City Council

March 28, 2022 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, Athens, Alabama, on March 28, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Councilman Harold Wales, President Pro Tem of the City Council. Upon roll call, the following were found to be present: Councilmembers Dana Henry, Harold Wales and Wayne Harper. Councilmembers Chris Seibert and Frank Travis were absent. Annette Barnes- Threat, City Clerk, was present and recorded the minutes of the meeting. Harold Wales offered the invocation. Mayor Marks led the Pledge of Allegiance. 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 March 14, 2022 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 Councilwoman Henry and was unanimously carried. The Chairperson stated that the Minutes of the March 14, 2022 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 Councilwoman Henry and was unanimously carried. Mayor Marks requested that everyone keep Councilman Frank Travis in their thoughts and prayers. Council President Pro Tem, Harold Wales, thanked the citizens of Athens for everything that has been done for his family during the loss of their son, Jeff. Mr. Wales asked everyone for continued prayers. Billy Crutcher, 2103 Luke Street, Athens, addressed the City Council concerning the sewer system on Strain Road. Mayor Marks remarked that he wasn’t sure if the new sewer line would service any of the residents on Strain Road but that he or Mr. Junkin would contact him regarding his concern. Greg Skipworth, 1753 Springview Drive, Athens, addressed the City Council concerning the cost of health insurance for employees and urged the administration to look into the matter. Councilman Harper introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to approve the following travel/education expenses for the Police Department: Terri Hightower Mileage – Attending Southern Software Training $170.24 Montgomery, Alabama March 7 – 8, 2022 The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Henry 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 appoint William R. Marks as the voting delegate for the Annual Business Meeting of the Alabama League of Municipalities. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Henry and was unanimously carried. Councilman Harper introduced the following proclamation:  PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, April 11, 2022 marks the 54th Anniversary of the passage of the United States Fair Housing Law, Titele VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which enunciated a National Policy of fair housing without regard to race, color, religion, sex, and national origin: and WHEREAS, the effective implementation of the National Policy depends on affirmative action at all levels of Government: NOW, THEREFORE, the City of Athens, does hereby proclaim the month of April 2022, as Fair Housing Month in recognition of the importance of fair housing to our way of life, and I urge our citizens to obey the letter and the spirit of the Fair Housing Law as an expression of the individual rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Athens affixed this the 28th day of March, 2022. /s/ William R. Marks MAYOR, CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Henry and was unanimously carried. Councilwoman Henry introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to appropriate up to $25,000 for the renovations to the Athens Senior Center on Pryor Street. Funds to be appropriated from the fiscal year 2021 general fund surplus. Councilmember Harper moved that unanimous consent be given for immediate consideration of and action on said resolution, which motion was seconded by Councilmember Henry, and upon the said motion being put to vote the following vote was recorded: YEAS: Councilmembers Wales, Henry and Harper; NAYS: None. The President Pro Tem thereupon declared that the motion for unanimous consent for immediate consideration of and action on the said resolution had been unanimously carried. Councilmember Henry 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 Wales, Henry and Harper; NAYS: None. The President Pro Tem thereupon announced that the motion for the adoption of the said resolution had been unanimously carried. Councilman Harper introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION NUMBER 2022 - 1797 A RESOLUTION AWARDING A CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF FIVE POLICE CARS _______________________________________________ WHEREAS, the City of Athens, Alabama received sealed bids for five new police cars (the “Cars”); WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the same, and finds that the lowest responsible bidder was Stivers C,D,J,R, Prattville, Alabama, who submitted a bid in the amount of $126,846.35; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to award the contract for the purchase of the Cars, and to authorize execution of the contract for the same.  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA while in regular session on March 28, 2022 at 5:30 p.m., as follows: 1. The contract for the City’s purchase of the Cars is hereby awarded to Stivers C,D,J,R, Prattville, Alabama with respect to its bid of $ 126,846.35. 2. The Mayor (and/or his designee) is authorized to formulate a contract that is in conformity with the bid specifications and proposal of the successful bidder, and to execute it in the name of, and on behalf of, the City. Such contract, at the Mayor’s (and/or his designee’s) reasonable discretion, may include further and additional terms that accomplish the purpose of this Resolution, to the extent that the same are not inconsistent with the bid specifications and proposal of the successful bidder, and are otherwise permitted by law. 3. The Mayor (and/or his designee) is further authorized to carry out the terms of such contract(s) as soon as may be practicable, and to execute such other and additional documents that may be necessary and/or required in order to facilitate the transaction described herein. ADOPTED this the 28TH day of March, 2022. /s/ Harold Wales PRESIDENT PRO TEM, CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Henry and was unanimously carried. * * * There being no further business to come before the meeting, Council President Pro Tem Wales asked for a motion to adjourn. The motion was made by Councilman Harper and was seconded by Councilwoman Henry. The meeting was duly and properly adjourned. /s/ Harold Wales PRESIDENT PRO TEM, CITY COUNCIL ATTEST: /s/ Annette Barnes CITY CLERK