City Council

June 18, 2019 STATE OF ALABAMA, LIMESTONE COUNTY, CITY OF ATHENS. The City Council of the City of Athens, Alabama met in a special session at the Athens Municipal Building, 200 Hobbs Street West in Athens on June 18, 2019, at 10:00 a.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, Wayne Harper, Chris Seibert and Joseph Cannon. Mayor Marks led the Pledge of Allegiance. Annette Barnes, City Clerk, was present and recorded the minutes of the meeting. Wayne Harper offered the invocation. The Chairperson stated that a quorum was present and that the meeting was open for transaction of business. Councilman Travis introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION NUMBER 2019 – 1624 A RESOLUTION TO PERFORM ADDITIONAL DUE DILIGENCE WORK ON CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY ALONG HINE STREET _______________________________________________ WHEREAS, the City Council has opted to exercise the 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, prior to closing on the purchase of the Property, the City desires to perform additional due diligence investigations of the Property. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA while in a special meeting on June 18, 2019 at 10:00 a.m., that the Mayor is authorized, for and on behalf of the City, to expend up to $13,130.00 in additional testing relating to the Property, and to amend the February 26, 2019 Option Agreement concerning the Property so as to extend the Inspection Period by three weeks, and to provide for the reduction in the purchase price by the amount of the additional testing ($13,130.00). ADOPTED and APPROVED this, the 18th day of June, 2019. /s/ Harold Wales PRESIDENT, CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA ATTEST: /s/ Annette Barnes CITY CLERK, CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA Councilmember Seibert moved that unanimous consent be given for immediate consideration of and action on said resolution, which motion was seconded by Councilmember Cannon, 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 Travis thereupon moved that the resolution be finally adopted, which motion was seconded by Councilmember Harper 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. Kathy Coffey, 320 Sanderfer Road, Athens, addressed the Council concerning the construction of the Toyota Boshoku Plant on Sanderfer Road. She stated that she and her husband, Greg, have lived on Sanderfer Road for 32 years and prior to that, she had lived there for 21 years with her parents, Jerry and Betty Gatlin, who still live next door. She explained that she and her husband, her parents and their neighbors, Roger and Valerie Hayslett, live directly across Sanderfer Road from where the plant is being constructed. She described the period since the official announcement on April 10, 2019 of the plant locating in Athens as devastating, heart breaking and life changing. Mrs. Coffey stated that up until an hour prior to the council meeting, when the Mayor called her, she nor any of the residents have had any contact with city officials, other than Ms. Bethany Shockney with Limestone County Economic Development, regarding this plant being located across from their homes. She stated that the Mayor, as caretaker of the City, has a responsibility to ensure the safety of all the citizens. She stated that the only person who took an interest in asking the residents how they felt about the plant was the plant manager, Mr. Langom, who came to her home three weeks ago. She stated that the lack of knowledge and communication has been devastating and hurtful. Mrs. Coffey described the weeks after the official announcement as unbearable and stated that their lives have been disrupted by the noise, smoke and smells from the fueling of the heavy machinery and construction activity which begins at 4:00 a.m. She posed the question of why this location was chosen rather than property along Roy Long Road, citing the safety concerns of the residents with traffic, the railroad track and multiple plant entrances on Sanderfer Road. She stated that the safety issues affect not only the residents but also the four schools located in close proximity to the site, Lindsay Lane Christian Academy, the Birdie Thornton Center, Limestone County Career Technical School and Brookhill Elementary. She also voiced her concern over the proposed widening of Sanderfer Road, pointing out that she and her neighbors would lose twelve feet of their properties. Council President Wales thanked Mrs. Coffey for her remarks and stated that he understood the concerns of the residents. He also stated that although no one wants an industrial facility in their backyard, this property is industrial property and the City has to facilitate industrial growth to remain viable. Councilman Travis addressed Mrs. Coffey and extended his apology to her. He stated that he is her council representative and had assumed that someone had communicated with the residents affected by the project. He stated that he had only reached out to the Jimmy Gill family regarding the relocation of the Jimmy Gill Park and that not extending the same communication to the other residents was his error. He again apologized that he had not done his due diligence. * * * 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