CC Minutes 2024.01.16
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PRATTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024
6:00 P.M.
The Prattville City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
in the Council Chambers at City Hall. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag,
Councilor Chambers gave the invocation. Roll was called with all Councilors recorded as
present with the exception of Councilor Striplin. Council President Boone declared a quorum
and called the meeting to order.
THE CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE MONTH IS INITIATIVE… Recognizing and doing what
needs to be done before I am asked to do it.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Public Hearing and City Council Meeting January 2, 2024. Council
President Pro Tempore Strichik made a motion to adopt the minutes and Councilor Merrick
seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the minutes were adopted (5-0).
COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT REGARDING TONIGHT’S AGENDA:
Jon Lee Finnegan, 211 Deer Trace, spoke on Agenda Item 4 with concerns of budgeted funds
and City priorities.
Gerald Cimis, 141 N. Chestnut St., spoke on Agenda Item 1 debating the legality of offering
benefits to specified individuals.
Councilor Jackson questioned the best way to resolve the situation so that City would not be
liable if determined to be illegal.
Council President Boone stated the funds associated with these contracts were reviewed and
passed by the Council when the budget was passed and this was a housekeeping matter to
reiterate what was already passed of the Council.
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Mayor Gillespie opened his report complimenting City staff and teams for their response to the
recent weather events stating several areas were impacted with flooding. The Mayor went on
to state that several areas fared better than they have in the past citing the Councils approval
of projects such as Washington Street, Selma Highway and Thomas Avenue.
Mayor Gillespie commented on the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and invited everyone to take
the time to visit the 7th Street Historical Marker. The Mayor continued by reporting the City did
not receive the Community Development Block Grant applied for to assist with addressing
drainage issues in the Bent Tree Road area. Mayor Gillespie continued by commenting on the
upcoming Economic Development Association of Alabama Winter Conference.
In closing Mayor Gillespie announced the Public Safety Building will serve as a warming center
from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. and asked everyone to prepare and take precautions to avoid
busted pipes.
FROM COUNCIL ON SPECIAL COMMITTEES:
None.
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REPORT ON THE STATUS OF CITY FINANCES:
Finance Director Daniel Oakley provided the following report on City Finances for December
2023.
• General Fund Revenue Report
o $4,648,100.93 – total revenue collected in December
o $10,842,480.12 – total revenue collected fiscal year to date
• Tax Breakdown Comparison Report
o $3,643,810.01 – tax revenue collected in December
o 6.29% - increase over December 2022
• General Fund Expenditures Report
o 25.00% - portion of fiscal year completed
o 23.45% - portion of budgeted expenditures incurred to date
• Wastewater Fund Income Statement
o $288,770.54 – net income from operations for December
o 25.00% - portion of fiscal year completed
o 23.62% - portion of budgeted expenses incurred to date (excludes capital
projects & debt service)
• Sanitation Fund Income Statement
o ($5,967.53) – net loss for December
o 25.00% - portion of fiscal year completed
o 28.11% - portion of budgeted expenses incurred to date
• Judicial Fund Income Statement – The quarterly Metro Jail payment was made during
this month but $200,000 of the budgeted General Fund money was transferred so it
offset the payment.
o $17,619.60 – net income for December
o 25.00% - portion of fiscal year completed
o 25.08% - portion of budgeted expenditures incurred to date
• Gas Tax Special Revenue Fund Income Statement
o $93,661.53– Revenue collected fiscal year to date
• Capital Projects Fund Income Statement
o $3,998,247.77 – Total project and debt service expenses incurred to date
o Current Projects: Also included Thomas Ave Drainage and Industrial Access
Roads in South Industrial Park projects
▪ McQueen Smith Road Expansion
▪ Bridge Street Sidewalks
▪ East Main Street Sidewalks
▪ Stanley Jensen Stadium Renovations
▪ Pratt Park Renovations
▪ Newton Park Renovations
▪ Engineering Building
▪ Bank Building Renovations
▪ Public Safety Training Facility
• Group Health Fund Income Statement
o $314,670.26 – net income to date
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• Parks and Recreation
o $128,237.84 - total revenue collected fiscal year to date
o 25.00% - portion of fiscal year completed
o 15.04% of budgeted revenue earned to date
• Bank Balances Report
o $53,551,302.80 – total of all bank balances at the end of December
• Accounts Payable & Debt Balances Report
o $57,004,338.97 – total debt balance city-wide at end of December
o $24,195,088.97 – total non-enterprise fund debt at end of December
CONSENT AGENDA
1. RESOLUTION: To Appoint Election Officials for the 2024 Special Election for Councilor of
District 5. {Sponsored By: Council President Boone}
2. RESOLUTION: To Ratify and Affirm Agreements with the City Attorneys, Municipal Court
Judge and City Prosecutor. {Sponsored By: Council President Boone}
Council President Pro Tempore Strichik made a motion to place Items 1-2 on a Consent
Agenda and Councilor Merrick seconded the motion. Councilor Merrick made a motion to adopt
the Consent Agenda and Council President Pro Tempore Strichik seconded the motion.
Councilor Jackson inquired about removing Item 2 from the Consent Agenda. Council
President Boone inquired of City Attorney Andrew Odom on the procedures for removing items
from the Consent Agenda. Mr. Odom advised this did not require a formal motion that if any
member objected to an item being on the Consent Agenda, it would automatically go to the first
regular agenda item. With Item 2 being moved to the Regular Agenda, Councilor Jackson made
a motion to place Item 1 on the Consent Agenda and Council President Pro Tempore Strichik
seconded the motion. This item was placed on a Consent Agenda (5-0).
There being no discussion, the Consent Agenda was adopted with the following results:
AYES : JACKSON, CHAMBERS,
MERRICK, STRICHIK, BOONE 5
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : STRIPLIN
AGENDA
1. RESOLUTION: To Ratify and Affirm Agreements with the City Attorneys, Municipal Court
Judge and City Prosecutor. {Sponsored By: Council President Boone} (Moved from Consent
Agenda Item 2)
Council President Pro Tempore Strichik made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor
Chambers seconded the motion.
Councilor Jackson made a motion to table the resolution until clarification could be obtained
about the legality of actions. The motion to table failed without a second.
There being no further discussion, the original Resolution was adopted with the following
results:
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AYES : CHAMBERS, MERRICK, STRICHIK, BOONE 4
NAYS : JACKSON 1
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : STRIPLIN
2. RESOLUTION: To Award Bid No. 023-020 to Smitherman Brothers Construction Company,
Inc. for Sidewalk Improvements Along Old Ridge Road, Old Farm Lane & Boardroom Drive,
Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) Project No. TAPAA-TA23(923), for the
Engineering Department at a Cost Not to Exceed $679,580.00 (Net Cost to City Not to Exceed
$135,916.00). {Sponsored By: Councilor Jackson}
Councilor Jackson made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Chambers seconded
the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results:
AYES : JACKSON, CHAMBERS,
MERRICK, STRICHIK, BOONE 5
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : STRIPLIN
3. RESOLUTION: To Authorize the Mayor to Enter into an Agreement with Civil Southeast,
LLC for Construction Engineering and Inspection Services for Sidewalk Improvements Along
Old Ridge Road, Old Farm Lane & Boardroom Drive, Alabama Department of Transportation
(ALDOT) Project No. TAPAA-TA23(923) for the Engineering Department at a Cost Not to
Exceed $101,937.00 (Net Cost to City Not to Exceed $20,387.40). {Sponsored By: Councilor
Jackson}
Councilor Jackson made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Merrick seconded the
motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results:
AYES : JACKSON, CHAMBERS,
MERRICK, STRICHIK, BOONE 5
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : STRIPLIN
4. RESOLUTION: To Authorize the Mayor to Enter into an Agreement with PWBA Architects,
Inc. for Architectural and Engineering Services for the Information Technology, Economic
Development and Public Facilities Project at 124 W. Main Street for the Executive Department
at a Cost Not to Exceed $75,040.00. {Sponsored By: Council President Boone}
Councilor Chambers made a motion to adopt the resolution and Council President Pro
Tempore Strichik seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was
adopted with the following results:
AYES : JACKSON, CHAMBERS,
MERRICK, STRICHIK, BOONE 5
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : STRIPLIN
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5. RESOLUTION: To Authorize the Mayor to Enter into an Agreement with Alabama Bass Trail
to Host an Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series Divisional on May 11, 2024, at a Cost Not
to Exceed $8,500.00. {Sponsored By: Council President Pro Tempore Strichik}
Council President Pro Tempore Strichik made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor
Merrick seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the
following results:
AYES : JACKSON, CHAMBERS,
MERRICK, STRICHIK, BOONE 5
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : STRIPLIN
COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT:
Jon Lee Finnegan, 211 Deer Trace, spoke concerning committee meeting schedules conflicting
with other meetings and certain board meetings being recorded.
Christina Garner, 1608 Trolley Road, spoke on the library vacancies, the Open Meetings Act,
accountability, and vetting candidates.
Barbara Robinson, 123 White Oak Court, thanked the Mayor and Council for work done at
North Highland Park and invited them to a senior citizens event on June 1, 2024.
CLOSING COMMENTS:
None
Council President Boone advised the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting would be
held Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
ADJOURN:
There being no further business to come before the Council, Council President Pro Tempore
Strichik made a motion to adjourn and Councilor Merrick seconded the motion. The meeting
adjourned at 6:58 p.m. (5-0)
APPROVED:
Paula G. Barlow
City Clerk
Lora Lee Boone, President
Prattville City Council
SUBMITTED BY:
Loucretia Harrell
Assistant City Clerk