City Council - Regular Meeting

Um with that what um how do we stand as far as maybe it's like five but really six ways to get in and out of left know and then there's another that I can't think of that name right Right. Well, we don't deal with that. That can be a community program. That could be ringing doorbells, that type thing. But we don't deal with security cameras. Now what we've got on the agenda tonight will help that help me as they come and go and when there is we know who to so we know but as far as any surveillance we live more so block cameras. They're going to be um strategically um situated so they be able to pull not only on the west side, but

the entire city will be covered. Absolutely. The entire city. There there won't be a tag come in or out of this city that we don't have. Okay. Awesome.

Chap. All right. No. And and I talked with Miss Tucker about this in the past and we've gone through um in the past uh I believe about the last year or two we've added two or three street lights over in the level. Um but the the way that that's handled is uh we get a request for street lights at whatever address in the city and we reach out to power company since our own power is over in that area. It varies in some areas obviously because cotton legs is actually cut up and with Albine power and central bound but with it being Alabama power we reach out to them and they send someone over take a look at the area um and if it warrants but there's there is a distance between street lights um and so they're only allowed to put them within so many feet and there has to obviously has to be a pole um I can't put one on both sides of the street But there's all kind of requirements that the power company does require those lights. But we can start processing. You know, if there's areas over there that are dark, we can add more lights in that area. I just made the request and we meet them out and continue that lighting over in that area. We have added quite a few over there not too long ago.

And I miss I does have a good listing. Yeah, that's a I do and I can get that. And I'm just strictly on my upper part of the street. It's kind of dark up there. Now in the back it's light back there and there are some really dark spots. We looked at them on yesterday. I Yeah, we can continue to have more and we'll we'll go some of some of the areas, you know, they it may be that we just can't put one there. Okay. We can we can stretch them out down the street.

But thank you. I want to say thank you to the council. I want to thank thank the police chief and I thank you all for when it happened. They were out there so fast before we could kind of get to the street. Uh the city police, they was there, but this thing happened so fast and it continue to happen and we're just afraid especially for our elder women that's home in their bed sleeping at that's where we run into an issue in our job because situations like that are basically a crime of passion. If we're not right there when it happens, there's no way to stop it. And and with the lighting, that's across the city, not just in one district, any right

any street anywhere. If somebody will let us know, but our lights are considered street lights. They are not security lights. Yeah. It can only shine over the street.

If you want a security light, you can deal with Alabama File Company about putting you in a security light. But uh uh it it's it it's a little tough situation. And I went out today and visited the location where all this happened and and talked with the owners out there and the management. And I've asked the police chief to pull uh at least the last year's reports on u any incidents, anything that has happened out there. U it is a gathering place. The location of this is people come out of the level or they come off of the west side of the river and they go to that station. People come out of Crunchaw that's the first station they're going to come to. So that then becomes a problem and uh it just happened these folks got there at the same time and that then it became a problem. There are a lot of people that don't feel safe going to that store. And I shared that with the owners today that I hear people telling me, "Well, I don't go there. I don't like the crowds hanging around. So, I just I don't go there. I find some other place to go." Now, he owns the same store over on the corner of Hopeville Road as in the bypass at 14, but you don't have that group hanging around over there. Um, but and we and we really don't have it from his liquor store that's there. Uh, it's it's just the group that comes and wants to hang out. usually a group

up to no good, you know, and but we certainly don't want to see this and we're going to do everything in our power to to try to make a difference in this. Uh I the churches that are over there to get them involved and and get some programs in place for young people, you know, some things for young people to do. Um a group of men that can uh be an example for young kids growing up. Uh it it makes a difference. It makes a difference. So we're uh we feel for you. Don't want to see that happen when the sweetest ladies in the world got her house shot into by accident. They didn't intend to shoot in her house, but they did. They shot the window out of her house. And uh we certainly don't want anything to happen to that sweet lady.

But we are on top of it and we'll be working with it. You have any other question? Thank you. Okay. Our agenda items for this evening under old business permission to spray for to spray the storm ditches at a cost of $6,161. Second time on the agenda. We can take action on that tonight. And then the second item is permission to spray Kudzu from the boat launch to Memorial Park on the northeast side of the river cost of $6,000. Also the second item on the agenda and we can take action on that. Under new business this evening, approve internal control policy. Um can tell us what that is just real quick. So really one thing that we're trying to address are issues from the audit findings that we talked about a couple of meetings ago. Um and then to just make sure that our internal controls have separation of duties um where one person can't uh do all parts of a transaction. So um splitting those up so that we have good segregation um or deal with cash transactions, checks, dispersements, things like that. Thank you. Then item four of the new business, ordinance 2025, an ordinance to amend certain traffic laws within the city of Witchah. This is first item on the agenda will be back on the agenda for the next meeting. Item five, approve approval to purchase

SWAT equipment and uniforms of a cost of 63,462. Also the first item on the agenda will appear on the next agenda. Item six, approval to purchase six W cameras of the cost of 16,64728. This is also the first time on the agenda to appear on the next agenda. Item seven, approve the lowest bid for parking lot improvements and infrastructure for the restroom facilities. Uh this is is this throughout?

This is the this is the bid for not the rest themselves, the infrastructure, the parking lot. Eight and nine could be pushed together. Eight we can vote on. Nine and 10 we can suspend the

Okay, that was item seven. Item eight, approve the parking lot lease with Hannes commercial properties. That is a parking lot now that joins Chicken Road back up to the property that we own before you get to the Hannes property. And then item nine, permission to install power at the arena and arena restrooms of the cost of $20,799.99. Okay. And then item 10, permission to purchase five restroom facilities off Source World contract. Uh these will be brought in and set up. We prepare the slab, we prepare everything, plumbing, everything that goes into it. They bring the building in and just set the uh the building in place. Okay. That is our agenda for the evening. Before we move on, I see a gentleman that just walked in that uh he may want to speak to us. I don't know, Reverend. What you got to say? Mayor Willis, I'm just here in support of my colleague and the folks from uh Rogers Chapel AM Church and my relatives who are in that park that we call the level that's uh enduring the shootings. So, I just came and supported my colleagues and hopefully we could be able to do something to resolve the violence that was going on. So, I come in my support. We appreciate appreciate

you being here. Thank you, sir.

All right. We ended our council meeting time at this time and we'll call the meeting to order. Invocation by council person Robbins. A pledge by council person Kent. God, we thank you so much for this time to come together to work on the business of the city. We ask that be with our community and struggles. We ask that you give peace to those who are fearful. We ask you be with our police and fire as they go out and handle these situations. God just be with everyone up here. Thank you for everyone that works for the city and does their best job. to do everything to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Roll call.

Council member Robins here. Council member Tucker here. Council member Justice here. Council member Gan here. Council member Brown here. Mayor Willis here. You received in your packet a copy of the minutes from the council meeting held on April 6, 2026. Are there any corrections to those minutes? Being no correction, we'll entertain a motion for approval. In favor, if you say I.

Anyone opposed? So, those minutes have been approved. Under old business this evening, permission to spray the storm ditches at a cost of $6,161. We'll entertain the motion. So second discussion on this all in favor by saying I. You don't want to oppose.

Okay, that permission has been granted. And then item two, permission to spray brush and cut zoo from the boat launch to Memorial Park on northeast side of the river at a cost of $6,000. We'll also entertain that motion. We have a motion. Is there a second?

Okay. So, we have the motion. We have a second. Any discussion on that? All in favor say I. I. Anyone opposed? So that too has been granted. Under new business, approve internal control policy. Okay, we'll entertain a motion to approve that policy. We approve it. Okay, we got Brown. Any discussion on this? All in favor? If only say I.

Anyone oppose? So that approval has been granted. And then the next item, item four, ordinance 2026, an ordinance to amend certain traffic laws within the city of which I'm first time on the agenda. We carry it back over to the next meeting. Item five, approval to purchase SWAT equipment and uniforms at a cost of 63,462. First time on the agenda. We'll carry it back to next week's next meeting's agenda. Item six, approval to purchase six flock cameras at a cost of 16,000 $64728. Also the first time on the agenda, we'll carry that back over. Item seven, approve lowest bid for parking lot improvements and infrastructure for restroom facilities. We have

Alexander for $97,356. Okay. I'm sure that's all in your package and you've looked at that. Okay, we'll entertain a motion. Mayor, I'd like to make that motion. Okay, we'll take your motion and ask for a second. Second. Thank you. Any discussion on this? So, we have a motion, we have a second. Had discussion. All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I.

Anyone opposed? So, that two has been approved. Item eight, approve parking lot lease with Hannes commercial properties LLC. That's also in your packets. That gives us the ability to have pave parking. Is that correct? On both of those both of those lots, curb, gutter, sidewalk. Yes. Okay. Good. All right. So, we entertain the motion for that. So move

okay second. Second. Okay. Have a motion. We have a second. Any discussion on this? All in favor say I. I. Anyone opposed? So that too has been granted. Item nine, permission to install pilot arena and arena restrooms at the cost of $20,799.99. Did he say suspend room? Um, I think that that would be asked for since it has to do with the rest.

Okay. That keep it all tied keep it all tied together at the same time. So, we'd ask to suspend the rules on this. So, do we have a motion to suspend the rules? May I make that motion? Okay, Miss Tucker. Do we have a second? Second. Mr. Robbins. Roll call. Council member Robbins? Yes. Council member Tucker? Yes. Council member Justice? Yes. Council member Gant? Yes. Council member Brown? Yes. Mayor Willis?

Yes. The rules having been suspended, we'll move forward with this for permission to install power in the arena and arena restrooms of the cost of $20,799. We need a motion. So move. Okay. And a second. Second. Justice. Any discussion on this? All in favor say I. I.

Anyone opposed? So that too has been granted. And then item 10 this evening, permission to purchase five restroom facilities off Sourcewell contract. We asked to suspend the rules on this. I need a motion to suspend. So move. Got three. Got three of them. Take your I'm gonna take this pretty lady right here. This justice. Okay. But I'll need a second. Second. Okay. Mr. Brown. Have a motion. We have a second. Council member Robbins? Yes.

Council member Tucker? Yes. Council member Justice? Yes. Council member Gant? Yes. Council member Brown? Yes. Mayor Willis? Yes. Okay, rules having been suspended. We will entertain a motion now for approval of these restaurants. Mayor, I'd like to make that motion. I'd like to take that motion. So, Mr. Gant has a motion. Do we have a second? Second, Mr. Tuck. Yes. You're going to have to get a little louder. Thank you.

All right. All in favor say I. I.

Anyone oppos? Okay. So that too has been granted. These restrooms for just people for your knowledge. There's five of them. They'll be throughout different areas of town. They'll be in the downtown area. They're going to be in the level. They're going to be at the sports complex um around the tennis courts and and meeting the needs over there. Pickle ball. Um so Meet Brook I think has pickle ball courts down there. So it's something badly needed and and this is not junk. These are really nice facilities that that we'll be bringing in. Okay, there's only one item left and that's to adjourn. But I'm on River Claude Schuford is here tonight and I'm not a preacher. Okay, I'm not even a teacher. But I had an incident happened to me this last week. I can tell y'all because I know you wouldn't tell anybody. I had a call from a lady said her father had passed away. He'd been in a nursing home in the Orange Beach and they were bringing him back