City Council

October 23, 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 October 23, 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 Frank Travis, Wayne Harper, Joseph Cannon, Harold Wales and Chris Seibert. Mayor Marks led the Pledge of Allegiance. Annette Barnes, City Clerk, was present and recorded the minutes of the meeting. Harold Wales 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 October 9, 2017 City Council Meeting had been submitted for approval. Councilman Harper moved that the reading of the Minutes be suspended and that the Minutes be approved as recorded. The motion was seconded by Councilman Travis and was unanimously carried. The Chairperson stated that the Minutes of the October 9, 2017 City Council Work Session Meeting had been submitted for approval. Councilman Harper moved that the reading of the Minutes be suspended and that the Minutes be approved as recorded. The motion was seconded by Councilman Travis and was unanimously carried. A public hearing was held to hear comments on the request of rezoning 5.82 acres west of Dexter Street from a TN- 2, Traditional Neighborhood 2 District to a TB, Traditional Business District. Scott Croomes, 1121 East Pryor Street, Athens, addressed the Council concerning the potential increase in traffic on Pryor Street. He asked the Council to consider having a more comprehensive traffic study performed to incorporate not only the impact of the new high school traffic but also the impact of other potential retail and residential developments in the area. Allynn Griffin, 1122 East Pryor Street, Athens, also addressed the council with concerns about the increased traffic on Pryor Street. He inquired as to the process required of developers and if prior approval is required before construction would begin on any new developments in the Pryor/Dexter Street area. City Public Works Director James Rich addressed those concerns citing the process developers are required to follow to have site plans reviewed and approved by the City Planning Commission. Mr. Rich explained that the Planning Commission would have the authority to require additional traffic studies, if the site plan warranted such a study. He added that the cost of road improvements necessary to accommodate these developments would be the responsibility of the developer. Mr. Rich also reported to the Council that the Planning Commission had met and voted to recommend approval of the rezoning request. The public hearing was closed. Councilman Seibert introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to grant the request of the City of Athens Board of Education to rezone 5.82 acres located to the west of Dexter Street within the corporate limits of the City of Athens, AL from a TN-2, Traditional Neighborhood 2 District, to a TB, Traditional Business District. The motion was seconded by Councilman Wales and was unanimously carried. Councilman Wales introduced the following resolution:  RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to approve travel/education expenses for the following Utilities Finance Department personnel: Donna Holland TVPPA – ABC’s of Electrical Systems $210.68 Nashville, TN September 29, 2017 The motion was seconded by Councilman Seibert and was unanimously carried. Councilman Wales introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to approve travel expenses for the following Electric Department personnel: Rhett Murphy $21.34 Trees and Utilities Conference – Kansas City, MO Rhett Murphy $34.39 AUFA Annual Conference – Orange Beach, AL Jim Lannom $33.12 Rockford Utilities – Transformer Purchasing Group – Rockwood, TN The motion was seconded by Councilman Harper and was unanimously carried. Councilman Seibert introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION NUMBER 2017-1541 BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Athens, Alabama as follows: 1. That the City enters into an agreement with the State of Alabama, acting by and through the Alabama Department of Transportation: Preliminary engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and construction program for Project ST-042-999- 002, Project Reference Number 100067664 for SR-3 (US-31) at three locations to include SR-251 (Pryor Street) and Dexter Street, new entrance to Athens High School, and SR-99 (Elm Street) in the City of Athens, Alabama; which Agreement is before this Council. 2. That the agreement be executed in the name of the City, by its Mayor, for and on its behalf. 3. That the agreement be attested by the City Clerk and the seal of the City affixed thereto. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that upon the completion of the execution of the agreement by all parties, that a copy of such agreement by kept on file by the City Clerk. Passed, adopted and approved this 23rd day of October, 2017. ATTESTED: /s/ William R. Marks MAYOR, CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA /s/ Annette Barnes CITY CLERK, CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA I, the undersigned and qualified and acting clerk of the City of Athens, Alabama, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true copy of a resolution passed and adopted by the City Council of the City named therein, at a regular meeting of such Council held on the 23rd day of October, 2017, and that such resolution is on file in the City Clerk’s office. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City on the 23rd day of October, 2017. City Clerk The motion was seconded by Councilman Travis and was unanimously carried. Councilman Harper introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF ATHENS, ALABAMA to designate Friday, November 24, 2017 as an additional holiday for calendar year 2017. The motion was seconded by Councilman Seibert and was unanimously carried. Councilman Wales introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to approve the proposal from McKee and Associates Architecture and Interior Design to address all the architectural, mechanical, and electrical comments as necessary from the Alabama Building Commission; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT William R. Marks, Mayor, is hereby authorized to accept the proposal on behalf of the City of Athens with McKee and Associates Architecture and Interior Design in the amount of $30,000.00 to address all the architectural, mechanical, and electrical comments as necessary from the Alabama Building Commission. ADOPTED and APPROVED this, the 23rd day of October, 2017. /s/ William R. Marks MAYOR, CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA ATTEST: /s/ Annette Barnes CITY CLERK, CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA 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 set a special meeting for November 6th, 2017, at the same time and place. The motion was seconded by Councilman Seibert and was unanimously carried. * * * There being no further business to come before the meeting, the same was, upon motion by Councilman Wales and second by Councilman Travis, duly and properly adjourned. /s/ Joseph Cannon PRESIDENT, CITY COUNCIL ATTEST: /s/ Annette Barnes CITY CLERK