Minutes 2011-07-191
PRATTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2011
6:04 P.M.
The Prattville City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, at 6:04 p.m. in
the Council Chambers at City Hall. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag, Dr.
Rob Couch, Senior Minister of First United Methodist Church, gave the invocation. Roll was
called and all were recorded as being present.
THE CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE MONTH IS THRIFTINESS: Making the best use
of resources.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Public Hearing & City Council meetings July 5, 2011.
Councilman Striplin made the motion to approve the minutes and Councilman Argo seconded
the motion. The minutes were approved (7-0).
COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT REGARDING TONIGHT’S AGENDA:
Jerry Cimis, 141 N. Chestnut Street, Prattville, AL, expressed his concern regarding resolution
number 2 and the unknown of what the new insurance premiums will be, and if the City will
be absorbing any increase. He also addressed resolution number 4, while complementing the
School Crossing Guards and the work that they do, he believes that the Autauga County Board
of Education should share the expense since they have $2.1 million in their unreserved
general fund balance and $9 million in revenues in excess of expenditures as of the end of
May. He stated his belief that the County Board of Education is in much better financial shape
than the City at this point.
John Z. Lee, 819 Cottage Lane, Prattville, AL, an employee with the Prattville Police
Department, spoke on behalf of the Police Department Association and requested council
support of resolution number 2. He stated that since the City is not contributing their
dedicated amount that it is isn’t fair for employees to pay more.
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Mayor Gillespie showed a photo of a portion of the drugs that have been turned in to the
Prattville Police Department involved with the Medication Disposal Program. He reported
that there has been approximately three (3) pounds of pills turned in to the Department.
Mayor Gillespie recognized Special Events Coordinator, Kellie Cook, and all of her hard work
involved with the July 4th festivities, as well as the Prattville Fire Department, Prattville Police
Department, the Department of Leisure Services and the 4th of July Committee.
The Mayor invited everyone to a wreath laying ceremony on Wednesday, July 20th to honor
Daniel Pratt at his gravesite. Refreshments will be served at the Prattaugan Museum
immediately following the ceremony.
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Mayor Gillespie asked the council to hold Resolution number 2 until further information is
available regarding the insurance renewal rates. He stated that all insurance claims have been
paid, even though funding hasn’t been provided as timely as planned. He further stated that
the Insurance Committee had suggested and agreed to a rate increase for calendar years 2011
and 2012.
Mayor Gillespie asked for support of Resolution number 4 for public safety reasons, and also
stated that he would be negotiating with the Autauga County Board of Education to help fund
the employment of School Crossing Guards. The reduction in holidays and leave time will
save approximately $27,000.00 from last year’s budget.
He also asked for support of Resolution number 6 and stated that the Wastewater study could
result in the reduction or elimination of the recently added $10.00 surcharge, and possibly
add a user’s rate. The Mayor reported that the Wastewater Department is barely running in
the black with this increase and funds are needed to maintain the facilities and equipment.
He anticipates the study to bring a reduction in rates for private citizens while potentially
causing an increase in fees for businesses.
Councilman Miller asked the Mayor to look into who performs crossing guard functions in the
county.
Council President Renegar recognized Mr. Richard Dennis, the new Principal at Prattville
High School.
Mr. Dennis thanked the council and invited them to stop and visit and have a cup of coffee
with him. He further stated that as a Prattville resident since 1992 he looks forward to being
more involved with the community.
REPORT ON STATUS OF CITY FINANCES:
Interim Finance Director, Doug Moseley, presented the council with a June Financial Report,
as attached. All tax revenue sources combined, the City is up 8.9% for the year to date. He
reported that interviews had been held with prospective auditors and hoped to have a
resolution on the next agenda to hire an auditing firm.
Councilman Boles asked why the debt service is at 150%.
Mr. Moseley stated that the two bridge loans and use of the City’s line of credit is reflected in
the debt service.
Councilman Argo asked the status of the second bridge loan balance.
Mr. Moseley stated that about $300,000.00 has been paid towards the second bridge loan.
Councilman Miller asked what the balance is in the Healthcare fund. He also asked if the
revenue from the penny sales tax increase was being applied to the city's debt obligations in
addition to existing debt service payments and not being used in place of those payments.
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He said he viewed it like a homeowner's mortgage in which there are monthly payments due
and the funds from the new penny tax should be considered over and beyond those payments
and applied to the debt as if making additional principal payments on the mortgage.
Mr. Moseley reported approximately $36,000.00, and every week between $10,000.00 and
$30,000.00 is being placed into that account to cover claims.
Councilman Striplin asked about the budgeted amount of $49,000.oo for jail rent while
$135,000.00 was spent last year and $128,000.00 has already been spent this year.
Mr. Moseley reported that there are two parts to the jail rent, a fixed rate and a usage rate and
it varies slightly month to month.
Councilman Miller asked if the amnesty program has shown any significant revenue to date.
Municipal Court Magistrate, Charlotte Adair, reported that as of today approximately
$4,000.00 has been paid in the amnesty program, which continues through July 28, 2011.
However, approximately $6,000.00 has been paid through the serving of warrants by the
Prattville Police Department.
Mayor Gillespie stated that there is roughly $800,000.00 outstanding on their books, but
citizens are paying other outstanding debts due to the publicity of the amnesty program.
Councilman Boles questioned if the amount of $29,304,277.34 YTD expenses is correct.
Mr. Moseley assured him that it was.
Councilman Boles expressed his satisfaction with the current expenses compared to
$35,000,000.00 last year.
COUNCIL REPORTS:
Councilman Argo, Wastewater Committee chair, asked for support of agenda item number 6
and clarified that the time frame for the study to be completed is within 90 days of signing the
contract. The Wastewater Committee unanimously recommends adoption of this Resolution.
He also reported that the current study being done by Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood is well in
progress. GM&C has met with Interim Wastewater Director and other Wastewater staff on
four separate occasions and they are looking extensively into the collection system.
Councilman Argo reported that the Wastewater Committee would be meeting with
Wastewater staff along with Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood regarding the capital needs
assessment within the next week at a Wastewater facility. Mr. Argo also reported that the
Redistricting Committee has met with City Planner, Joel Duke, and that they are finalizing a
draft proposal to be brought before the council body. The Committee still plans on scheduling
another public hearing by the end of August, and to be adopted in September.
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AGENDA
1. RESOLUTION: TO DECLARE VARIOUS WEEDED LOTS TO BE A PUBLIC
NUISANCE AND ORDERING THEIR ABATEMENT PER TITLE 11, CHAPTER 67
OF THE CODE OF ALABAMA, 1975, AS AMENDED. (RESOLUTION BOOK 2011,
PAGE 119)
Council President Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman
Argo seconded the motion. Councilman Miller questioned City Planner, Joel Duke, about the
USA Travel Center located at the corner of E. Main Street and Greystone Way. The grass has
been cut but the trash receptacles are still running over onto the ground and there’s broken
glass in the lot. Councilman Miller encouraged Mr. Duke to continue to look for ways to
expedite the process of repeat offenders. Mr. Duke reported that the City is pursuing the USA
Travel Center as a dilapidated property. He further stated that the repeat offenders are
pursued through a dual process of the Council’s resolution and to get them into Municipal
Court. There being no further discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following
results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, ARGO,
MILLER, RENEGAR, BOLES, FANK 7
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE 0
2. RESOLUTION: TO DECLARE A FREEZE ON EMPLOYEE HEALTHCARE
PREMIUM CONTRIBUTIONS.
Council President Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman
Argo seconded the motion. Council President Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to hold this
item until the first meeting in September to allow for the policy renewal amount. Councilman
Miller seconded the motion to hold. There being no further discussion, the Resolution was
held with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, ARGO,
MILLER, RENEGAR, BOLES, FANK 7
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE 0
3. ORDINANCE: TO AMEND ORDINANCE BOOK 2011, PAGE 022: ARTICLE II
BUILDING CODE, SEC. 105-24. AMENDMENTS. (ORDINANCE BOOK 2011,
PAGE 023)
Council President Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to adopt the Ordinance and Councilman
Argo seconded the motion. Because Ordinances are generally held for 2 weeks, it is necessary
for the council rules to be suspended if immediate action is to be considered. Councilman
Argo stated that this amendment is to make further clarification of the Ordinance which was
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adopted at the last meeting. Fire Marshall, Dallis Johnson, has been coordinating with all of
those concerned and Councilman Argo encouraged support of this Ordinance. Councilman
Argo made a motion to suspend the rules and Councilman Wood seconded the motion. The
rules were suspended (7-0). There being no further discussion, the Ordinance was adopted
with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, ARGO,
MILLER, RENEGAR, BOLES, FANK 7
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE 0
4. RESOLUTION: TO REGULATE EMPLOYMENT OF SCHOOL CROSSING
GUARDS AND AUTHORIZE THE HIRING OF NINETEEN (19) CROSSING
GUARDS FOR THE 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR. (RESOLUTION BOOK 2011, PAGE
120)
Council President Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman
Striplin seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the
following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, ARGO,
MILLER, RENEGAR, BOLES, FANK 7
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE 0
5. RESOLUTION: TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING TO DECLARE VARIOUS
WEEDED LOTS TO BE A PUBLIC NUISANCE AND ORDERING THEIR
ABATEMENT PER TITLE 11, CHAPTER 67 OF THE CODE OF ALABAMA, 1975,
AS AMENDED. (RESOLUTION BOOK 2011, PAGE 121)
Council President Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman
Wood seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the
following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, ARGO,
MILLER, RENEGAR, BOLES, FANK 7
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE 0
Prattville Municipal Code, Article II, City Council, Sec. 2-66, Lying over of expenditures
specifies that all ordinances, resolutions or propositions submitted to the council which
require the expenditure of money shall lie over until the next meeting; provided further, that
this rule shall not apply to the current expenses of, or contracts previously made with, or
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regular salaries of officers, or wages of employees of the city. Therefore, it is necessary to
suspend the rules on agenda item number 6.
6. RESOLUTION: TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT
FOR SERVICES WITH JACKSON THORNTON UTILITIES CONSULTANTS FOR A
WASTEWATER RATE STUDY, WITH A COST NOT TO EXCEED $18,000.00.
(RESOLUTION BOOK 2011, PAGE 122)
Council President Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman
Argo seconded the motion. Councilman Argo made a motion to suspend the rules and
Councilman Miller seconded the motion. The rules were suspended (7-0). There being no
discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, ARGO,
MILLER, RENEGAR, BOLES, FANK 7
NAYS : NONE 0
ABSTAINED : NONE 0
ABSENT : NONE 0
COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT:
Carl Hawthorne, 704 Emerald Drive, Prattville, AL, asked for clarification regarding the 1%
sales tax increase and the deadline of the 20th of each month for each business to submit their
revenues. Mr. Hawthorne would like to know how to get the tax receipt information without
coming to the council meetings. Also, he would like percentages changed to dollar amounts
and for this information to be printed in the newspaper. He further questioned the Mayor’s
car allowance not being taken.
Mr. Moseley stated that the sales tax had to be postmarked by the 20th and sometimes takes
until the end of the month to get all of it entered. He also said that there is a Resolution which
authorizes the Mayor a $1,000.00 monthly car allowance, but the City is still in possession of
that check, because Mayor Gillespie hasn’t taken it. Mr. Moseley assured Mr. Hawthorne that
sales tax information is provided to the Montgomery Advertiser on a monthly basis. Mr.
Moseley stated that the year to date increase of 8.9% is $2,018,000.00.
Mayor Gillespie stated that he has not accepted the car allowance and that he would like all
financial figures available online.
Councilman Boles expressed his appreciation for the $6 million not spent from this time last
year, in addition to the $2 million dollar increase.
CLOSING COMMENTS:
Councilman Striplin expressed his appreciation to all of the city employees for their continued
dedication in helping the city move forward.
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ADJOURN:
There being no further business to come before the Council, Councilman Boles made a
motion to adjourn and the motion was seconded by Councilman Striplin. The meeting
adjourned at 7:07 p.m.
APPROVED:
___________________________
Stephanie J. Southerland
City Clerk
____________________________
Michael E. Renegar, President
Prattville City Council