Minutes 2020-11-03
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PRATTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2020
6:04 P.M.
The Prattville City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, at 6:04 p.m.
in the Council Chambers at City Hall. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag,
Council President Pro Tempore Boone gave the invocation. Roll was called and all Councilors
were present.
THE CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE MONTH IS HOSPITALITY: Cheerfully sharing food,
shelter and friendship with others.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Work Session October 15, 2020; Public Hearing October 15, 2020;
Public Hearing and City Council Meeting October 20, 2020.
Councilor Strichik made a motion to adopt the minutes and Councilor Chambers 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 requested a Point of Privilege. Chris Neuenschwander, representing Jackson
Thornton, gave an overview of the Financial Audit. Jackson Thornton issued a clean audit
opinion for fiscal year ending September 30, 2019. Mr. Neuenschwander provided the following
highlights:
• The City improved its net position by a little over $13 million for the year.
• The City has approximately $141 million in total assets.
• Long term debt is the largest liability at approximately $52 million. The City reduced that
debt once again in 2019.
• Another large liability is a pension liability, which is 77% funded.
• Public Safety is the largest expenditure for the City.
• City beat the budget in both revenue and expenses.
The Mayor thanked the Engineering Department for their hard work in responding to numerous
calls after Hurricane Zetta.
The citizens of Prattville have shown a great deal of hospitality to those affected by the recent
apartment fire and the hurricane.
The Mayor thanked his Executive Assistant, Lisa Byrd for a successful 2nd Annual Parade of
Pumpkins. Events like this have put Prattville “on the map”.
Bridge Street will be closed soon for the upcoming Christmas transformation.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive has been paved.
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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: Council President
Starnes)
RESOLUTION BOOK 2020-A, PAGE 173
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: Council President Starnes)
RESOLUTION BOOK 2020-A, PAGE 174
3. RESOLUTION: To Re-Appoint Steve Burton to the Autauga-Prattville Public Library Board.
(Sponsored By: Councilor Striplin)
RESOLUTION BOOK 2020-A, PAGE 175
4. RESOLUTION: To Authorize Civil Southeast, LLC to Make Application to the Alabama
Department of Transportation (ALDOT) for Roadway Improvements. (Sponsored By: Councilor
Strichik)
RESOLUTION BOOK 2020-A, PAGE 176
5. RESOLUTION: To Authorize the Mayor to Enter into an Agreement for Certified Local
Government Program with the Alabama Historical Commission. (Sponsored By: Councilor
Striplin)
RESOLUTION BOOK 2020-A, PAGE 177
Councilor Strichik made a motion to place items #1-5 on a Consent Agenda and Councilor
Jackson seconded the motion. The items were placed on a Consent Agenda (7-0). Councilor
Striplin made a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda and Councilor Chambers seconded the
motion. There being no discussion, the Consent Agenda was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS,
STARNES, GORNTO, STRICHIK,
BOONE 7
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE
AGENDA
1. RESOLUTION: To Grant a Restaurant Retail Liquor License to Healthy Me, LLC d/b/a Bella
Vista by the Creek. (Sponsored By: Council President Starnes)
RESOLUTION BOOK 2020-A, PAGE 178
Councilor Strichik made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Jackson seconded the
motion. There being no discussion, the resolution was adopted with the following results:
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AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS,
STARNES, GORNTO, STRICHIK,
BOONE 7
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE
2. RESOLUTION: To Grant a Lounge Retail Liquor - Class II (Package) License for Sunday,
Inc. d/b/a Jacks Liquor and Tobacco Outlet. (Sponsored By: Council President Starnes)
HELD FROM OCTOBER 6, 2020
HELD FROM AUGUST 18, 2020
HELD UNTIL LEGAL MATTER RESOLVED
Councilor Strichik made a motion to hold the resolution until legal matters regarding the
applicant were resolved and Councilor Chambers seconded the motion. There being no
discussion, the resolution was held with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS,
STARNES, GORNTO, STRICHIK,
BOONE 7
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE
3. RESOLUTION: To Declare the City of Prattville to be a Safe City for Preborn Children and
Urging the Citizens of Prattville to Promote and Defend the Inalienable Right to Life and the
Inherent Dignity of All Innocent Human Beings at Every Stage of Development. (Sponsored
By: Council President Pro Tempore Boone)
RESOLUTION BOOK 2020-A, PAGE 179
Council President Pro Tempore Boone made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor
Gornto seconded the motion. Council President Pro Tempore Boone shared that she has
received negative feed back from one individual regarding this resolution and positive feedback
from numerous others. Councilor Boone has two sons which resulted from unplanned
pregnancies, and both children are in support of this resolution and their mother. Councilor
Boone asked all in attendance who were in support of the resolution to please stand. Councilor
Strichik asked if any other cities have adopted similar resolutions. Councilor Boone responded
that Prattville would be the first city in the State of Alabama to do so. There being no further
discussion, the resolution was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, CHAMBERS, STARNES,
GORNTO, STRICHIK, BOONE 6
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : JACKSON 1
ABSENT : NONE
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4. RESOLUTION: To Award Bid No. 020-013 to Clements Dean Building Company, LLC for
the Mac Gray Park 2020 Improvements Project for the Parks & Recreation Department at a
Cost Not to Exceed $4,085,573.50. (Sponsored By: Councilor Boone)
RESOLUTION BOOK 2020-A, PAGE 180
Council President Pro Tempore Boone made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor
Jackson seconded the motion. Councilor Striplin asked which budget year the funds would be
approved from. Finance Director Daniel Oakley responded that they would come from fiscal
year 2021. Councilor Striplin asked how they could legally spend money out of a budget that
has not been presented to the Council. He added that every department is waiting to know
what their budget will look like, and it seems that this is a shortcut for one department. Mr.
Oakley explained that the funding would come from Lodging Fees, and that the funds have
been earmarked to pay debt services for this project, concluding that he is comfortable moving
forward. Mayor Gillespie added that the Sports Committee feels that softball is the best way to
bring in revenue. Councilor Strichik asked when the projected completion date for this project
would be. Parks and Recreation Director Kellie Cook responded that they intend to break
ground December of 2020, and hope to be completed by August of 2021. Council President
Pro Tempore Boone introduced an amendment to the resolution. Councilor Boone made a
motion to amend the resolution and Councilor Strichik seconded the motion. The resolution
was amended (7-0). There being no further discussion, the amended resolution was adopted
with the following results:
AYES : JACKSON, CHAMBERS, STARNES,
GORNTO, STRICHIK, BOONE 6
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : STRIPLIN 1
ABSENT : NONE
5. RESOLUTION: To Authorize the Mayor to Enter into an Agreement with Fontenot Benefits
& Actuarial Consulting for GASB Statement 75 Actuarial Services at a Cost Not to Exceed
$6,000.00. (Sponsored By: Councilor Striplin)
RESOLUTION BOOK 2020-A, PAGE 181
Councilor Striplin made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Strichik seconded the
motion. There being no discussion, the resolution was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS,
STARNES, GORNTO, STRICHIK,
BOONE 7
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE
6. RESOLUTION: To Set a Public Hearing to Pre-Zone Property Located at 1312 Old Ridge
Road to R-3, Single Family Residential. (Owner/Petitioner: Water Works Board of the City of
Prattville). (Sponsored By: Councilor Chambers)
RESOLUTION BOOK 2020-A, PAGE 182
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Councilor Chambers made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Striplin seconded
the motion. There being no discussion, the resolution was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS,
STARNES, GORNTO, STRICHIK,
BOONE 7
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE
Councilor Chambers introduced the ordinance printed in Resolution Book 2020-A, Page 182.
Councilor Chambers made a motion to adopt the ordinance and Councilor Jackson seconded
the motion. By point of order, the ordinance was held until after its public hearing on December
1, 2020.
7. RESOLUTION: To Set a Public Hearing to Pre-Zone Property Located South of Old Ridge
Road and West of Glennbrooke 7 and Known as Glennbrooke 8 to R-3, Single Family
Residential. (Owners/Petitioners: J. Larry and Diane R. Avant). (Sponsored By: Councilor
Chambers)
RESOLUTION BOOK 2020-A, PAGE 183
Councilor Chambers made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Jackson seconded
the motion. There being no discussion, the resolution was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS,
STARNES, GORNTO, STRICHIK,
BOONE 7
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE
Councilor Chambers introduced the ordinance printed in Resolution Book 2020-A, Page 183.
Councilor Chambers made a motion to adopt the ordinance and Councilor Striplin seconded
the motion. By point of order, the ordinance was held until after its public hearing on December
1, 2020.
8. RESOLUTION: To Authorize the Mayor to Enter into a Land Lease Agreement with Verizon
Wireless of the East d/b/a Verizon Wireless for the Installation, Maintenance and Operation of
Communications Equipment at the Property Located on Challenge Avenue in the City of
Prattville Industrial Development Park. (Sponsored By: Council President Pro Tempore Boone)
RESOLUTION BOOK 2020-A, PAGE 184
Council President Pro Tempore Boone made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor
Jackson seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the resolution was adopted with the
following results:
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AYES : STRIPLIN, JACKSON, CHAMBERS,
STARNES, GORNTO, STRICHIK,
BOONE 7
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE
COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT:
Allan Bledsoe, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, expressed appreciation on behalf
of his church and several other churches in the area, for passing the resolution to name
Prattville a safe city for pre-born children. While the resolution does not change the law, it does
send a message. Pastor Bledsoe asked the Council to take the next step to outlaw abortion in
Prattville.
Peyton Hill, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, thanked the Council for passing the resolution
to name Prattville a safe city as well, and for being the first to set the example in the State.
Roger Parks, Senior Pastor, Heritage Baptist Church expressed support on behalf of his church
to the Council for passing the resolution as well.
CLOSING COMMENTS:
Mayor Gillespie was given a point of privilege to present County Commissioner Sid Thompson
with a commendation outlining her many achievements.
Commissioner Thompson thanked the Mayor and stated that it has been an honor to work with
so many great people in the City of Prattville and Autauga County. Prattville is a great place to
live.
Councilor Strichik welcomed Councilor Gornto to the City Council and thanked the Mayor’s
Executive Assistant Lisa Byrd for her vison that made the Parade of Pumpkins a success. He
looks forward to watching Parks and Recreation Director Kellie Cook transform the City for the
Christmas season.
Council President Starnes congratulated Commissioner Thompson and thanked her for her
guidance.
ADJOURN:
There being no further business to come before the council, Councilor Jackson made a motion
to adjourn and Councilor Gornto seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned (7-0) at 7:02
p.m.
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APPROVED:
___________________________
Jamie Clayton
Interim City Clerk
___________________________
Gerald “Jerry” Starnes, President
Prattville City Council