City Council

June 5, 2017 STATE OF ALABAMA, LIMESTONE COUNTY, CITY OF ATHENS. The City Council of the City of Athens, Alabama met in regular session at the Athens Municipal Building, 200 Hobbs Street West in the said City on June 5, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Councilman Joseph Cannon, President of the Council. Upon roll call the following were found to be present: Councilmembers Chris Seibert, Harold Wales, Frank Travis, Wayne Harper and Joseph Cannon. Mayor William R. Marks was absent. Council President Cannon introduced Brooks and Ally Givens, whose summer “bucket list” includes learning about local government, to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Annette Barnes, City Clerk, was present and recorded the minutes of the meeting. Frank Travis offered the invocation. The Chairperson stated that a quorum was present and that the meeting was open for transaction of business. The Chairperson stated that the Minutes of the May 22, 2017 City Council Meeting had been submitted for approval. Councilman Seibert moved that the reading of the Minutes be suspended and that the Minutes be approved as recorded. The motion was seconded by Councilman Wales and was unanimously carried. The Chairperson stated that the Minutes of the May 22, 2017 City Council Work Session Meeting had been submitted for approval. Councilman Seibert moved that the reading of the Minutes be suspended and that the Minutes be approved as recorded. The motion was seconded by Councilman Wales and was unanimously carried. Council President Cannon read a Proclamation declaring the week of June 17th, 2017 as Barbershop Harmony Week. Those in attendance were then treated to a performance by the barbershop quartet, Southern Splendor. Joe Carlucci, proprietor of Joe’s World Famous Pizzeria in Athens, addressed the Council concerning the issue of food trucks and the potential economic benefit the City of Athens could realize by permitting food truck vendors. Ralph Diggins, 100 Willow Street, Athens, addressed the Council concerning the City’s plan to construct a new recreation center. He expressed his interest in seeing the financing plan for the project published in the newspaper. Scott Marshall, 23349 Piney Creek Drive, Athens, and proprietor of West End Outdoors, Athens, expressed his support for Sunday alcohol sales. He stated that since he may be unable to attend the upcoming public hearing, he wanted to request the Council not place restrictions on the hours Sunday sales would be permitted. He cited the potential loss of business, such a restriction would cost him and other business owners, whose customer traffic and resulting sales occur largely in the morning hours. Teresa Todd, Director of the Athens-Limestone Tourism Association, also spoke in support of Sunday alcohol sales. She stated that through her role as tourism director, she has received feedback from tourists, she referred to as “snowbirds,” who travel annually from northern locations to southern destinations. She stated these tourists would like to make Athens their overnight stop when traveling, but who travel further south when they learn that Athens doesn’t allow Sunday alcohol sales. She expressed her opinion that allowing Sunday sales would provide a great economic benefit to the City through increased sales, alcohol and lodging tax revenues. Councilman Seibert introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to set a Special Called Meeting on June 19, 2017, for the purpose of discussing and considering a proposed amendment of the Alcohol Ordinance allowing for Sunday alcohol sales. There will be a public hearing at the special meeting, where the city council may hear comments from citizens concerning that proposal. The Special Called meeting will be held at 5:00 p.m.at the Council Chambers at the Athens City Hall located at 200 West Hobbs Street. The motion was seconded by Councilman Wales and was unanimously carried. Councilman Wales introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION NUMBER 2017-1520 A RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE HIRING OF AN ARCHITECT FOR A NEW CITY OF ATHENS RECREATION FACILITY WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to retain the services of an architect for the design of a new City of Athens recreation facility; and WHEREAS, the City Council received proposals/presentations from the following architectural firms: (1) Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon, Inc., (2) Goodwyn Mills and Cawood, Inc., and (3) McKee & Associates. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA on June 5, 2017 at 5:30 P.M., to retain Goodwyn Mills and Cawood, Inc. for architect design services in connection with a new City of Athens recreation facility. The Mayor, acting on behalf of the City, is authorized to negotiate and execute an agreement with the architect with respect to the same. The contract shall be funded from the City of Athens Capital Projects Fund. ADOPTED this the 5th day of June, 2017. ___________________________________________ JOSEPH CANNON, CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT CERTIFICATION OF CITY CLERK STATE OF ALABAMA ) LIMESTONE COUNTY ) I, Annette Barnes, City Clerk of the City of Athens, Alabama, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct copy of a Resolution duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Athens, Alabama, on the 5th day of June, 2017. Witness my hand and seal of office this ___ day of __________________, 2017. ____________________________________ Annette Barnes, City Clerk The motion was seconded by Councilman Seibert and was unanimously carried. Councilman Harper introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to declare a 2000 model Sterling Ford SC8000 Schwarze Sweeper as surplus and further authorize the Public Works Department to dispose of by public auction. The proceeds of the sale shall be applied to the Public Works Capital account. The motion was seconded by Councilman Seibert and was unanimously carried. Councilman Travis introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA to approve the following travel expenses for the Electric Department personnel. Christian Runge $215.23 TVPPA-Lab A-Scottsboro, AL Charlie Deffenbaugh $228.05 TVPPA-Lab A-Scottsboro, AL The motion was seconded by Councilman Harper and was unanimously carried. Councilman Travis introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA to approve the following budgeted travel/education expenses for specified Water Services personnel. Michael Furline Triple S Maintenance Training Seminar $149.00 (Water Department) Trussville, Alabama May 24-25, 2017 Michael Mewbourn Triple S Maintenance Training Seminar $ 32.90 (Water Department) Trussville, Alabama May 24-25, 2017 The motion was seconded by Councilman Harper and was unanimously carried. Councilman Seibert introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to set a Public Hearing for the regular meeting of July 10, 2017 to review the request from Belle Mina Land Company to rezone property located southwest of the intersection of U.S. Hwy 72 and McCulley Mill Road within the corporate limits of Athens, Alabama from a B-3 Highway Business District to R-13 Single Family High Density Residential District. The motion was seconded by Councilman Wales and was unanimously carried. * * * There being no further business to come before the meeting, the same was, upon motion by Councilman Seibert and second by Councilman Travis, duly and properly adjourned. /s/ Joseph Cannon PRESIDENT, CITY COUNCIL ATTEST: /s/ Annette Barnes CITY CLERK