Minutes 2016-11-01
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PRATTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016
The Prattville City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, at 6:02 p.m.
in the Council Chambers at City Hall. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag,
Council President Wood gave the invocation. Roll was called and all Councilors were present.
THE CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE MONTH IS GRATEFULNESS: Demonstrating
appreciation to others for what I have and how they have helped me.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Public Hearing and City Council Meeting October 18, 2016.
Councilor Boles made a motion to adopt the minutes and Councilor Whiteside seconded the
motion. With no discussion, the minutes were adopted (7-0).
COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT REGARDING TONIGHT’S AGENDA:
None
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Mayor Gillespie was granted a point of privilege to allow Senator Clyde Chambliss and State
Representative Paul Beckman to address the Council.
Senator Clyde Chambliss came before the Council to honor the outgoing Council President
Wood. Senator Chambliss has worked alongside Council President Wood for many years while
on the serving the Autauga County Commission and City of Prattville City Council. Council
President Wood has been a stable force on Council for years, and his leadership has been
appreciated. Senator Chambliss read a Resolution from the Alabama Senate to honor and
commend Council President Wood.
State Representative Paul Beckman stated that people who run for or hold office are special
people; they want to put themselves on the line to help people, not for power or money, but for
the common good. Representative Beckman read HIR 157 from the State of Alabama House of
Representatives commending Council President Wood, Councilor Whiteside and Councilor
Boles for their disguised service to the Prattville City Council.
The Mayor continued his point of privilege to allow the Prattville Exchange Club to several
present awards. Cindy Browder with the Exchange Club explained that the awards are to honor
the humble servants of the City and County for going above and beyond the call of duty.
Autauga County Sherriff Joe Sedinger presented Investigator Steve Campbell with an award.
Captain Patrick A. Kowalczyk, of the Prattville Police Department, presented awards to
Corporal Jason Kephart, Sargent Donnie Martin and Officer Jeff Mulligan. An award for
Battalion Chief Andrew Ellison of the Prattville Fire Department was accepted by Fire Chief
Terry Brown.
The Mayor thanked the Exchange Club and noted that this type of recognition motivates people
to continue to go above and beyond.
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Mayor Gillespie delivered the State of the City Address which is printed below:
CITY OF PRATTVILLE STATE OF CITY ADDRESS
“Partners and Stakeholders,
Four years ago, we opened this Quadrennium and effectively tonight, it comes to a close. I
believe that Daniel Pratt would be proud of Prattville’s evolution since 1839. Prattville is
known as the Birthplace of Industry in Alabama. Pratt and his works are known locally,
statewide and globally.
I mention this to make several points. We have evolved from a manufacturing village to a
destination center, a destination for food and shopping. We have become a destination for
outdoor activity, especially on Autauga Creek. We have embraced the following philosophy:
“A role of government is to provide an environment for private enterprise to flourish.” When
you couple this with our proximity to the interstate, our relationship with Maxwell Air Force
Base, and our citizens who remain friendly and welcoming to each other and to our visitors,
you have a recipe for success.
We have a very dedicated workforce. They are dedicated to serve. Our City Council and this
Administration have been working as a team…as a partnership. Our County Colleagues in
both County Commissions, as well as our Board of Education, are working to improve this
region. We are also blessed to have citizens that are patriotic and willing to give back to
their/our community.
Our financial footprint is firm. We can attribute this improved financial status to our citizens,
our employees, and our City Council. Our financial improvement has been noted by Standard
& Poor’s, as well as the Government Finance Officers Association with two consecutive
Certificates of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. This award is the highest
form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting and its attainment
represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.
With the passage of our Budget, which is based off of our previous year’s actuals, we
document our growth. It proves that our opportunities for success are ours to determine, but
we can only do it as Partners. As Partners of Prattville, we have the opportunity to make
capital investments, such as this year’s road and bridge project, and to help cultivate our
human capital just as Daniel Pratt did in 1839.
We have survived the economic downturn. Over the course of the past year, 34 new businesses
established in Prattville and we experienced 5 industrial expansions. This growth of new and
existing business resulted in 272 full-time jobs created and 500-600 construction and
maintenance-related jobs in Autauga/Prattville. The total capital investments from private
business sources were approximately $340 million into our community. Thank you, City
Council, for all of your dedicated, hard work.
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We have poised our community to continue this positive progression, to further increase our
quality of life through services, infrastructure, and amenities as we retain all that makes us
uniquely Prattville. Thank you for being part of this team, as Partners of Prattville. As we
move forward into the next Quadrennium, there will be a slight changing of the guard, but
because of the dedication of this Council, I see that we will all have a very, very bright future
here in Daniel Pratt’s community.”
Mayor Gillespie continued his Point of Privilege to present Finance Director Doug
Moseley and representative of Jackson Thornton, Daniel Oakley with the Certificate of
Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. There was a tremendous amount of hard
work done on the part of Mr. Moseley and Jackson Thornton to accomplish such an
achievement.
Mr. Moseley thanked the Council for the opportunity to work for the City of Prattville. The
Mayor thanked Mr. Moseley and stated that he has done an excellent job, and wished him the
best.
The Mayor thanked Council President Wood, Councilor Whiteside and Councilor Boles for
their dedication and hard work to the City of Prattville. As a slideshow played on the monitors
reflecting on their years in office, the Mayor presented a plaque and a Mayor’s Coin as a token
of his appreciation to each of them. The Mayor stated that is has been a pleasure to have worked
closely with them. He addressed Councilor Whiteside expressing his appreciation for his
knowledge, encouragement and support, as well as his friendship. He then addressed Councilor
Boles and acknowledged his passion for making things better and thanked him for his
friendship and dedication to the City. Lastly, he addressed Council President Wood, stating that
28 years is a very long time, and is a testament to his service. Council President Wood served
with Mayor Gillespie’s father and then with the Mayor, both on the Council and with him in his
role as Mayor. The Mayor stated that it has been an honor to serve with and to learn from him
and to call him a friend. Council President Wood has made the community a better place.
Council President Wood thanked the Mayor, Senator Chambliss and Representative Beckman.
He congratulated all of the recipients of the Exchange Club’s award.
REPORT FROM COUNCIL ON SPECIAL COMMITTEES:
None
CONSENT AGENDA
1. RESOLUTION: To Authorize the Mayor to have Various Weeded Lots Abated per Title 11,
Chapter 67 of the Code of Alabama, 1975, as Amended. (Sponsored By: Councilor Starnes)
RESOLUTION BOOK 2016-A, PAGE 188
2. RESOLUTION: To Declare Various Weeded Lots to be a Public Nuisance, Order Their
Abatement and Set a Public Hearing per Title 11, Chapter 67 of the Code of Alabama, 1975, as
Amended. (Sponsored By: Councilor Starnes)
RESOLUTION BOOK 2016-A, PAGE 189
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3. RESOLUTION: To Set a Public Hearing to Grant a Restaurant Retail Liquor License to
Blazin Wings, Inc. d/b/a Buffalo Wild Wings. (Sponsored By: Councilor Starnes)
RESOLUTION BOOK 2016-A, PAGE 190
4. RESOLUTION: To Set a Public Hearing to Grant a Lounge Retail Liquor – Class 1 License
to 2650, LLC, d/b/a Adriennes Bar. (Sponsored By: Councilor Starnes)
RESOLUTION BOOK 2016-A, PAGE 191
Councilor Boone made a motion to place Item #’s 1-4 on a Consent Agenda and Councilor
Starnes seconded the motion. The Items were placed on a Consent Agenda (7-0). Councilor
Boles made a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda and Councilor Brown seconded the motion.
There being no discussion, the Consent Agenda was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, BROWN,
STARNES, WHITESIDE, BOLES,
BOONE 7
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE
AGENDA
1. ORDINANCE: To Exempt Certain “Covered Items” From the Municipal Sales and Use Tax
during the Last Full Weekend of February, 2017, as Authorized by Act 2012-256, Generally
Referred to as the “State Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday”
Legislation. (Sponsored By: Council President Wood)
ORDINANCE BOOK 2016-A, PAGE 017
Councilor Brown made a motion to adopt the Ordinance and Council President Pro Tempore
Striplin seconded the motion. By point of order, it is necessary that the council rules be
suspended if immediate action is to be considered. Councilor Starnes made a motion to
suspend the rules and Councilor Whiteside seconded the motion. The rules were suspended (7-
0). There being no discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, BROWN,
STARNES, WHITESIDE, BOLES,
BOONE 7
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE
2. ORDINANCE: To Amend City of Prattville Code, Chapter 105 Buildings and Building
Regulations, Article 1 – In General, Section 105-26 (4) to Establish the Collection of the
Construction Industry Craft Training Program (CICTP) Fee as Mandated by Alabama Act 2015-
308. (Sponsored By: Councilor Boles)
ORDINANCE BOOK 2016-A, PAGE 018
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Councilor Boles made a motion to adopt the Ordinance and Councilor Boone seconded the
motion. By point of order it is necessary that the council rules be suspended if immediate action
is to be considered. Council President Pro Tempore Striplin made a motion to suspend the rules
and Councilor Whiteside seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the rules were
suspended (7-0). There being no discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following
results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, BROWN,
STARNES, WHITESIDE, BOLES,
BOONE 7
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE
3. RESOLUTION: To Appoint the City Treasurer-Finance Director for the Remainder of the
2012 Quadrennium. (Sponsored By: Council President Pro Tempore Striplin)
RESOLUTION BOOK 2016-A, PAGE 192
Council President Pro Tempore Striplin made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilor
Brown seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the
following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, BROWN,
STARNES, WHITESIDE, BOLES,
BOONE 7
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE
COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT:
Fire Chief Terry Brown thanked the Mayor, City Clerk and City Council. He thanked Councilor
Whiteside for service on the Building and Fire Committee and Councilor Boles for his
chairmanship on both committees. Chief Brown swore an oath 30 years ago to this City and a
majority of those years has been spent working with Council President Wood. He thanked the
Council President for his dedication, commitment and friendship. It has been said that a
statesmen as a politician has been dead for some time, but Council President Wood has proven
that wrong and served as a true statesmen. Chief Brown has been honored to work with the
Council President.
CLOSING COMMENTS:
Mayor Gillespie brought the new Finance Director Daniel Oakley up to introduce him to the
Council. Mr. Oakley thanked the Council for the confidence they have shown in him. He is
excited to work with each of them and anxious to get to work.
The Mayor thanked the whole Council and agreed with Chief Brown’s statement that Council
President Wood is a true statesmen.
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Council President Pro Tempore Striplin announced that President of the Prattville Area
Chamber of Commerce, Patty VanderWal was chosen as the recipient of the 2016 Spirit of
Spinners award. He stated that it had been a pleasure working with each of the outgoing council
members.
Councilor Brown thanked Council President Wood for his steadfast leadership and friendship.
Councilor Boles stated that it has been a privilege to work for the city and his constituents, the
Mayor and Council. The leadership of the Mayor and Council has gotten the City through some
tough times. Councilor Boles expressed his love his fellow council members and mayor.
Councilor Boone thanked Council President Wood for leadership. She has enjoyed working
with all of the outgoing council members and thanked them for their service.
Mary Virgina Harris, 133 East 6th Street, stated that she knew Council President Wood before
he was elected. He is a hard worker and always has a pleasant attitude. She respects him as
councilman but he is more like a son to her. She thanked him for his dedicated service and
hoped that God continues to bless him.
Barbara Robinson, 123 White Oak Court, stated that Council President Wood has been a great
legacy for District 2. They were classmates, and she recalled that he always had a pen and paper
everywhere he went. He always kept a positive attitude and Christian mentality. She is Grateful
to have had him as her councilor and proud of him. He loves people and wants to help someone.
His father started this legacy and Council President Wood has fulfilled it.
Council President Wood thanked God for allowing him to serve in this capacity, he thanked the
citizens of District 2 and the City as a whole for their support, and made the following
comments:
“I have been blessed to serve under the administration of 4 mayors and 7 sets of councilmen. I
thank you all and every city employee for their service to this to city. On this journey we
encounter mountains and valleys, rivers and plains, highs and lows, joys and sorrows, conflict
and loss, heartache and solitude through it all I have learned to trust in the Lord, pray and seek
His guidance. Many people paved the way for me to have the opportunity I have been afforded,
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. nationally and internationally known; Local citizens and heroes,
such as Mr. Dan Houser, Mr. Frank Gipson. Rev. Jamie Miller, Mrs. Sally Hatknot, and yes of
course Mr. Willie L. Wood, Sr. Thank you all, especially dad, I am so glad you and mom lived
to see me become the first black to be elected to the Prattville City Council, as you were the first
black candidate for office in this county. As this journey comes to an end tonight, I’d like to
congratulate Marcus Jackson on being elected to represent District 2 and all others who were
elected to serve the next for years. The challenges and opportunities you face can be met
confidently if you honor God and rely on His never failing presence. As I always said in my
serving you must agree to disagree and respectfully keep moving forward. Thank you all and
God Bless each of you and this City as Council President Willie L. Wood, Jr. moves on humble
grateful and thankful. God Bless you.”
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ADJOURN:
There being no further business to come before the council, Councilor Boles made a motion to
adjourn and Councilor Starnes seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned (7-0) at 6:55 p.m.
APPROVED:
___________________________
Cathy Dickerson
City Clerk
___________________________
Albert Striplin, Council President
Prattville City Council
SUBMITTED BY:
___________________________
Jamie Ferrari
Assistant City Clerk