2025.01.07 CC Minutes
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PRATTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY JANUARY 7, 2025
The Prattville City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 6:05 p.m. in
the Council Chambers at City Hall. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag,
Councilor Sanders gave the invocation. Roll was called with all Councilors recorded as present
with the exception of Councilor Chambers. Council President Boone declared a quorum and
called the meeting to order.
THE CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE MONTH IS WISDOM: Seeing and responding to life
situations from a perspective that transcends current circumstances.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Public Hearing and City Council Meeting, December 17, 2024.
Council President Pro Tempore Strichik made a motion to adopt the minutes and Councilor
Jackson seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the minutes were adopted (6-0).
COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT REGARDING TONIGHT’S AGENDA:
NONE
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Mayor Gillespie opened his report by stating he hoped everyone enjoyed the holidays and had
a Happy New Year. The Mayor noted this was the fifth year in this quadrennium and that a lot
had been accomplished but more work was still to be done. Mayor Gillespie discussed the
Rebuild Alabama Act report given to Councilors noting the 2024 monies spent using Gas Tax
Receipts were on the Doster Road and Lower Kingston Road paving projects.
Mayor Gillespie gave an update on the dilapidated structure at 106 7 th Street advising the
Robinsons submitted a detailed scope of work which the Planning Director adv ised was
satisfactory. The Mayor advised that the Robinson’s attorney should be submitting a plan to
the City Attorney for Council approval.
Mayor Gillespie gave a project update on the Fairview Avenue project stating it was slow
progress but hopefully, since the holidays were over there would be more progress coming.
The Mayor gave an update on the Library building’s structural issue advising they have been
given an estimate of over $500,000.00 to stabilize the building. Mayor Gillespie advised the re
have been discussions with the Autauga County School Superintendent about a possible
temporary location for the library until a decision could be made on the building.
Mayor Gillespie cautioned everyone to be weather aware of the incoming potential for the
winter weather stating the Engineering Department has a sand spreader that will be utilized if
needed on the bridges and roadways.
Mayor Gillespie noted this would be the last City Council meeting in the current Council
Chambers, due to the upcoming renovations, with the next meeting to be held across the street
on the 2nd floor at 124 W. Main Street. The Mayor also noted this was the last meeting for City
Planner Scott Stephens as he is leaving to pursue other endeavors. Mr. Stephens thanked the
Mayor and Council for the opportunities afforded to him while working with the City of Prattville.
Mr. Stephens also thanked his fellow Department Heads, employees, the citizens of Prattville,
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as well as, the various boards, commissions and volunteers that serve noting Prattville was a
great City with many passionate people.
Mayor Gillespie closed his report by noting that a lot had been accomplished over the last year
or so and that the working relationship between the elected bodies and the Board of Education
is better now than he has seen during his tenure with the City.
COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL ON SPECIAL COMMITTEES:
Councilor Merrick advised the Public Works, Urban Management and Cemetery Committee
met on December 19, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers where an update was given
on the Columbarium placements and the Draft Cemetery Policy was reviewed.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. RESOLUTION: To Grant a Restaurant Retail Liquor License to Taqueria La Parroquia LLC
d/b/a Taqueria La Parroquia. {Sponsored By: Councilor Chambers}
RESOLUTION BOOK 2025, PAGE 001
2. RESOLUTION: To Declare the Garbage and Rubbish at 106 Buckner Street a Public
Nuisance and Authorize the Mayor to Abate and Charge Any Incurred Expenses Pursuant to
Chapter 46 et seq., City of Prattville Code of Ordinances. {Sponsored By: Councilor Whaley}
RESOLUTION BOOK 2025, PAGE 002
3. RESOLUTION: To Declare the Garbage and Rubbish at 629 Lower Kingston Road a Public
Nuisance and Authorize the Mayor to Abate and Charge Any Incurred Expenses Pursuant to
Chapter 46 et seq., City of Prattville Code of Ordinances. {Sponsored By: Councilor Whaley}
RESOLUTION BOOK 2025, PAGE 003
4. RESOLUTION: To Declare the Garbage and Rubbish at 325 Festival Drive a Public
Nuisance and Authorize the Mayor to Abate and Charge Any Incurred Expenses Pursuant to
Chapter 46 et seq., City of Prattville Code of Ordinances. {Sponsored By: Councilor Whaley}
RESOLUTION BOOK 2025, PAGE 004
5. RESOLUTION: To Declare the Garbage and Rubbish at 502 W. 4th Street a Public Nuisance
and Authorize the Mayor to Abate and Charge Any Incurred Expenses Pursuant to Chapter 46
et seq., City of Prattville Code of Ordinances. {Sponsored By: Councilor Whaley}
RESOLUTION BOOK 2025, PAGE 005
Councilor Jackson made a motion to place item numbers 1-5 on a Consent Agenda and
Councilor Whaley seconded the motion. The items were placed on a Consent Agenda (6-0).
Councilor Merrick made a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda and Councilor Jackson
seconded the motion.
There being no discussion, the Consent Agenda was adopted with the following results:
AYES : SANDERS, JACKSON, MERRICK,
WHALEY, STRICHIK, BOONE 6
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : CHAMBERS
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AGENDA
1. ORDINANCE: To Rezone Property Located Inside the Corporate Limits on Fairview Avenue
from R-2 (Single Family Residential) to INST (Institutional) and R-3 (Single Family Residential)
(Petitioner: Barrett-Simpson, Inc). {Sponsored By: Council President Pro Tempore Strichik}
ORDINANCE BOOK 2025, PAGE 001
This ordinance was introduced on December 3, 2024, by Council President Pro Tempore
Strichik and seconded by Councilor Whaley. This ordinance now being properly before the
Council, Council President Boone opened the floor for discussion.
There being no discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following results:
AYES : SANDERS, JACKSON, MERRICK,
WHALEY, STRICHIK, BOONE 6
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : CHAMBERS
2. ORDINANCE: To Rezone Property Located Inside the Corporate Limits at 879 Washington
Ferry Road from B-2 (General Business District) and R-2 (Single Family Residential) to INST
(Institutional) (Petitioner: First Pentecostal Church). {Sponsored By: Council President Boone}
ORDINANCE BOOK 2025, PAGE 002
This ordinance was introduced on December 3, 2024, by Councilor Whaley and seconded by
Councilor Jackson. This ordinance now being properly before the Council, Council President
Boone opened the floor for discussion.
There being no discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following results:
AYES : SANDERS, JACKSON, MERRICK,
WHALEY, STRICHIK, BOONE 6
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : CHAMBERS
3. ORDINANCE: To Rezone Property Located Inside the Corporate Limits West of Rocky
Mount Road and East of Magnolia Ridge from FAR (Forest, Agricultural, Recreation) to R -3
(Single Family Residential) and B-2 (General Business) (Petitioner: Jim Mathews). {Sponsored
By: Councilor Whaley}
ORDINANCE BOOK 2025, PAGE 003
This ordinance was introduced on December 3, 2024, by Councilor Whaley and seconded by
Council President Pro Tempore Strichik. This ordinance now being properly before the Council,
Council President Boone opened the floor for discussion.
There being no discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following results:
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AYES : SANDERS, JACKSON, MERRICK,
WHALEY, STRICHIK, BOONE 6
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : CHAMBERS
4. RESOLUTION: To Amend the FY2025 Budget and Ratify and Affirm the Purchase of Two
(2) Liebert Air Conditioning Cabinets for the Backup Servers for the Information Technology
Department at a Cost Not to Exceed $130,707.92. {Sponsored By: Council President Pro
Tempore Strichik}
RESOLUTION BOOK 2025, PAGE 006
Council President Pro Tempore Strichik made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor
Jackson seconded the motion. Council President Boone opened the floor for discussion.
There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results:
AYES : SANDERS, JACKSON, MERRICK,
WHALEY, STRICHIK, BOONE 6
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : CHAMBERS
5. ORDINANCE: To Repeal City of Prattville Code of Ordinances Chapter 14 – Cemeteries in
its Entirety and Replace with Chapter 14 – City Cemeteries, Sections 14.1 through 14.11,
Inclusive. {Sponsored By: Councilor Merrick}
ORDINANCE BOOK 2025, PAGE 004
Councilor Merrick made a motion to adopt the ordinance and Councilor Jackson seconded the
motion. By Point-of-Order, it is necessary that Council rules be suspended if immediate action
is to be considered. Councilor Jackson made a motion to suspend the rules and Councilor
Whaley seconded the motion. There being no discussion, Counc il President Boone ordered a
Roll Call Vote for the suspension of rules.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
Councilor Sanders Aye
Councilor Jackson Aye
Councilor Merrick Aye
Councilor Whaley Aye
Councilor Strichik Aye
Councilor Boone Aye
The rules were suspended (6-0).
The ordinance now being properly before the Council, Council President Boone invited
questions and comments from the Council. There being no discussion, the Ordinance was
adopted with the following results:
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AYES : SANDERS, JACKSON, MERRICK,
WHALEY, STRICHIK, BOONE 6
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : CHAMBERS
6. RESOLUTION: To Set a Public Hearing to Pre-Zone Property Outside the Corporate Limits
Located at 1301 and 1315 Upper Kingston Road, Prattville, AL to INST (Institutional)
(Petitioner: Autauga County Board of Education). {Sponsored By: Councilor Sanders}
RESOLUTION BOOK 2025, PAGE 007
Councilor Sanders made a motion to adopt the resolution and Council President Pro Tempore
Strichik seconded the motion. Council President Boone opened the floor for discussion.
There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results:
AYES : SANDERS, JACKSON, MERRICK,
WHALEY, STRICHIK, BOONE 6
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : CHAMBERS
Councilor Sanders read in the ordinance and made a motion to adopt and Councilor Council
President Pro Tempore Strichik seconded the motion. By Point-of-Order, the ordinance was
held until after the Public Hearing on February 4, 2025.
7. ORDINANCE: Petition for Annexation of 1301 and 1315 Upper Kingston Road, Prattville, AL
(Petitioner: Autauga County Board of Education). {Sponsored By: Councilor Sanders}
HELD UNTIL 2.4.2025
Councilor Sanders made a motion to adopt the ordinance and Councilor Jackson seconded
the motion.
Councilor Sanders made a motion to postpone the Ordinance until after the pre -zoning public
hearing on February 4, 2025, and Councilor Jackson seconded the motion.
Councilor Jackson asked Council President Boone to clarify the reasoning for the
postponement.
Council President Boone advised this was a procedural measure and that the pre-zoning of the
property needed to occur before the property was annexed into the Corporate Limits.
There being no further discussion, the motion to postpone until February 4, 2025, passed with
the following results:
AYES : SANDERS, JACKSON, MERRICK,
WHALEY, STRICHIK, BOONE 6
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
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ABSENT : CHAMBERS
8. RESOLUTION: To Authorize the Mayor to Enter into an Agreement with Krebs Engineering,
Inc. for Engineering Services for Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) Project No.
STPMN-0124(251); CPMS Ref# 100077721 & 100077717, for the Resurfacing and Traffic
Striping on Gardner Road from Upper Kingston Road to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive at a Total
Cost Not to Exceed $47,266.00 (Net Cost to City Not to Exceed $9,453.20). {Sponsored By:
Councilor Jackson}
RESOLUTION BOOK 2025, PAGE 008
Councilor Jackson made a motion to adopt the resolution and Councilor Sanders seconded the
motion. Council President Boone opened the floor for discussion.
There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results:
AYES : SANDERS, JACKSON, MERRICK,
WHALEY, STRICHIK, BOONE 6
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : CHAMBERS
COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT:
Karen Cooper, 804 Cobblestone Curve, spoke on an article from Sean of the South on libraries
and encouraged the Council to do a formal financial audit of the library.
Ell White, II, 621 W. 4th Street, spoke on the discharging of weapons in the Corporate Limits
and making a police report. Mayor Gillespie inquired if Mr. White physically witnessed the
offense inside the Corporate Limits and inquired if could he identify offenders for prosecution.
Mr. White advised he could hear the discharging from his residence.
Barbara Robinson, 123 Whiteoak Court, stated she hoped everyone had a Happy New Year,
thanked the Council for the sidewalks on Court Street, inquired about the progress of North
Highland Park and invited all to a celebration honoring her at North Highland Park on February
15, 2025. Mayor Gillespie advised they are waiting on an engineer’s report for North Highland
Park which is expected by the end of the week.
Councilor Merrick inquired about North Highland Senior Day and Ms. Robinson advised it would
be the first Saturday in June.
CLOSING COMMENTS:
Council President Boone thanked Planning Director Scott Stephens for his service to the City
and wished him well in his future endeavors and reminded everyone that starting January 21,
2025, the City Council meetings would be temporarily located across the street at 124 W. Main
Street on the 2nd floor while the Council Chambers are being renovated.
ADJOURN:
There being no further business to come before the Council, Councilor Merrick made a motion
to adjourn and Councilor Jackson seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
(6-0)
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APPROVED:
Paula G. Barlow
City Clerk
Lora Lee Boone, President
Prattville City Council