City Council

March 11, 2019 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 Athens on March 11, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Councilman Harold Wales, President of the Council. Upon roll call, the following were found to be present: Councilmembers Harold Wales, Frank Travis, Joseph Cannon, Chris Seibert and Wayne Harper. Mayor Marks led 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 February 25, 2019 City Council Meeting had been submitted for approval. Councilman Cannon moved that the reading of the Minutes be suspended and that the Minutes be approved as recorded. The motion was seconded by Councilman Seibert and was unanimously carried. The Chairperson stated that the Minutes of the February 25, 2019 City Council Work Session Meeting had been submitted for approval. Councilman Cannon moved that the reading of the Minutes be suspended and that the Minutes be approved as recorded. The motion was seconded by Councilman Seibert 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 accept the resignation of Maria Taylor from the Athens-Limestone Public Library Board. The motion was seconded by Councilman Cannon 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 appoint Allison McCormick to the Athens-Limestone Public Library Board. This appointment will fulfill the term of Maria Taylor and will expire on September 30, 2021. The motion was seconded by Councilman Cannon 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 accept the resignation of Charles Hughes from the Athens Housing Authority Board. The motion was seconded by Councilman Cannon 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 appoint Mamie Lee Gilbert to the Athens Housing Authority Board. This appointment is fulfilling the term of Charles Hughes, expiring on December 1, 2020. The motion was seconded by Councilman Cannon 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 reappoint Venard Hendrix to the Planning Commission for a six year term expiring March 31, 2025. The motion was seconded by Councilman Cannon 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 reappoint Cleophra Scales to the NCA310 Board (formerly Mental Retardation Board) for a six year term, expiring April 30, 2025. The motion was seconded by Councilman Cannon 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 reappoint Martha Jones to the NCA310 Board (formerly Mental Retardation Board) for a six year term, expiring April 30, 2025. The motion was seconded by Councilman Cannon 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 reappoint Billie Sue Bates to the NCA310 Board (formerly Mental Retardation Board) for a six year term, expiring April 30, 2025. The motion was seconded by Councilman Cannon 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 approve travel expenses for the following Electric Department personnel. Jeff Hines $190.64 TVPPA-Lab 2-Greeneville, TN Nick Sandlin $179.93 TVPPA-Lab 2-Greeneville, TN The motion was seconded by Councilman Cannon 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 approve the purchase of three (3) 72” ExMark Zero Turn mowers and one (1) 60” ExMark Zero Turn mower in the amount not to exceed $39,000 to be funded from the existing CPR capital account. The motion was seconded by Councilman Cannon and was unanimously carried. Councilman Cannon introduced the following resolution:  RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to authorize the Mayor to issue a task order to Reed Contracting to pave the following list of streets. This project is authorized under the City of Athens Bituminous Paving Contract and shall be funded from Capital Infrastructure Fund. North Jefferson Hobbs to Elm street, Mill and Pave-- $300,000 Durham Drive Sanderfer to Steelecase Patch and Pave-- $100,000 5th Avenue Jefferson to West Market Overlay Pave - - $125,000 Lucas Ferry Road Sandefer Road south to Moyers road, cost share with county -- Overlay and Pave -- Cities Portion $150,000 Clinton Street including intersection w Hobbs street Washington to Forrest street Mill and pave -- $120,000 Total -- $795,000 Councilmember Harper moved that unanimous consent be given for immediate consideration of and action on said resolution, which motion was seconded by Councilmember Seibert, and upon the said motion being put to vote the following vote was recorded: YEAS: Councilmembers Seibert, Wales, Travis, Cannon and Harper; NAYS: None. The President thereupon declared that the motion for unanimous consent for immediate consideration of and action on the said resolution had been unanimously carried. Councilmember Cannon thereupon moved that the resolution be finally adopted, which motion was seconded by Councilmember Travis and upon the said motion being put to vote the following vote was recorded: YEAS: Councilmembers Seibert, Wales, Travis, Cannon and Harper; NAYS: None. The President thereupon announced that the motion for the adoption of the said resolution had been unanimously carried. Councilman Travis introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION NUMBER 2019 - 1610 A RESOLUTION REGARDING AN OPTION TO PURCHASE REAL PROPERTY ALONG HINE STREET _______________________________________________ WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to acquire an option to purchase approximately 60 acres of real property along Hine Street; WHEREAS, said real property is described as follows: Tract 1 and Tract 2 as shown on the Final Plat of the Woodlands, recorded at Plat Book J, Page 151 in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Limestone County, Alabama (referred to herein as the “Property”); WHEREAS, the City Council anticipates that the Property would be used for either municipal and public purposes, or alternatively, it would be available for use in connection with industrial development; and  WHEREAS, the City Council is authorized to take such action pursuant to § 11-40-1 of the Code of Alabama, § 94.01 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, and other legal authority. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA on March 11, 2019 at 5:30 PM, as follows: 1. The Mayor, on behalf of the City of Athens, Alabama, is authorized and directed to acquire an option to purchase the Property from the owner thereof, for a purchase price of One Million and 00/100 Dollars ($1,000,000.00), plus any incidental costs related thereto in connection with the purchase and closing. 2. The Mayor, on behalf of the City, is further authorized to enter into a contract related to such option, which provides that the City may exercise such option within ninety (90) days of executing the contract, along with such other customary terms and conditions as the Mayor may deem reasonable and appropriate. 3. In order to exercise the option to purchase the Property, the City Council must, at a subsequent council meeting, approve a resolution calling for the exercise of the option to purchase the Property. ADOPTED this the 11th day of March, 2019. /s/ Harold Wales PRESIDENT, CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA 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 11th day of March, 2019. Witness my hand and seal of office this 11TH day of March, 2019. /s/Annette Barnes City Clerk The motion was seconded by Councilman Seibert and was unanimously carried. Councilman Harper introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION NUMBER 2019 - 1611 A RESOLUTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE ATHENS ZONING ORDINANCE WHEREAS, at its regular meeting on February 19, 2019, the Planning Commission of the City of Athens, Alabama (the “Planning Commission”) issued a final report on recommended changes to Ordinance No. 2017-2016, the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Athens, Alabama (the “Zoning Ordinance”);  WHEREAS, the Planning Commission’s resolution with respect to those recommended changes has been provided to the City Clerk; and WHEREAS, prior to the City Council taking any action on such recommendations, the City Council desires to hold a public hearing in relation thereto, at which parties in interest and citizens shall have an opportunity to be heard. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA while in regular session on March 11, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. that a public hearing is hereby scheduled for April 8, 2019, at 5:30 p.m., at the City Council Chambers in the City Hall of the City of Athens, Alabama, located at 200 Hobbs Street West, Athens, Alabama 35611, concerning the above-referenced proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance. Notice of the proposed action and public hearing shall be issued as required by law. ADOPTED this the 11th day of March, 2019. /s/ Harold Wales PRESIDENT, CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA 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 11TH day of March, 2019. Witness my hand and seal of office this 11th day of March, 2019. /s/Annette Barnes City Clerk The motion was seconded by Councilman Seibert and was unanimously carried. * * * There being no further business to come before the meeting, Council President Wales asked if there were any objections to adjourning the meeting. There being none, the meeting was duly and properly adjourned. /s/ Harold Wales PRESIDENT, CITY COUNCIL ATTEST: /s/ Annette Barnes CITY CLERK