councelor Merritt, will you introduce this resolution?

Yes, sir. Whereas Gloria Kaikendall's term on the Ata Prattville Library Board of Trustees will expire on November 30th, 2025. And whereas it is the desire of the city council of the city of Pratville to ensure the continuity of the board's operation. Now therefore be it resolved by the city council of the city of Pratville that Gloria Kaendall is hereby reappointed to the Toga Prattville library board of trustees and such term shall expire on November 30th, 2029 or until a successor is duly qualified and appointed. So moved, Mr. President. All right, we have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. Second by councelor Chambers. Is there any discussion on this item? Council Newman,

I would just state the same thing and I you know again um you know this is an individual has 20 plus years as an English teacher and in a library degree and I mean served on the board already and I I can't see a reason not to continue to have her serve uh in this capacity. She has the the time and the the energy and the and the attitude. So I'm very excited to see her want to continue to be on the on the board. So, any further discussion, council Jackson?

And again, like I said, this is not against Mr. Bethl or Mrs. Cockendall. She and I have worked together. Um, I know several years back she and her uh late husband took my kids from the alternative school on a uh tour of the uh gin um several years back and that was a wonderful experience and you know she she and her husband volunteered their time and we actually toured the gym and it was a great experience for our students. So again this is nothing personal against her or the other gentlemen. So any any further discussion? Councelor Langley,

I would just adopt what Mr. Newman said or councelor Newman said uh a couple of sessions ago. Ditto to what I said before. This is absolutely not anything uh personal or applicantbased. I just feel that we should open it up and have an application interview process. Okay. Any further discussions?

Um and I guess did to this side. Um and just you know again go back on the the packet here uh the former director Andrew actually was the one that nominated this uh this uh Mrs. Kendall and just looking at her her background as a educator and and the level of education that she had including uh library education media at Alabama State University in 2005 taking post postgraduate courses in the school of library and information studies at the University of Alabama. I don't see any reason why we would not want to continue with her on the board. Thank you. Any further discussion?

Yeah. One last thing I I do want to make sure that um everybody understands I do look at these individually. I would not uh you know if I disagreed with a person's qualifications or background or continuity, I wouldn't I would necessarily support them. But in these both of these cases, uh they're both uh I think well suited to continue serving on the board they're on. All right. Thank you. Any other discussion at this time? Not hearing. Uh all in favor of this resolution, please signify by raising your right hand. All oppose like sign. And resolution number six is adopted. Resolution number seven to authorize the demolition and removal of the dilapidated accessory structure located at 1037th Street and award the contract to 82 Auto Parts and Record Service LLC. Councelor Newman, will you introduce this resolution? Yes. To uh excuse [clears throat] me, to authorize the demolition and removal of the dilapidated cestry structure located at 1037th Street and award the contract to 82 Auto Parts and Record Service LLC. Whereas the resolution book 2025B, page 323 on November 4th, 2025, the city council of the city of Prattville authorized the demolition and removal of the residential structure located at 1037th Street pursuant to 1153B code of Alabama 1975 as amended at a cost not to exceed $10,300. and whereas said quote included the demolition of dilapidated accessory structure on the same property and whereas said accessory structure language was not listed in the original resolution. However, all required legal notices were sent and identified both the residential structure and the accessory structure as dilapidated and whereas the intent was to authorize the demolition of the residential and accessory structure for the total cost of 10,300. Now therefore, be it resolved that the city council of the city of Prattville hereby authorizes the mayor to take

whatever steps necessary to remove the unsafe accessory and residential structures located at 1037th Street. So moved. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. Seconded by councelor Merritt. Is there any discussion on this item? So Andrew [clears throat] with this uh they get six months to get this situated. That's right. And the permit is valid for six months. Um, of course, if the project takes longer than six months, you get another renewed permit.

Um, but essentially, and again, this resolution was on the agenda prior to them having that meeting Friday. So, yeah, provided that they follow through and continue making those steps, uh, then mayor takes no further action. I'd like to ask you a question as well. Can you just for the for the u sake of everybody listening, what do you term an accessory structure? So an accessory structure is one that's detached from a residential structure. Commonly see those as sheds, leantos, things like that. Um not really one that's inhabited overnight.

Thanks sir. Council Newman, I was just going to ask about clarification around assessor structures, but I don't know if that handled that or if you wanted to. And I want to make sure this [clears throat] is a resolution to include the assessor structors, not a doubling down on de demolishing the house. I just want to make sure we understand that.

Yes, sir. As far as I understand it from from uh council and from the clerk, this is to um correct uh the omission of the accessory structure from the previous resolution that we passed. Any any further discussion? All right. Not hearing any. Uh all in favor of this resolution, please raise your right hand. Any oppose? Like sign. Any abstensions? All right. And resolution number seven is adopted. All right. Uh that exhausts our regular items on the agenda. So the council welcomes any comments from persons present. Uh we will have anyone who wishes to speak line up in the middle aisle. You'll be called upon to print your name and address. And then you'll have up to five minutes to address the council after. Mhm. You'll have up to uh five minutes to address the council. Please state your name and address first and then you may begin to speak.

Alyssa Brown, 202 Summit Parkway. I'd like to start off with just my favorite hymn. Oh Lord, open my eyes that I may see the needs of others. Open my ears that I may hear their cries. Open my heart so that they need not be without sucker. Let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong. Not afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich. Show me where love and hope and faith are needed. And use me to bring them to those places. And so open my eyes and my ears that I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for thee. We all must remember that voting isn't the only way you are productive in a democracy. Getting involved in organizing and helping grassroots organizations is truly how you can start being more productive in a democracy and in your society and in just day-to-day things. Just because you do not take an interest in politics does not mean politics won't take an interest in you. So, some things that I've thought of that I've been a part of and I've helped organize that I would like to share with y'all to really consider doing is to reach out to schools and help pay outstanding lunch balances. Start a local food drive, a blanket drive, winter drive at your work, apartment complex, communities where you live. It's very simple. It's getting cold. It's going to be probably a really cold winter. I'd really encourage us to look out for each other. Donate winter clothes to the homeless shelters. Give out a free meal to your community. A man approached me one time and he said,

"It's grassroots organizations like this that make a real difference in our communities because we're the ones who actually do the work and make the difference in our everyday lives. Volunteer time at a soup kitchen. I would also like to say two more things. Um, I am so sorry for the loss of your mother and it brings me my happiness to see you here and standing strong. Um, the other thing I also want to say is I don't want to hear from any of you that this younger this younger generation does not want to work. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anybody else who would like to address the council? [snorts and clears throat] John Link Finnegan 211. Dear Trace, um I sent you all a email regarding the lyric sign and um I told you I found it very disrespectful of the mayor to ignore you or not cover it up. You guys are making a decision. Are you going to find out or make a president precedence um whether you do have the right to name city buildings, city property, etc. And I think now that those two ordinances were not on, that means December and that means maybe further kicking the can down the road. I really feel that that sign should be covered up until a decision is made. I don't know about removing it, but I really really feel the longer that stays up, the longer it's imprinted in citizens minds. So if you should change the name that it's going to cause an uproar because they go, you know what's going on. So, I really wish that the administration would cover that sign up or take it down until a decision is made on a name which and including citizens input because I that is it's so um what's the word I'm looking for? you can see it. So, you know, I mean, it's very visible. And again, I think it's going to imprint on people. And I really, really feel that until that decision is

made, and I keep repeating myself that that sign needs to be covered up or taken down. And if it's that we end up voting or you guys vote that no, we're going to keep it, then put it back. But until that time, please cover it up or take it down. Thank you. Thank you. [clears throat] Yes, sir.

Patrick Lucas, 1211 Caliber Crossing. I want to state what the young lady said. We're looking at young folks who are wanting to work. They want to contribute to this city. They have input, new ideas, fresh ideas, and it seems like we're just when we talk about seniority, years of service, Councilman Jackson says something. I know El White was trying to get on that same library board for a while. Military major, four years, uh, four times deployment. For whatever reason, he wasn't good enough. So, you got young folk. The young lady gave her credentials and she just want to work to bring kids in and all this. Uh-uh. When we say seniority, Councilman Strechard, Councilman Jackson got what, nine years. Neither one of them are sitting in these positions. So see when we when we say structure when we say experience proim president just saying uh mother Robinson is not here but I thank her even in the midst of what she going through that that that family that was here or still here we wouldn't have known they was about to tear their house down she going through her but citizen looking out for citizens senior citizen looking out for senior citizen brought that to you guys. And I just believe if she had not brought those names up, that place was going to

get torn down. And so you have citizens out here that really care about this city. But so for some reason, it's like it's not that important. And so you guys have an opportunity to do something great or will you just fall back into the same fall back and just fall in line because it's really up to you guys. My condolences to your mother. Thank you as my city council woman that you're here in spite of what's going on because although that's important, this is important, too. So I commend you on that and I thank you for those bright ideas. But if we're going to work together and they're there. And I just want to get clarity. You said you're not going to you guys are looking at something legal on what you guys going to do with it. The sign over at the venue,

the sign, the lyrics, the at you don't excuse me. Let's I know exactly what you're talking about. No, I'm asking. Okay. So, I don't have any control over the sign. We are looking at an ordinance that defines the naming process for buildings and structures and properties owned by the city. Well, that's what I was asking. It wasn't I know you have authorities over here. We are in the process of reviewing that now and hopefully we will have that at the at the next meeting. So, in the meantime, it it just stays like it is now.

Well, I will state this. Okay, I was asked this. Um, so everybody wants to know why the council won't say, "Hey, take the sign down." The council voted against the name. What What other What other action should we take? I mean, we we said no. The name was was voted down by the council. So, I didn't put the sign up. I voted no for the name. I mean,

and and I agree with you. I agree with you, Mr. Wy. So, but they're saying to me though, if you guys are the the body and you guys make decision, I know you voted no. So, then that means it's coming from over here that we're going to leave it up because regardless of what y'all say, we're still going to do it. Have a good evening.

Thank you. Is there anyone else who would address the council? Jackie Nicks, Running Brook. Uh, 706 Running Brook Circle. Obviously, I'm disappointed uh by the re reappointment of the board members. I your vote signifies that you are happy with the performance of this board. So therefore, now you own what they're doing with the money. And I I sincerely hope that you do not follow through with the mayor's suggestion to take money away from our already underfunded schools to go into a library that they're not using the money given to them properly. So I and I understand it done is done, but please going forward. The library board is coming to you and and they're asking for a lot of money. Um you know during the budget uh work session, uh Councilman Wheal uh the the pool and um the word money pit came up. Uh the library is going to take a lot of money. I'm not going to go so far as to say that it's going to be a money pit, but make sure when we are dumping millions of dollars and if it's going to come from the education bud budget, millions of dollars away from a potential high school that we

desperately need. And every one of you campaigned on education, education, education, education. So please live up to your promises. There's got to be a way to balance and don't rob Peter to pay Paul. There other cities build libraries. Other library boards that are not as controversial and haven't made enemies like this one has. and they get they they do collaborations, they get sponsorships, they they they find money outside of just going to the city and asking for a handout. Put the onus back on this board. Make them work. Make them get this money from other sources than just coming to the city asking for a handout. And I ask that when you are communicating with them, you ask them the pointed questions. What's being done with the money? I understand you don't have control and and that is is a good thing. When the money is allocated, you shouldn't micromanage. However, when there are legitimate questions of what happened, where did this $64,000 go? Why are we cutting uh uh programs funding for programs? Please, please follow up on that. I I beg of you, please. I want our library, but I want a functioning library. I don't want us to just throw money at it and patch and still have the same dysfunction moving forward. I just ask that that you take these things into consideration as we are moving forward and these requests for very large amounts of money are made to you and that

once again just that you take it in consideration. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Good evening. Yes,

Mary Adair, 1068 Street, Pratville, Alabama 36067. I uh I see right after call to order you have a resolution and it says for the authorized matter have overgrown grass and weeds at 208 Mihary Street. Now um if I am not mistaken the people that own the land at 208 Mihara Street does not live in Prankful. The lady that owned the land is deceased and her grandson takes care of it and he lived in Cleveland, Ohio and he has since moved from Cleveland, Ohio to North Carolina. So maybe if they send him a message or you put a sign on his land, he didn't know about it. So I know him. I'm going to call him tonight and find out if that is his address. And if it is, I'll tell him that he needs to get in touch with who? The planning commission or

he he can he can contact the mayor's office and they can get him in touch with code enforcement. Okay. I will cause uh and I'm sorry about your mom. I know how you feel. I lost my mom. She was 90 years old and I understand your feelings. Thank you all so much and I'll be in touch with the mayor's office. Thank you, ma'am. M have are you are you trying to address the council again? Yes. Okay. And you have addressed us during this portion? Yes.

Okay. So, we limit u to one five minute period. Okay. I think I still had time left over after my last one. So, I could probably just use I mean, I didn't keep up with

I just my I just had one question. It I think it would take more of us to just talk and hash this out than just me ask the question. Um, as a legislative body, if there's no followup after your vote, what's the point in having a vote is my question. If you vote no and there's no followup after that, why even have you here? That's my question. Thank you. You're welcome to email city council at prravville.gov. Thank you, Miss Jones. I've already signed. Um, I didn't know your mom, but from everyone else offering their condolences, and if they knew her, I'm sure she was quite a lady because I can tell that from from you. So, you have our condolences as well on the transition of your mother. Again, we'd like to thank all of you for having allowed us to come before you tonight on this res resolution. I think it's resolution number seven. I didn't bring my sheet up here with me.

Number seven. Yes, ma'am.

There is a word that says in all our getting get an understanding. So, I want to make sure that my sisters and I have an understanding before we leave tonight because I heard you, sir, say something about the structure on the back. All the structures on the back were followed through based on what we told Mr. Johnson. We've done all of that. So, we want to make sure that we're clear on what you want us to do before we exit this building.

Pardon? We can meet and talk afterwards. All right. Okay. Thank you again. Yes, sir. Have a great night, too. And a great holiday. Yes, sir. Maverick Roberts, 327 Diller Street, and my condolences to your family. We're praying for you. [snorts]

Um I'm coming today about the um major footprint in my neighborhood and district two um with the um Kingston Heights, maybe Kingston Hills development. Uh it's a dust bowl. I I just call it a dust bowl today. Um big trucks, a lot of dust and uh It's just it could be done a little bit better like because we started this a long time ago this process of trying to get ahead of the process to find letting know what could we be doing differently but when they react after we complain. So the dust was there first then we complain. Now they want to bring in the water trucks and you know keep the dust down. You know you know how it works. They got a big truck that'll water the um the dust down. Guess I'm waiting for a amen, but I wouldn't guess I'm not gonna get a a but yeah, the water dust they could keep the keep the dust down, but that's not one of their concerns. So to the people in my neighborhood, I want them to understand that I reached out to the developers and the mayor to find out what can we be doing to um be compensated for it. So, whatever damages are caused, dust, you have to wash your car. Just keep all of your receipts and we'll proceed that way. And then, uh, with the complaints that I filed a couple days ago or or a couple months ago, I got a response a couple days ago and they said um, they apologized for the delays getting back with me. um they've been out of the office for a few days, but your complaints are still in legal under

review at the moment. You can email me for an update in a few weeks if you don't hear anything. And that comes from Alabama Ethics Commission, April Enis, Special Investigator Enforcement Support Assistant. And now I'm going speak a little bit about heritage and the uh I guess naming of the Bank of Prao. My aunt worked at that bank of Prao for over 30 years. And even sometimes I did some little stuff. She put the trash out right by the door and I take it on to the dumpster. So maybe I worked there a little bit myself. So they could name it the Maverick building or um I would I'd suggest uh the Prattville Square is what because you know most towns downtown Prattville is a square. So um but we always want to protect our heritage. So, we at the North Highland Park and a committee we had um we brought in an expert from the Alabama Historical Commission, Mr. Cavers, um was his name, Joseph Cavers, and he wrote this for us. No charge. The North Highland Park. The North Highland Park. The North Highland Junior High School once stood on this site. The original school opened as the North Highland Academy, but later changed its name in 1924. Reverend Daniel Brown, presiding elder of the AM church, led the effort in establishing

Prattville's first black junior high school. In 1939, a new North Highland School was built across the street from the old junior high school. When the high school opened in 1939, the old school was demolished and the lot remained vacant until 1960. In 1957, the city's community improvement club represented by Willie Wood, Mary E. Averheart, Lewis Douglas, and Isam Jones proposed the city turn the vacant one, one and a half acre lot into a park for black citizens of Prab. The city agreed and members of the club conducted a door-to-door campaign for f funding the park. In 1960, the park was opened and dedicated becoming the third public park in Pra and first designated recreation facility for its black citizens. A swimming pool was added in 1964, but was later closed.

Mr. Roberts, your time is up. Could you just bring your comments to a close, please? Thank I'm just reading the the um historical marker. Um in 1968, the new modern North Highland School was built and opened north of the old one on Chestnut Street. Later, due to the court order integration, the school was renamed the Prattville Junior High School. The old 1939 school was destroyed by fire in 1981. The park provided recreational activities for negroes from the county surrounding counties as well as students attending the school across the street. Even with the closure of the North Highland School, annual meetings, family gatherings, and reunions continued to be held at the park. An annual park day was held each year to enhance recreational activities for the surrounding black neighborhoods. The successors of the Citizens Community Improvement Club continued its work to keep the legacy of the North Highland School alive and the park served as a connector for the past and as well as today. And the list they list the sources right quick if you'll give me a few more seconds. Uh the travel progress uh February 7th, 1924, travel progress October 24th, 1957. Prattville progress March 5th, 1959. Prattville progress January 6, August 24th, 1961. Prop progress July the 2nd, 1964. Ple progress August 7th, 1991.

Patt progress August 5th, 1995. And Ple progress March 29th, 2003. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Is there anybody else who wishes to address the council? All right. Not hearing any. We will move into our closing comments. Mayor.

Yes, sir. Uh, and I'd like to circle back around to our, uh, dilapidation, our dilapidated structure, um, a new type of policy on that one. Um from my understanding and I will this does not actually apply to the new book ends uh and it does not apply to the uh resolution tonight but it is my understanding is that for some time now is our code enforcer has been sending an email out to all the count counselors and so I will have a test email sent out tomorrow for the following day to make certain y'all all getting those but it's supposed to be getting the information of the addresses that are coming before y'all. I believe I was told another 14 days in advance, but uh I verified that with our captain tonight and uh so we will make certain we get that out. So again, condolences uh councelor Langley and I hope everyone has a a good Thanksgiving.

Council Newman. Yeah, I just want to start off by saying that um uh Council Langley, sorry for your family's loss and if uh there's anything you need from us, our family is is here for you for whatever you need. And I wanted to let everybody know, you know, uh the holiday season's coming up, time to spend time with family. Hope everybody has a a good holiday and a happy uh holiday time and spends a lot of time with their family. um uh and just travel uh safe safe while they're traveling as well. Um I also want to make sure that the counselors and uh and people know that um I haven't taken my hours off education. Just because we're not talking about it right now doesn't mean I my campaign promises are it's not time to to talk about that yet, but we'll definitely be talking about that uh when it comes up. The library is not off my radar. We've been looking at it. We've had some uh meetings around the building itself and some other things and um we're well involved in that. Um I don't take these appointments lightly. I will be looking at every single one of them and if I don't agree with it, my vote will be no, just like my fellow counselors that voted no on these because they didn't agree with it. It's a it's a body. It's a group. It's not one person that that makes a decisions. Um and I look at a total person concept as well. It's not just a a time in grade or time in service issue. It's a, you know, there's a lot of other factors I consider in a leadership decision or or appointment to a a position. Um, but um I do take it serious. Um um I think that's all I've got to say.

Thank you, Council Jackson.

All right. First, the counselor Langley. Please know that even in this difficult time, you and your family are surrounded by love, uh, support and prayers from myself and my family. Um, as we enter into the Thanksgiving season, I want to wish a joyful, safe holiday to the council, our incredible city employees, and every citizen of Prattville. I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve. Uh, I remain committed to transparency and to working together on strong policies and procedures so we can continue to provide good and accountable governance. In this season of goodwill and generosity, may we choose kindness, extend grace, and keep building a brighter future for Prattville. With all the professional courtesy I can offer, with that, I yield my time. Thank you,

Councelor Chambers. Yes, sir. uh via our condolences from my family to yours if there's anything we can do. Um again, happy Thanksgiving uh to everybody. Uh do hope everybody has safe travels, those that who are traveling and hope you enjoy a lot of great food and uh are reminded of things and why you are thankful for the things that uh God has provided us in our lives. Thank you, Councelor Mary.

Yes, sir. again the um I want to thank everybody for being here tonight. Um I hope everybody does have a wonderful holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving. If you are traveling, please be safe and make sure that the ones around you are are doing the right things. Um, we're going to have a scale out here in a couple of weeks uh at our next meeting to see who put on some poundage from eating too much turkey. And uh so we're going to have a before and after weighing. I'm just kidding. But but uh but uh thank you. Thank you all for always being here. Um your voice does matter. And for the ones at home that we streamlined tonight, I hope we uh came through pretty good. And uh so there may be some times where y'all may want to just sit home and watch and but but also your voice does matter. So thank you very much.

Councelor Strick, Councelor Langley.

Um well, first of all, obviously I need to say thank you um to all of you guys. Y'all have been very kind. Um and it's not just tonight that you guys have reached out to me and I appreciate it. Mom was 86 years old. Uh she lives in Hunts Alley and um they have loved her dearly and she has loved them and uh she she was a worker bee. Um she was bold, she was outspoken and the apple probably does not fall far from the tree. Um, she was a wonderful servant leader and I am super honored to to have called her mom and she joins daddy and I think they will have been married like 64 years um at this point and daddy has been uh deceased for nine years now. So it was a wonderful wonderful heavenly reunion. Um, I would like to say thank you to Tommy. And if you guys were not at the Veterans Day Memorial on Tuesday, Tommy was the keynote speaker. And he did a phenomenal job, a very, very good job. And I was so proud to not only call him a friend now, but to be professionally associated with him because he did a great job. and thank you very much for for representing us. He he he repped us very very well. Um the last thing I would like to say is if if anybody knows of anyone that needs um food for the holidays, let us know because as a body we need to we need to step up and we need to help. [snorts] And there are churches and there are places all over town that do provide

that and do help. But we are a body of leaders of the city of Prattville and we can't help 2,000 people, but we can help we can help some. And so if there's somebody that you know of that has a true need, please let me know. And um these boys and I will get in the kitchen and we'll cook some casserles and we will make that happen. So thank you. And I know you guys would be there supporting that. Thank you guys for coming and thank you guys for speaking.

Thank you. And uh the I I do extend my condolences as well. I'm um was fortunate enough to have my mama as long as you were. Um I wasn't 40 and she wasn't 60 and uh it's it's hard every day moving forward. But uh but but you understand that you've lost your father and it's um but you're not by yourself. Um, I know you have a wonderful support system at home and with your family. Um, but you have a support system here as well and and we do grieve with you and your loss. Um, I do wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving as well. [snorts] Uh, our next regularly scheduled council meeting is Tuesday, December the 2nd, 2025 at 6 pm. At this time, the council has a need to go into executive session to discuss matters related to potential real estate transactions of real property. We have a letter provided by the city attorney verifying this as a qualifying reason for the executive session. The council will invite the economic developer as well as the city attorney to be present for information on potential transaction and will ask the finance director to be available if requested. We expect that this executive session should take no longer than 30 to 45 minutes and once we reconvene uh the council will adjourn and there will be no further business conducted. So, do [snorts] I have a motion to enter into executive session? So,

move. Uh, moved by Councelor Merrick. Do I have a second? Seconded by Councelor Jackson. Madame Clerk, will you please conduct a roll call vote? Councelor Newman, Councelor Jackson, yes. Councelor Chambers, yes. Councelor Merrick, yes. Councelor Wley, yes. Councelor Stretch. Council Langley, All right. So the motion uh to enter executive session passes um and we will like I said come back in here afterwards and then adjourn. There will be no further business conducted.

Uh we are going right back here through this door right here. probably.

So, we doing

your wife.

is down.

Church. Thank you. Oh my god.

All right, we are reconvening at 919 919 Having no more business, do we have a motion to adjurnn? Motion by councelor Jackson. Second. Yes. Second by councelor Chambers. All in favor say yes. Yes. 20 on the Nog and had a boy. All right.