Minutes 2011-10-18PRATTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2011
6:03 P.M.
The Prattville City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, October 18, 2011, at 6:03 p.m.
in the Council Chambers at City Hall. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag,
Council President Renegar gave the invocation. Roll was called and all councilmen were
recorded as being present.
THE CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE MONTH IS DEPENDABILITY: Keeping my word,
even if it means unexpected sacrifice.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Public Hearing & City Council meeting October 4, 2011.
Councilman Argo made the motion to approve the minutes and Councilman Striplin seconded
the motion. The minutes were approved (7-0).
COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT REGARDING TONIGHT’S AGENDA:
Laura Pate, 1002 Upper Kingston Drive, Prattville AL 36067 and representative of Spinners,
addressed the council regarding agenda item #4 and that it be approved. Mrs. Pate said that
Spinners raises over $10,000.00 each year which they donate back into the community and
also donates a little over 3,000 hours a year to local charities.
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Mayor Gillespie spoke regarding agenda item #4, and encouraged council to approve it.
Amendments will have to be made to agenda item #4.
There were two vacancies due to the resignation of the City Clerk, Stephanie Southerland, and
the Secretary to the Mayor, Jamie Moncrieff. The Mayor introduced Jamie F. McClellan as
Assistant City Clerk to the City of Prattville with council’s approval and Paula Barlow will be
taking over the Secretary to the Mayor position.
The Mayor reminded everyone that the Candy Walk and a movie will be held October 28th and
encourages everyone’s attendance.
Regarding The Yellow Dot Program, please go on the city website to enroll yourselves, friends
and family. You may also enroll at Fire Station No. 3 or at the Prattville Police Department.
Regarding Governor Bentley’s Executive Order # 24 to ban synthetic THC, after state training
the police department was able to pull roughly 2,500 grams off the city streets with a value of
roughly $25,000.00
Mayor Gillespie thanked the council for working very hard to get Medline to Prattville which
has created approximately 45 new jobs. The Grand Opening was held today.
The Mayor asked the council to consider lowering the Mayor’s salary and stated that the
Mayor’s salary is currently $90,000.00 a year with a $12,000.00 car allowance.
The Mayor reminded everyone that Military Appreciation Week is November 6th -12th 2011.
Regarding a resolution to be brought from the floor, this is for a bridge loan for the bond
payment due on November 3, 2011 and can be held over until the city council meeting on
November 1, 2011. There is one single revenue source of approximately $500,000.00 that the
city is still waiting to receive.
The Mayor stated that he had gone to the State Capitol today and sat in on the meeting
regarding redistricting District 88. The Mayor spoke at this meeting and asked that they keep
Prattville in one district and not split it up into two districts.
Councilman Boles suggested that the councilmen also reduce their salary from $17,500.00 to
$12,000.00 a year
Council President Renegar stated that in order to amend agenda item #2 a written
amendment is required and suggested the Mayor and City Attorney, David McDowell,
prepare a written amendment together.
Councilman Miller asked what is the source of the $500,000.00 revenue that the city is
waiting on.
The Mayor responded that he would rather tell him after the meeting.
REPORT ON STATUS OF CITY FINANCES:
Interim Finance Director, Doug Moseley, presented the council with a September Financial
Report, as attached. The city has collected $2.7 million more in revenues than 2010 with the
1% sales tax increase and $977,000.00 without 1% sales tax increase. Percent of Budget is
running very close to 100% if not over for most departments.
Councilman Boles wanted to clarify that certain department’s percent of budget was not 100%
over budget but over 100% of the budget.
COUNCIL REPORTS:
Councilman Argo reported that Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood have completed the assessment
of the Waste Water Department and Jackson Thornton has nearly completed their
assessment of the rate structure for the Waste Water Department’s fees. There is a committee
meeting next week and Councilman Argo looks forward to bringing a full report by the
November 1, 2011 city council meeting.
Councilman Miller reported on behalf of the Fire Committee that, City Attorney, David
McDowell is working on an ambulance contract for the county.
Council President Renegar reported that the Finance Committee will meet Thursday October
20th at 5:30 p.m. at city hall.
AGENDA
1. RESOLUTION: TO RATIFY THE PROMOTION TO ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
AND AUTHORIZE THE APPOINTMENT OF JAMIE F. MCCLELLAN TO INTERIM
CITY CLERK. (RESOLUTION BOOK 2011-A, PAGE 029)
Council President Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman
Boles seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the
following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, ARGO, 7
MILLER, RENEGAR, BOLES,
FANK
NAYES : 0
ABSTAINED : 0
ABSENT : 0
2. 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-A,
PAGE 030)
Councilman Miller made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman Argo seconded
the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, ARGO, 7
MILLER, RENEGAR, BOLES,
FANK
NAYES : 0
ABSTAINED : 0
ABSENT : 0
3. ORDINANCE: TO SURPLUS VARIOUS PRATTVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES AND TO AUTHORIZE THE DISPOSAL OF ONE (1)
FREQUENCY SENSITIVE ITEM AT THE FIRING RANGE.(ORDINANCE BOOK
2011, PAGE 027)
Councilman Wood made a motion to adopt the Ordinance and Council President Pro
Tempore Fank seconded the motion. Councilman Argo made a motion to suspend the rules
and Councilman Boles seconded the motion. The rules were suspended (7-0) The Ordinance
was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, ARGO, 7
MILLER, RENEGAR, BOLES,
FANK
NAYES : 0
ABSTAINED : 0
ABSENT : 0
4. RESOLUTION: TO AUTHORIZE OVERTIME PAY FOR THE PRATTVILLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR PARADES/FUN RUNS, NOT TO EXCEED THE
AMOUNT OF $1,752.32.(RESOLUTION BOOK 2011-A, PAGE 031)
Councilman Striplin 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. The rules were suspended (7-0) Councilman Miller
would like to see a policy be made so that when there are numerous requests like this that are
financially unsustainable we know what to do. The Mayor agreed and would like to work with
the council on that in the very near future. The Mayor gave the amended Resolution to
Councilman Argo and Councilman Argo asked Council President Renegar, since there are
several amendments would you like to do them all as one or should I read them individually?
Council President Renegar asked, City Attorney, David McDowell the same question and Mr.
McDowell stated said that because of the way it was written they could do them all as one.
Councilman Argo made a motion to amend:
line#4 changing the amount from $1,752.32 to $5,256.94, line#3 after the words “Fun
Runs”add “and Football Game”, line#14 after “;and” add “Whereas the Prattville Jeff Davis
Football Game will be held on October 21, 2011”, line#18 after the word “intersection” add
“and to provide traffic control” and delete the words “for a period of approximately two
hours”, line# 20 change the amount of $1,752.32 to $5,256.94, line# 26 change the amount of
$1,752.32 to $5,256.94.
Council President Pro Tempore Fank seconded the motion to amend. The motion to amend
the Resolution was approved (7-0). There being no further discussion, the Resolution was
adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, ARGO, 7
MILLER, RENEGAR, BOLES,
FANK
NAYES : 0
ABSTAINED : 0
ABSENT : 0
5. RESOLUTION: TO AUTHORIZE THE DEMOLITION OF THE STRUCTURES AT
138 9TH STREET. (RESOLUTION BOOK 2011-A, PAGE 032)
Councilman Boles made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman Wood seconded
the motion. Councilman Wood encouraged the council to move forward on this Resolution.
Councilman Miller made a motion to suspend the rules and Councilman Striplin seconded the
motion. The rules were suspended (7-0). There being no further discussion, the Resolution
was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, ARGO, 7
MILLER, RENEGAR, BOLES,
FANK
NAYES : 0
ABSTAINED : 0
ABSENT : 0
6. RESOLUTION: TO AUTHORIZE THE DEMOLITION OF THE STRUCTURES AT
110 7TH STREET. (RESOLUTION BOOK 2011-A, PAGE 033)
Councilman Wood 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. The rules were suspended (7-0). Council President
Pro Tempore Fank made a motion to hold until the December 6, 2011 city council meeting
and Councilman Argo seconded the motion to hold the Resolution. Councilman Wood and
Councilman Boles encouraged the council not to hold the Resolution. Mayor Gillespie
encouraged council to move forward. Councilman President Pro Tempore Fank withdrew his
motion to hold. Councilman Argo withdrew his second to that motion to hold. There being no
further discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, ARGO, 7
MILLER, RENEGAR, BOLES,
FANK
NAYES : 0
ABSTAINED : 0
ABSENT : 0
7. 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-A, PAGE 034)
Councilman Miller made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman Argo seconded
the motion. There being no further discussion the Resolution was adopted with the following
results:
AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, ARGO, 7
MILLER, RENEGAR, BOLES,
FANK
NAYES : 0
ABSTAINED : 0
ABSENT : 0
FROM THE FLOOR: 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 made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilman
Boles seconded the motion. Councilman Miller made a motion to suspend the rules and
Councilman Argo seconded the motion to suspend the rules. Suspension of the rules killed
and automatically held over to the next council meeting with the following results:
AYES : WOOD, ARGO, 6
MILLER, RENEGAR, BOLES,
FANK
NAYES : 0
ABSTAINED : STRIPLIN 1
ABSENT : 0
Councilman Argo acknowledged State Representative Paul Beckman.
COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT:
Allison Gray, 1968 Old Country Road, Prattville, AL, expressed her concern about cuts to
employee’s benefits packages and wanted to know how many police officers and fire fighters
the City of Prattville has lost to other cities. Mrs. Gray would like to see the sales tax increase
extended, she also appreciated the Mayor’s suggestion to lower the Mayor’s salary and
expressed her opinion that the councilmen should take Councilman Boles advice and lower
the councilmen’s salary as well.
CLOSING COMMENTS:
Mayor Gillespie thanked Spinners, reminded everyone of the Candy Walk and a movie
afterwards and stated that he would be taking a municipal training class in Montgomery this
Friday.
ADJOURN:
There being no further business to come before the council, Council President Pro Tempore
Fank made the motion to adjourn and Councilman Argo seconded the motion. The meeting
adjourned at 7:29p.m.
APPROVED:
___________________________
Jamie F. McClellan
Interim City Clerk
____________________________
Michael E. Renegar, President
Prattville City Council