Minutes 2011-11-011
PRATTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2011
6:05 P.M.
The Prattville City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, November 1, 2011, at 6:05 p.m.
in the Council Chambers at City Hall. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag,
Mayor Bill Gillespie Jr. gave the invocation. Roll was called and Councilman Argo was
recorded as being absent.
THE CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE MONTH IS CONTENMENT: Enjoying life as it
comes.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Public Hearing & City Council meeting October 18, 2011.
Councilman Boles made the motion to approve the minutes and Councilman Wood seconded
the motion. The minutes were approved (6-0).
COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT REGARDING TONIGHT’S AGENDA:
Before any comments from persons present Council President Renegar announced that he
will ask council to hold agenda items 3 and 4. Council President Renegar called a Work
Session to discuss the 2011/2012 budget for Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 6:00pm in the
council chambers. Council President Renegar encouraged the public to contact their
councilman prior to the Work Session with questions about the budget.
Council President Renegar asked Councilman Striplin to explain the proposed budget.
Councilman Striplin reported he was notified on Wednesday, November 3, 2011 that the
previous September 30, 2011 financial information supplied the Council was
incomplete. Accordingly, several areas relating to personnel would need to be revised. The
Finance Committee does not recommend a reduction in personnel. Councilman Striplin
reported financial information presented this evening related only to the General Fund.
Council President Renegar explained that each person would have five (5) minutes to speak
and a thirty (30) second warning before their time was up.
• Mark Rhodes, 1583 Upper Kingston, addressed the council regarding agenda item # 4:
Council President Renegar, “Good evening sir.”
Mr. Rhodes, “Good evening. I appreciate your time; I will get right into it. My name is Mark
Rhodes, 1583 Upper Kingston.
Council President Renegar, “Thank you.”
Mr. Rhodes, “I’ve been a fire fighter here for 12 years. I don’t quite understand the change of
all this stuff, so I’m going to go for it and you just shut me up when you need to. Well we are
here to talk about this money that you (the council) are talking about cutting. Mr. Striplin, I
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agree and I understand that a lot of the numbers out there are not solid and all that stuff but
that is not on us (the city employees). We know that you are not offering up to get rid of
firemen and policemen but when you go to these department heads and you tell them they
have X amount of dollars to give, when we have given all that we can give, there is nothing left
for them (Department Heads) to do but take care of employees, get rid of employees. So
saying that you don’t want to get rid of them (employees) is not dismissing that. You are
asking for money that we do not have and when you do that you are putting my life and these
citizen’s lives in jeopardy and that’s a fact. Because I have been to the schools, Chief Brown
has been to the schools and we need these people (employees of the fire and police
departments) and if there has got to be cuts made, that (the fire and police department) is not
the place to do it. If you are talking about $250,000.00 or $500,000.00 in cuts, from Mayor
Gillespie right across this table (the council dais) there is $250,000.00 right there. (applause
from the audience) Don’t take that time away from me (referring to the time it took the
audience to end their applause). And I say that definitely not to get that response but that’s a
fact. I’ve been in the houses, I’ve saved some of the lives, I don’t remember seeing any of y’all(
Mayor and councilmen) next to me, in that building that just burned down. Don’t tell us how
to run a Fire Department. Let that man right there (Chief Brown) do it. He has been to the
schools, we trust him, he knows what he needs to do. You have taken from us all that we can
take. You in the Finance Committee, the arrogance that y’all would not take the time to talk to
me. Mr. Renegar, mainly you. We have meet with this man (Mayor Gillespie) and Human
Resources four times. It has come out of my pocket to pay that attorney (fire union attorney)
to get our money back, and that is a fact. You have taken from us, the firemen on line, more
than anybody in the city. You told us when you made the furlough cuts that you would be
equal across the board. Fact, you didn’t. I have talked to Mayor Gillespie; they (Mayor and
Human Resources) have given the time to talk to us. Mrs. Lisa Thrash has given the time to
talk to us. Mr. Renegar, you wouldn’t give us the time of day. But yet when I had my meeting,
right out there you had the time to come afterwards. That insults me. Because I am a 12 year
city employee, I deserve the right to at least speak to you, thru my chain of command, the
proper way. Yes I am the Union President and we will always take the higher road. But it’s
time for y’all, the seven councilmen, the Mayor, y’all pick up the dime. We don’t have
anything left. That’s about a quarter of a million dollars sitting right up there (council dais). I
ask y’all to not take another paycheck for the rest of your terms and then let the citizen’s vote.
I want to thank our chief, who has worked extremely hard. Thank you Chief Brown. I know he
has got my back. I know he would not put me into a situation to jeopardize my life because
I’ve got a daughter and a wife that I want to go home to. So, when y’all are sitting at home, I
am working and that’s what these signs say. This is not a protest. This is a wakeup call, Let us
help. I am a pretty smart fella. We got a heck of a lot of smart people in the Fire Department.
Y’all might need some help because obviously, we are way in debt. We didn’t do it and don’t
blame it on the economy. We have beaten that horse till its dead. This is the City of Prattville
and you are talking about taking our holidays. You know we don’t believe everything we read
in the paper but the States getting two more (holidays). I think four or five of y’all work for
the state. Y’all are about to get two more holidays and you are taking three away from me.
That’s money, that’s money out of my pocket. I work too hard for it. Please stop and listen to
all of us. That’s enough. Thank you for your time.”
Council President Renegar, “Thank you Mr. Rhodes. Are there any questions from the
council?”
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Councilman Boles, “Mr. Rhodes, thank you. I know it’s not easy doing what you do. I know it’s
not easy standing up here in front of all your peers and I am telling you, before I vote on
laying-off fire and policemen, I will give it up. Okay?”
Mr. Rhodes, “Thank you sir.”
Councilman Boles, “Thank you for all the work you do.”
• Mike Rogers, 1338 Hwy 14 East and 502 Weatherbee Trail, addressed the council
regarding agenda item #4:
Council President Renegar, “Mr. Mike Rogers is next on the list. Mr. Rogers.”
Mr. Rogers, “Thank you for the chance to speak. I’m Mike Rogers I am residing at 3148 Hwy
14 East, that’s just temporary, while I am building my house at 502 Weatherbee Trail. So, uh,
I’m not going to sit here and echo what Mr. Rhodes has already brought up. I think as you see
these people out here, the sentiments are the same. Uh, what I would like to bring up is, I’m
not real sure and clear, why in the City of Prattville, across the state and across the nation,
every time there are talks about being cuts made, they are always in public safety. Maybe, it’s
because we are the highest budget but there is a reason why we are the highest budget
because we are the highly trained. We’re the professionals that serve these citizens out here,
that you see and we serve you as well. I think what the people are tired of is all the political
games that are played and it puts these citizens at risk. It puts me at risk as a fire fighter. You
think it’s bad when you get a call, and I am sorry if there is a Mrs. Smith in the crowd, but
when Mrs. Smith calls because her trash didn’t get picked up on time and you get that call,
wait till you get a call from Mrs. Rogers because her husband was burned in a house fire,
because there wasn’t enough people out in the yard to go in and save him when he got
trapped. Wait till you get that call. There is too many political games that are being played,
and I know for a fact that some of you (council) sitting up there right now, are a little
disappointed and a little mad because that man (Mayor) is sitting right there and some of y’all
aren’t. Well I can tell you the political games because I experienced the political games first
hand, myself this summer. I was disappointed when I wasn’t able to sit right there (points at
Chief Brown) but I don’t get mad about it and I don’t come to work every day trying to
undermine what he is doing. I respect that man, even though I lost to him and every day I
come to work I give him one hundred percent and I give these citizens one hundred percent
and I give you (council) one hundred percent and I give him (Mayor) one hundred percent
because I am a professional and that’s what I do. What we are asking you to do is to do the
same thing. Step up, be a man, quit being mad, give that man one hundred percent, give these
people out here one hundred percent every time you come to work. Show up for council. I
can’t understand, when we picked department heads there was a councilman that wasn’t here
and now we are voting on the budget and there is a councilman that’s not here. I have to sign
a piece of paper, at the fire department, that says, if I work off-time I have to be at work and
they want to know what I am doing in my off-time and I have to be at work. My off-time can’t
interfere with that. I can’t understand why y’all can’t be held to the same standard. Quit
playing the games. If we want to be the Preferred Community then let’s act like the Preferred
Community and that starts with public safety and I think all these people out here will attest
to that. Thank you.”
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• Jason Ogletree, 958 Wright Street, addressed the council regarding agenda item #4.
Council President Renegar, “Next person on the list is Mr. Jason Ogletree. Mr. Ogletree.”
Mr. Ogletree, “Good evening gentlemen. My name is Jason Ogletree. I live at 958 Wright
Street and I am a 16 year of the Prattville Fire Department. I know that most of y’all don’t
know me but Mr. Boles I have grown up with him, so I know him very well. First of all I’d like
to say, I’ve been here thirty five years of my life I’ve spent in Prattville. I have watched this
city grow up, almost double in size and y’all are trying to take away and cut jobs from people.
There’s people out here, we can barely cover the coverage we got right now, with the folks we
got right now, with the folks we got. We are losing folks. We’ve already lost seven this year
and y’all want to take more away, put more citizens at risk, put me at risk, put my family at
risk and we are not going to have it. First of all if y’all think that any one of y’all (council) are
going to be sitting in those chairs come next year, without me doing something about it,
you’re thinking wrong. I will go door to door in every neighborhood that I have to. I will shake
hands. I will talk to every business owner that I know and believe me, I know a lot a people in
this city and I will talk to everybody and I will make sure that, if it’s on my last breath, that
y’all will not sit here, if y’all don’t straighten in up, period. This police department this fire
department, they deserve more respect than that. We have worked too hard to build this
department up, to build this city up, to get it where it is. Y’all live in a safe wonderful city
because of us, not y’all. Y’all can sleep at night because of us, not y’all. And I don’t know the
numbers and I don’t know the money but I know people and I want y’all to act like good
people and stop sitting up there, pretending to be leaders. Be leaders. Thank you.”
• Mark Alford, 1416 Indian Hills Rhode, addressed the council regarding agenda item
#4.
Council President Renegar, “Mr. Mark Alford.
Mr. Alford, “Hello my name is Mark Alford, 1416 Indian Hills Road. I’m just asking y’all if you
would please reconsider laying-off firemen. We are already down; we need anymore, as you
tell from the people here. Enough is enough, so please just reconsider it. There’s other ways of
finagling the money, when it comes down to that. I’m just asking to reconsider please. That’s
all I got.”
Council President Renegar, “Is there any questions for Mr. Alford? Thank you Sir.”
• Jarred Maners, 114 Odell Street, addressed the council regarding agenda item #4.
Council President Renegar, “I cannot read this gentlemen’s last name. Jarred Bowers?
Maners.”
Mr. Maners, “My name is Jarred Maners. I reside at 114 Odell Street. I appreciate y’all’s time.
I just encourage y’all, please reconsider this. Uh, you know, those of us who came up to you
and many of us who came up to you are firemen and not only firemen but also citizens. We’re
citizens that are actually serving the citizens. Okay? Next, you know there’s times I wonder do
you guys (council) actually know what all we do. I know that y’all see and I know that y’all
hear about it. I know that y’all have tons of people calling y’all thanking y’all I have had two
neighbors this week come over to my house to say thank you, the fire department, you guys
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came out a year ago and cut me out of a vehicle when I was hanging on the last string of
death. You cut me out of a vehicle; you got me where I needed to be. You saved my house not
only that you came and performed CPR on my wife. There was nothing that could be done but
you done it with your best ability and all of your ability, even though it was four o’ clock in the
morning. You come out and you did your job. We serve y’all very, very well. We put our lives
on the line daily. If there is any doubt, I encourage y’all, come out, get on a fire truck with us,
get in a police car with us. Come see what is done daily by your Fire, EMS and Police
Departments. I promise you will be ultimately surprised at what a great job they perform. And
I guarantee you it’s stated quite often, we are one of the top in the state. Let’s keep it that way
and the only way we can keep it that way is to keep the numbers we need. Because when you
start pulling numbers you’re going to put my life on the line, you’re going to start putting
these police officers lives on the line and you’re going to start putting my fellow fire fighters
lives on the line. And when you start doing that you not only have unhappy employees at that
point, you’re going to start having unhappy families that are going to start looking at you for
answers when they’re woken up at three in the morning, your husband, your daddy, your son
is not coming home. Thank you.”
Council President Renegar, “Any Questions?”
• Nolan Watkins, 1952 Calumet Parkway, addressed the council regarding agenda item
#4.
Council President Renegar’ “Mr. Nolan Watkins. Mr. Watkins.”
Mr. Watkins, “Good evening councilmen. Good evening Mayor Gillespie. My name is Nolan
Watkins 1952 Calumet Parkway. I live in the Holleybrook subdivision. I work in the Police
Department and I see some of my supervisors going oh lord what’s fixing to come out of his
mouth but I have learned a few things. I’ve been with the Police Department now for about 14
years. When I first started I was gung-ho, ain’t nobody getting out of a speeding ticket, no
matter what. You’re going to jail no matter what. Over the years you learn a few things, you
get a little bit wiser. Not everybody’s got to get a ticket, not everybody’s got to go to jail. You
make those decisions you make wise decisions over time and the same thing goes for the City
Council sometimes. You’ve been here a while you make wise decisions. When you first get
voted on the council you want to go out there, man I’m going to pass everything I’m going to
cut that budget. The thing about it is when you start cutting that budget these faces start
lining up against the wall; they are sitting out here in the crowd. That’s who you’re writing a
ticket to and you don’t have to. At three in the morning it’s raining it’s pouring down and its
twenty degrees outside and everybody’s in bed. Who do you think is out here directing traffic
because the power has gone out? Two o’clock in the afternoon when you got an opossum
running loose in Winn-Dixie and you know I am not lying. Who do you think they call to
come get that opossum out of Winn-Dixie? Or two in the morning when some of these police
are chasing a cat burglar through your front yard while you’re in there sleeping. If we lose
these fire fighters and these police officers that burglar is just going to run through your front
yard and break into your house. If we don’t have the people in the streets that’s going to
continue and over the years Prattville has had the economic gains to provide the citizens with
that luxury to have these fire fighters out here and these police officers in town. When things
started getting hard gentlemen and started taking furloughs and pay cuts, nobody jumped
ship. We had a few that left but for the most part all these guys and all these ladies out here
they stayed. You know why? Because we like working for the City of Prattville, we like working
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for these citizens of Prattville. We might not make everybody happy; I mean that’s not going
to happen, not every day. But the thing about it is these people stayed, that’s because we
believed in you and when it comes down to a situation like this where we may lose 10 of our
brothers and sisters in the police department and as many as 15 in the Fire Department, is the
rumor I’ve heard, not only are you hurting us, its these people sitting out here in the council
chambers that you are hurting, because those police officers aren’t going to be able to chase
that burglar through the front yard. These fire fighters aren’t going to be here when
somebody’s grandma gets hurt and she can’t get up off the bathroom floor. Or when you have
to go out to an elderly female’s house on Durden Road and some of you know who I am
talking about, and make her a peanut butter sandwich and fix her a glass of ice water and put
ice or water back in her fridge or freezer because she has nobody, she has us and that’s what
this job is about. That’s why a lot of people take these jobs because we like Prattville. I mean if
we didn’t we would have left when all the furloughs came but we didn’t. We took it stride. But
the thing about it is, if we lose these fire fighters and police officers the citizens of Prattville
are going to be the ones that are losing out on this. Because we got a bunch of dedicated
people that work for the Fire Department, Police Department, Sanitation. If we lose them the
citizens of Prattville are going to be the ones who are losing out. So, gentlemen, I mean, do
what you got to do. Like I said, when you’re first voted into council you think ah man I’m
going to pass this budget, got to keep the voters happy and stuff like that but the longer you’re
there the wiser decisions you make and gentlemen this is a wise decision that you need to
make; not to cut this budget before we lose these people. Thank you.”
Councilmen Boles, “I’ve known you for a long, long time. We were in high school together. He
(Mr. Watkins) was a couple years older than me and use to pick at me all the time. I think he
even had a crush on my sister at once. But I want to tell you, Amen. Lord knows if they could
have thrown me off this council when I first came on, I believe I would have been booted
immediately because I made some really stupid moves. It’s a growing experience up here and
I really appreciate you pointing that out. That, that was words of wisdom. Thank you.”
• John Lee, 819 Cottage Lane, addressed the council regarding agenda item #4.
Council President Renegar, “Mr. John Lee. Mr. Lee, good evening.”
Mr. Lee, “Good evening. John Lee 819 Cottage Lane. I work with the Prattville Police
Department. Gentlemen, I don’t know how far you want to go with these cuts but I want you
to think about some figures. If you don’t already know it, we already have fewer police officers
per citizen than Montgomery or any of the other area law enforcement agencies. We’re below
the national average. I’m an investigator I talk to other investigators in other departments,
who are in situations you don’t want us to get in. I start following up on suspects and leads
that’s in their jurisdictions and when they find out what kind of case I am working, because
it’s a white collar crime with no violence involved they kind of laugh and I say what’s up.
They say I wish we had time to work cases like that. I said what do you mean. He said when
we get those reports, if there is not a solid lead on the back of those reports, they don’t get
followed up on properly. Because they just don’t have the time. The citizens here deserve the
quality that we are giving them. And we are doing all we can do to keep that quality level
where it’s at and where it’s been. But you can only stretch the rubber band so tight. Now we
are stressed out we are overworked. We got patrol officers who can’t even hardly take
vacation time because there is so much redlining going on because we’re just trying to
maintain the quality we’ve been at. I’ve spoken with the Chief (Chief Huggins), he’s stressing,
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he’s pulling his hair out trying to figure out how we’re going to maintain with what we got
now. That’s not even to consider losing anybody else. Now the Mayor has got a budget
proposed. Pass this man’s budget. He’s got a fair budget. The Mayor understands we didn’t
get here over night and its going to take time to get out. But let’s be patient and stick together
and let’s use common sense. Now, you live in Prattville and you enjoy living in Prattville. I’m
not going to name names of other cities in this area but if you want to go there and you want
Prattville to be there, just march on. But now there is only so far we can go. I love working at
Prattville and the rest of these guys does to. And another thing, these new officers that we got,
these young officers, these are the best officers that I have ever seen, These guys are a lot
sharper than then when I started, I’m telling you they’re a lot better than I was when I started
out. They are more educated and they are fine professionals. They’ve got families, they’ve got
children, they want to stay on here and they are doing a fine job and I want them to stay on
here along with the fire department. We’ve got one of the finest fire departments anywhere
but we don’t have any fat to cut. I mean it’s just the bottom line. I mean we’re not up here
because we got nothing better to do. We’re not up here in front of you guys (council) risking I
hope no retaliation, but sticking our necks out just a shade, if nothing’s going on that’s serious
here. This is serious. That’s all I got, unless y’all got some questions for me.”
Council President Renegar, “Any questions for Mr. Lee? Thank you sir we appreciate you
being here.”
• Josh Brown, 1721 County Road 57, addressed the council regarding agenda item #4.
Council President Renegar, “Mr. Josh Brown. Mr. Josh Brown is coming from the back.”
Mr. Brown, “My name is Josh Brown at 1721 County Road 57. I have been with the Fire
Department for about eighteen years. I chose to come to come to work with the Prattville Fire
Department because it was the best in the state. Simply, that was it. We had our own recruit
schools. We had a good group of firefighters and were highly trained. I want to keep it that
way. That’s it.”
Council President Renegar, “Thank you sir.”
• David Coleman, 527 A West Fourth Street, addressed the council regarding agenda
item #4.
Council President Renegar, “Mr. David Coleman. Is Mr. Coleman here?”
Mr. Coleman, “David Coleman at 526A West 4th Street. Council, Mayor, we can’t balance our
budget just on cuts alone. That’s not going to work in Montgomery, Alabama. That’s not going
to work in Washington, D.C. Sooner or later we are going to wake and up and the citizens will
figure that out. I think we have asked our city employees to share enough of this pain with us.
It’s time some of us are going to have to share some more of the pain. I work out of a paper
mill. We had a 6,000 pound eyebeam about a month ago shifted and fell on one of my fellow
union brothers. It pinned him against a piece of equipment. We got some construction
workers to get a crane and get it off of him. They looked – our paramedics looked at him and
they gave me the call to call Prattville. I called Prattville and within 10 minutes, 5 of the finest
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men with a gurney I have ever seen came rolling in that mill. I don’t know what station they
came from. But, we need them – we need all of them, we need more of them really. So, we are
willing to help y’all pull this great city out of a ditch. We didn’t get here over night. There is no
sense in us beating a dead dog of over-building Prattville and the economy crashed and all of
that stuff. But, I support the Mayor’s budget and I would appreciate it if y’all would give it
some more consideration.”
Council President Renegar, “Any questions or comments for Mr. Coleman? Thank you, sir.”
• Allison Gray, 1698 Old Country Road, addressed the council regarding agenda item #4.
Council President Renegar, “Ms. Allison Gray? Good evening, Ms. Gray.”
Ms. Gray, “Honorable Mayor Gillespie, Mr. President, Member of Council. If I keep on I will
get real good at this. I live at 1698 Old Country Road. There is a lot; the emotions are real high
in here tonight. I did not know all this was going to happen. I am glad that it is, but it is
nothing compared to the emotions seen when the citizens of Prattville realize that they are not
as protected as they think they are. I went to a budget committee meeting – the first one I
have ever attended. It was very informative; I learned a lot. I learned mostly that I didn’t
know very much, but that’s not my job to know that. I need to know it as a citizen. I need to be
informed and I will be. I listened. I have seen Mayor Gillespie’s budget and I am a little
nervous. Can y’all tell I am nervous? I don’t like having to do this. But y’all need to pass that
budget. You need to either pee or get off the pot. I mean enough is enough and you don’t need
to make any cuts to public safety. I have been telling you that for a month now or 6 weeks or 2
months – I don’t remember. You guys need to realize. You know we forget about 911 – we
have all become very complacent and we think it’s never going again. So when we talk about
cutting budgets for public safety I get a little nervous because it could happen again. What’s
going to happen if we don’t have the people trained and in place to take care of whatever we
need taking care of? And like I said, you think these emotions are high in here tonight, you
ain’t seen nothing yet until the citizens find out. When that happens, it’s going to get real
nasty real fast. I would hate to see that happen. Y’all know better than to do this. It is not the
citizens’ fault that this happened – that this budget crisis happened. That makes me more
nervous, but you know guys – y’all were here and it was under your watch. If you have to keep
the 1-cent sales tax for the next 3 to 5 years, I don’t care. Keep it. Do something, but don’t take
any more – not one more dime – out of public safety or public services. It all is all of being
The Preferred Community, which is what we are and why most of us live in Prattville. I don’t
know what else to say to you – I don’t what else to say to get the point across. I have a big
mouth and I can run it really good. Maybe that’s what I need to do. I don’t know. Maybe I
need to buy a house in town and run for City Council. I mean – I am not slamming on any of
y’all – I know most of you; some of you are my friends. But you know it is time; it is time to do
something. It is time to fix it and not on the backs of public safety.”
Council President Renegar, “Thirty seconds remaining.”
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Ms. Allison Gray, “Am I through? I talked that long? I am through.”
• Jose Perez, Hollybrook subdivision, addressed the council regarding agenda item #4.
Council President Renegar, “Mr. Jose Perez, Mr. Perez.”
Mr. Perez, “Jose Perez, I live in Holley Brook subdivision. I’ve got two businesses in Prattville,
one on Highway 14 and the other one on the way to Pine Level.”
Council President Renegar, “Mr. Perez you can move that microphone up if it will make you
more comfortable.”
Mr. Perez, “Can you hear me? Little slow, sometime I forget how to speak English. What I'm
trying to say, the Prattville Police Department and the Fire Department, I've been here since
'96. My business never got robbed yet. We had a fire next to my business not some months
ago, when Marco's burned down, the firemen they came and they turned it off quick. They
saved my business. When I used to be in Montgomery, we got robbed like 4 or 5 times. Thank
God that hasn’t happened in Prattville yet because we have great public safety like the police
department. But, unfortunately, when I have any problem, I can call on the phone, any police
officer, they take time, they listen to me even if they don't care, but they still listen. So, please
let's try to keep what we have. And let's try to work with Bill Gillespie. I mean, when Bill
Gillespie got elected, he came to a big mess. Let's give the man a chance. Thank you.”
• Mickey McDermott, Attorney for Prattville Police Union, addressed the council
regarding agenda item #4.
Council President Renegar, “The last name I have on the list is – may we have a little
attention so I can announce the last name. The last name on this list is Mr. Mickey
McDermott? Mr. Mickey McDermott.”
Mickey McDermott, “Mr. Mayor and Councilmen, thank you for giving me a moment of your
time. As the last speaker, I have a question for you and I have a question for the audience. As
the sign-in sheet indicates, I am the attorney by choice and by blessing for the Prattville Police
Officer’s Association. You might call it in short the Prattville Police Union. (Mr. McDermott
faces the audience.) Those of you who are first responders, I was a first responder. That is
how I worked my way through law school. I took an oath. Did you take an oath?”
Councilman President Renegar, “Mr. McDermott, you need to address the Council, please.”
Mickey McDermott, “I will. Your honor, if I may have a moment of latitude. (Faces the
audience) Ladies and gentlemen – if you took an oath as a police officer, first responder, and
firefighter – you took an oath to protect these men and these citizens with your very lives. I
ask you, if you took that oath, raise your hand and tell me and these, ladies and gentlemen,
would you lay down your life for them? Would you lay down your life for the citizens? Our
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Lord Jesus says that no man has greater love than to lay down his life for another.(Turns to
face the Council) If that’s the case, then your decision is difficult, we understand that. This
night has been long and as the last speaker, I simply want to show you these men and women
are willing to lay down their lives for you. All we are asking is that you balance a budget for
them. Thank you.”
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Mayor Gillespie thanked everyone for coming to the meeting and stated that he valued all
employees. The Mayor thanked all of the departments.
The Mayor looks forward to the Work Session to discuss agenda items #3 and #4.
The Mayor stated that big events such as the ones held at Robert Trent Jones keeps revenue
coming in to the city.
The Mayor stated 1% sales tax increase is something that the city needs to keep.
The Mayor thanked Human Resources for the Benefits and Wellness Fair.
The Mayor stated that the Candy Walk had a great turn out and thanked Patrick White and
Prattville Downtown Unlimited for the equipment used for the Movie Under the Stars.
Over the weekend Prattville held the Fish Fest.
Since September annual personnel cost are down by$469,451.97.
Regarding the Work Session on Tuesday, November 8, 2011; the Mayor wants it to be
recorded and published.
The City Clerk and Assistant City Clerk need to go to election training November 29, 2011
thru December 2, 2011.
The Mayor hopes to put a committee together to evaluate the Recycling Center which costs
the city approximately $10,000.00 to $15,000.00 a year to offer it to the citizens. The Mayor
stated that we need to get more people using it and hope that the council will participate.
Mayor Gillespie spent time at Maxwell Airforce Base and stated that Prattville is blessed to
have the relationship that it does with Maxwell Airforce Base.
The Mayor reminded everyone that Military Appreciation Week is November 6th thru 12th
The Mayor reminded everyone that Veterans Day is November 11th and thanked Council
President Renegar for his service. City Hall will be closed on Veterans Day and garbage will
not run.
Mayor Gillespie recommends the council lower the Mayor’s salary.
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Council President Renegar introduces the Mayor’s wife Stephanie Gillespie.
COUNCIL REPORTS:
Councilman Striplin reported that the Waste Water Committee met last Friday and tentative
budget for the Enterprise Fund was submitted.
Councilman Wood reported that the Finance Committee is working hard not to reduce staff
and to increase revenue.
Council President Renegar reported that the Finance Committee will hold a Work Session on
Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. in the council chambers.
AGENDA
1. RESOLUTION: TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE, EXECUTION, SALE AND
DELIVERY OF $1,500,000.00 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT GENERAL OBLIGATION
NOTE OF THE CITY OF PRATTVILLE AND THE PAYMENT THEREOF.
Council President Pro Tempore Fank advised the council upon legal counsel to vote down this
Resolution because it has already been voted on at the Special Session on Monday, October
31, 2011. There being no further discussion, the Resolution failed with the following results:
AYES : NONE 0
NAYS : STRIPLIN, WOOD, MILLER 6
RENEGAR BOLES, FANK
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : ARGO 1
2. RESOLUTION: TO RE-APPOINT JAMES H. SANFORD TO THE LEGENDS
PARK IMPROVEMENT BOARD.(RESOLUTION BOOK 2011-A PAGE 036)
Council President Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman
Striplin seconded the motion. There being no further discussion, the Resolution was adopted
with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, MILLER, 6
RENEGAR, BOLES, FANK
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : ARGO 1
3. ORDINANCE: TO AMEND CITY CODE DIVISION 2. SALES TAX, SECTION 38-
92 (C) IMPOSITION OF CERTAIN SALES AND USE TAXES.
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Councilman Wood made a motion to adopt and Council President Pro Tempore Fank
seconded the motion. By court order the Resolution was carried over to the November 15,
2011 council meeting.
4. RESOLUTION: TO ADOPT THE CITY OF PRATTVILLE FISCAL YEAR
2011/2012 GENERAL OPERATING FUND BUDGET.
Councilman Miller made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Council President Pro
Tempore Fank seconded the motion. Councilman Wood made a motion to hold the
Resolution and Council President Pro Tempore Fank seconded the motion to hold. There
being no further discussion, the Resolution was held until the November 15, 2011 council
meeting with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, MILLER, 6
RENEGAR, BOLES, FANK
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : ARGO 1
5. RESOLUTION: TO AUTHORIZE THE RELEASE OF FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT
NOT TO EXCEED $1,882.00 TO PURCHASE JERSEYS FROM F & E
SPORTSWEAR FOR THE CITY OF PRATTVILLE ALL-STAR SOCCER TEAMS.
(RESOLUTION BOOK 2011-A PAGE 037)
Councilman Striplin made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman Boles seconded
the motion, Councilman Striplin made a motion to suspend the rules and Councilman Miller
seconded the motion to suspend the rules. The rules were suspended (6-0). There being no
further discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, MILLER, 6
RENEGAR, BOLES, FANK
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : ARGO 1
6. RESOLUTION: TO AUTHORIZE MAYOR TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR
THE CITY OF PRATTVILLE TO REGISTER FOR THE 2012 MUNICIPAL
QUALITY OF LIFE AWARDS.(RESOLUTION BOOK 2011-A PAGE 038)
Councilman Boles made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman Wood seconded
the motion. Councilman Miller asked if this application had to go before council and Mayor
Gillespie responded that yes it was part of the contest rules. There being no further
discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, MILLER, 6
RENEGAR, BOLES, FANK
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
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ABSENT : ARGO 1
7. RESOLUTION: TO AUTHORIZE THE RELEASE OF FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT
NOT TO EXCEED $360.OO TO LEASE PORT- A-LETS FOR THE ALABAMA HIGH
SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS FOR THE MONTH OF
NOVEMBER.
Coucnil President Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman
Boles seconded the motion. Council President Pro Tempore Fank requested that the council
vote the Resolution down because Prattville High School is going to pay for this. Council
President Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to suspend the rules and Councilman Miller
seconded the motion to suspend the rules. Rules were suspended (6-0). There being no
further discussion, the Resolution fails with the following results:
AYES : NONE 0
NAYS : STRIPLIN, WOOD, MILLER, 6
RENEGAR, BOLES, FANK
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : ARGO 1
8. RESOLUTION: TO AUTHORIZE OVERTIME PAY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $479.48 PER PLAYOFF GAME FOR THE PRATTVILLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE EMS COVERAGE FOR ALABAMA HIGH SCHOOL
ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS FOR THE MONTH OF
NOVEMBER.(RESOLUTION BOOK 2011-A PAGE 039)
Council President Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman
Boles seconded the motion. Council President Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to suspend
the rules and Councilman Wood seconded the motion to suspend the rules. Rules were
suspended (6-0). There being no further discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the
following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, MILLER, 6
RENEGAR, BOLES, FANK
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : ARGO 1
9. RESOLUTION: TO AUTHORIZE OVERTIME PAYMENT IN AN AMOUNT NOT
TO EXCEED $205.37 FOR THE PRATTVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR
TRAINING REQUIRED BY THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION.
(RESOLUTION BOOK 2011- A PAGE 040)
Councilman Miller made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman Striplin seconded
the motion. Council President Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to suspend the rules and
Councilman Miller seconded the motion to suspend the rules. Rules were suspended (6-0).
There being no further discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results:
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AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, MILLER, 6
RENEGAR, BOLES, FANK
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : ARGO 1
10. RESOLUTION: TO AUTHORIZE OVERTIME PAYMENT IN AN AMOUNT NOT
TO EXCEED $8,980.64 FOR THE PRATTVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR
ALABAMA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS FOR THE
MONTH OF NOVEMBER AND BIBLICAL WALK. (RESOLUTION BOOK 2011-A
PAGE 041)
Council President Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman
Striplin seconded the motion. Councilman Boles made a motion to suspend the rules and
Councilman Wood seconded the motion to suspend the rules. Rules were suspended (6-0).
There being no further discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, MILLER, 6
RENEGAR, BOLES, FANK
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : ARGO 1
COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT:
Ronnie Brant, 258 Terry Lane, addressed the council regarding the Work Session on Tuesday,
November 8, 2011. Mr. Brant asked if information would be available to the public prior to the
Work Session. Council President Renegar responded that information would be on the city
website.
CLOSING COMMENTS:
The Mayor announced that the Dribblethon would be held at the Marathon gas station on
November 10th, 2011.
The Mayor states that there have been several applications made for parades and fund runs to
the city and there would be a lot of overtime involved. The Mayor would like to see a
committee formed that would evaluate this.
The Mayor hopes to see everyone at the Veterans Day activities.
Councilman Wood encourages Mayor to form a committee to evaluate fun run and parade
applications.
Council President Renegar reminds everyone of the Work Session on Tuesday, November 8,
2011.
ADJOURN:
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There being no further business to come before the council, Council President Pro Tempore
Fank made a motion to adjourn and Councilman Wood seconded the motion. The meeting
adjourned at 8:00p.m.
APPROVED:
___________________________
Jamie F. McClellan
Interim City Clerk
___________________________
Michael E. Renegar, President
Prattville City Council