City Council

August 11, 2025 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 August 11, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Councilman James E. Lucas, President of the City Council. Upon roll call, the following were found to be present: Councilmembers Chris Seibert, Harold Wales, James E. Lucas, Dana Henry and Wayne Harper. Kim Glaze, Executive Secretary, was present and recorded the minutes of the meeting. Councilman Wales offered the invocation. Mayor Marks was joined by Blake Cannon in leading 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 July 28, 2025 City Council Meeting and 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. Mayor Marks remarked that the city of Athens was recognized as one of the most charming downtowns and thanked everyone involved for their efforts. Councilwoman Henry reminded everyone that August is Culinary Month and that Summer Sippin will take place on August 30th from 3pm to 7pm. Also, she noted that Taking It To The Streets, a free event sponsored by Athens Arts League, will take place the same afternoon. Council President Lucas opened the floor for public remarks regarding agenda items. Tim Colling 22686 Regent Drive, Athens, addressed the City Council regarding travel/education expenses on the agenda and asked that more information be provided. Councilman Seibert introduced the following resolutions: RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to approve the following travel/education expenses for the Street Department: Heath McElyea ASCE/APWA Conference Orange Beach, Alabama July 16-19, 2025 $ 229.64 RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to approve the following travel/education expenses for the Public Works Department: Michael Griffin ASCE/APWA Conference Orange Beach, Alabama July 16-19, 2025 $ 661.58 RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to approve the following travel/education expenses for the Cemetery, Parks & Recreation Department:  Chad Vining ARPA State Swim Meet Albertville, Alabama July 25-26, 2025 $ 79.00 RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, that the travel expenses in the following amount be approved for Electric Department personnel: Clifton Kirby $267.47 Panama City Beach, FL – PLDS Advanced Training Will Adams $37.83 Franklin, TN – meeting with Land Innovations at Stephens Valley site RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, that the listed equipment be declared as surplus property of the Electric Department, City of Athens Utilities, and sold at public auction on GovDeals.com.  Truck 8, a 2016 Dodge Ram 2500, VIN# 3c6tr5ct0gg354944  Truck 30, a 2017 Freightliner w/Digger Derrick, VIN# 1FVHCYCYXHHJE2105  Truck 114, a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado, VIN# 1GCNCPEX0DZ226567  Massey Ferguson MF1246 Tractor, VIN# 006939 RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to declare a 2006 Ford Expedition, VIN# 1FMPU165X6LA53724, as surplus to be sold at public auction on GovDeals.com for the IT Department. RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to approve the purchase of a Turfco Mete-R-Matic IV F12E Top Dresser from Beard Equipment, at a cost not to exceed $15,000 and shall be funded from the Parks & Recreation Department's existing capital expenditure fund. RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to approve the purchase of a Manitowac ice machine from Baker Distributing, at a cost not to exceed $6,500, and shall be funded from the Street Department’s existing capital expenditure fund. RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to approve the purchase of a Jet drill press from Grainger, at a cost not to exceed $3,000, and shall be funded from the Street Department’s existing capital expenditure fund. RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to authorize the Information Technology Director to purchase network cabling, connectors, patch panel and related equipment from Amazon.com for the new building at 304 Hobbs Street East, in an amount not to exceed $2,500. This purchase shall be made from the IT Department’s existing capital expenditure fund. RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to authorize the Information Technology Director to purchase two (2) Chevy Trax from Donohoo Chevrolet (state contract list) in an amount of $44,214.40 from the IT Department’s existing capital expenditure fund. RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to contract with Office Resources Inc. (ORI) to purchase six new Steelcase Task Seats for the Building Inspection Department. This purchase will be from Steelcase c/o Office Resources Inc. at a cost not to exceed $5750.00. and is to be funded from the 2025 Building Department Capital Account. The chairs are priced per the State of Alabama Contract for Steelcase MA220000002841. RESOLUTION NUMBER 2025 - 2096 A RESOLUTION CONCERNING A NEW TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT ALONG/NEAR ELM STREET, AND SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING/MEETING RELATED TO THE SAME _______________________________________________ WHEREAS, Alabama law allows cities to create tax increment financing districts to aid cities with the city’s costs of certain redevelopment and rehabilitation projects; WHEREAS, a tax increment financing district does not involve raising tax rates on anyone in any way; WHEREAS, generally speaking, these tax increment financing districts capture any increase in property taxes from any increase in property values associated with the city’s projects and earmark any such funding increase to the benefit of the city, which uses those funds to assist it in financing the cost of the projects; WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Athens hopes to spur economic development along the Elm Street corridor, and so it desires to consider the establishment of a new tax increment financing district along/near Elm Street, extending from near its intersection of Lucas Ferry Road (on the western side) to near its intersection with Jefferson Street (on the eastern side), as a vehicle for aiding the City in financing various public improvement projects that would result in the betterment of the entire area, including a significant portion that is blighted and/or economically distressed; WHEREAS, such public improvement projects include: (a) water and sewer line improvements along Lucas Ferry Road, Market Street, and Elm Street; (b) public roadway improvements at the intersection of Elm Street/Lucas Ferry Road; (c) construction of a new city street between Elm Street and Market Street; and  (d) sidewalk improvements in the area of the above projects. WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to direct the Mayor to develop and issue the legal notices and requirements required by Alabama law to arrange for a meeting with deferred tax recipients and a public hearing at the city council’s regular meeting on September 22, 2025, such that the City Council may consider the establishment of such a tax increment financing district as soon as possible; WHEREAS, in connection with the above, prior to the establishment of such tax increment financing district, the City Council expects that it may expend additional funds and incur obligations with respect to the improvements discussed above; WHEREAS, the City Council is not currently prepared (nor will it be prepared in the near future) to finance such expenditures on a long-term basis from the tax increment financing district or otherwise, but it reasonably expects that, in order to finance such expenditures, it may issue tax exempt warrants relating to the above-described tax increment financing; and WHEREAS, in the meantime, although such costs may be paid out of the City’s General Fund, the City Council intends that such costs may be reimbursed from such future warrants and the related tax increment financing. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA on August 11, 2025, at 4:30 PM, as follows: 1. The Mayor is authorized and directed, for and on behalf of the City, to develop and issue the legal notices and requirements required by Alabama law to arrange for: (i) a meeting with the deferred tax recipients and (ii) a public hearing concerning the tax increment financing district, at the City Council’s regular meeting on September 22, 2025, (as well as such other meetings/briefings with the deferred tax recipients as may be convenient) such that the City Council may consider the establishment of such a tax increment financing district as described herein. 3. It is intended that the City may issue and deliver in 2025, for the purposes set forth above, tax exempt obligations related to the tax increment financing district described herein, and that all or a portion of the proceeds derived by the City from such obligations would be applied to reimburse the City for any funds advanced by it for such purposes described above, and for other funds that already have been advanced by the City in connection with the same within sixty days prior to the date of this Resolution. ADOPTED this the 11th day of August, 2025. /s/ James E. Lucas PRESIDENT, CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA The motion was seconded by Councilman Harper and was unanimously carried. Councilman Harper introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION NUMBER 2025 - 2097 A RESOLUTION CONCERNING PAYMENT FOR DAMAGES TO A SEWER LINE _______________________________________________ WHEREAS, in 2024, private contractor work on a state highway project resulted in some damages to an Athens Utilities pressurized sewer line adjacent to the public right of way of Huntsville-Brownsferry Road; and WHEREAS, the City of Athens (the “City”) has reached an agreement with the private contractor, Rogers Group, Inc. (“Contractor”), concerning payment to the City related to those damages. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA at its regular meeting on August 11TH, 2025 at 4:30 PM, that the Mayor (and/or his designee) is authorized for and on behalf of the City, to accept payment of $30,000 from the Contractor in satisfaction of the claim for the damages to the sewer line. ADOPTED this the 11th day of August, 2025. /s/ James E. Lucas PRESIDENT, CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA Councilmember Wales 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, Lucas, Henry 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 Henry seconded the motion to adopt the resolution. Upon the said motion being put to vote, the following vote was recorded: YEAS: Councilmembers Seibert, Wales, Lucas, Henry and Harper; NAYS: None. The President thereupon announced that the motion for the adoption of the said resolution had been unanimously carried. Councilman Harper introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, at its regular meeting on August 11th, 2025 at 4:30 P.M., as follows: 1. The Electric Services Director is authorized to accept the low bid of $1,534,000.00 from Aubrey Silvey Enterprises, Inc. for the construction of Elm Park Substation, Wilkinson, Street, Athens, Alabama.  2. The costs/expenses related to this Resolution shall be paid from the following fund of the City of Athens: 2015 Warrant Fund Councilmember Henry 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, Lucas, Henry 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 Wales seconded the motion to adopt the resolution. Upon the said motion being put to vote, the following vote was recorded: YEAS: Councilmembers Seibert, Wales, Lucas, Henry and Harper; NAYS: None. The President thereupon announced that the motion for the adoption of the said resolution had been unanimously carried. Councilman Wales introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION NUMBER 2025 - 2098 WHEREAS, the City of Athens has received a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Grant to construct improvements along Mooresville Road and US Highway 72 to serve the French Mill Development under construction at the corner of US Highway 72 and Mooresville Road. THEREFORE, in accordance with CDBG and ARC regulations the City of Athens has advertised and received bids from qualified contractors to construct the above referenced improvements. NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the City of Athens and the City’s Engineer has received and reviewed the bids received for this project from interested contractors and have determined that Rogers Group, Incorporated is the qualified low bidder on this project and is not on HUD’s debarred contractor list; and THAT, William R. Marks, Mayor, is hereby authorized, upon approval by ADECA, to enter a contract on behalf of the City of Athens with Rogers Group, Incorporated in the amount of $1,151,421.00 to construct the above referenced improvements as proposed in the City’s CDBG and ARC Application for this project. READ AND ADOPTED this the 11th day of August 2025. Signed for the City of Athens: /s/ William R. Marks MAYOR, CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA ATTEST: /s/ Annette Barnes CITY CLERK, CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA 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, Lucas, Henry 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 Harper seconded the motion to adopt the resolution. Upon the said motion being put to vote, the following vote was recorded: YEAS: Councilmembers Seibert, Wales, Lucas, Henry and Harper; NAYS: None. The President thereupon announced that the motion for the adoption of the said resolution had been unanimously carried. Council President Lucas turned the chair over to Council President Pro Tem Harper. Councilwoman Henry introduced the following resolution:  RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to approve the payment of travel/education expenses for the following: James Lucas Gulf Shores, AL Electric Cities Conference July 5, 2025 – July 9, 2025 $623.96 The motion was seconded by Councilman Seibert and was carried with four yeas and one abstention by Councilman Lucas. Council President Pro Tem Harper turned the chair back over to Council President Lucas. Councilman Seibert introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, to approve the payment of travel/education expenses for the following: Harold Wales Gulf Shores, AL - Electric Cities Conference July 5, 2025 – July 9, 2025 $703.88 The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Henry and was carried with four yeas and one abstention by Councilman Wales. Councilman Harper introduced the following resolution: RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF ATHENS, ALABAMA to adopt an organizational chart for the Water Services Department, which includes 64 regular status positions. 1. Water Services Director 2. Assistant Water Services Director 3. Engineer 4. Operations Administrator 5. Manager Logistics & Strategic Asset Management 6. Water and Wastewater Services Project Manager 7. Collections Superintendent 8. Distribution Superintendent 9. Process Maintenance Superintendent 10. Collections Supervisor (2) 11. Distribution Supervisor 12. Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators (7) 13. Water Treatment Plant Operators (5) 14. Collections Technicians (12) 15. Distribution Technicians (11) 16. Process Maintenance Technicians (4) 17. Distribution & Collection Inspector (3) 18. Wastewater Collection Crew Supervisor 19. Water Distribution Crew Supervisor (3) 20. Assistant Manager of Logistics 21. Asset Management Administrator & Maintenance Coordinator  22. Process Maintenance Supervisor 23. Process Treatment Superintendent 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 ATHENS, ALABAMA to adopt the following updated job description for the Water Services Department: (1) Assistant Water Services Director, Job Description, 7/16/2025 The motion was seconded by Councilman Harper and was unanimously carried. Councilwoman Henry introduced the following ordinance: STATE OF ALABAMA LIMESTONE COUNTY CITY OF ATHENS ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025 - 2379 BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA, that Ordinance Number 888, establishing a classification list for all full-time employees is hereby amended as follows, effective: 8/12/2025. Add the following job title to the list of positions for the Water Services Dpt. (1) Assistant Water Services Director Delete the following job titles from the list of positions for the Water Services Dpt. (1) Capital Improvement Program Manager ADOPTED this the 11th day of August, 2025 /s/ James E. Lucas PRESIDENT, CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA /s/ William R. Marks MAYOR, CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA ATTEST: /s/ Annette Barnes CITY CLERK, CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA Councilmember Harper moved that unanimous consent be given for immediate consideration of and action on said ordinance, 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, Lucas, Henry and Harper; NAYS: None. The President thereupon declared that the motion for unanimous consent for immediate consideration of and action on the said ordinance had been unanimously carried. Councilmember Wales seconded the motion to adopt the ordinance. Upon the said motion being put to vote, the following vote was recorded: YEAS: Councilmembers Seibert, Wales, Lucas, Henry and Harper; NAYS: None. The President thereupon announced that the motion for the adoption of the said ordinance had been unanimously carried. Council President Lucas opened the floor for general public comment on matters pertinent to City business. Laura Lynn Kerner, 22240 Mooresville Road, Athens, addressed the City Council on behalf of representatives of the Athens Gators and stated that they are waiting on a decision regarding a pool facility. Mrs. Kerner remarked that Athens State University has some land that may be of interest to the City and suggested that they try to partner with them regarding the need to build a pool. Elizabeth Stewart, 22843 Oakdale Ridge Lane, Athens, addressed the City Council regarding a water main break in her neighborhood. Mrs. Stewart stated that the break has occurred three times and would like for the City to look into the cause. Mrs. Stewart also stated that there are cracks in the street and that the sidewalk needs to be repaired. Tim Colling, 22686 Regent Drive, Athens, addressed Mayor Marks regarding an incident with a former employee at the Cemetery, Parks and Recreation Department. Mayor Marks referred the matter to Shane Black, City Attorney. Mr. Black stated that the matter is related to a sensitive investigation and that the City would not release any information relating to the matter at this time. Eddie Murphree, 22175 Saratoga Drive, Athens, addressed the City Council and Mayor Marks and praised them for the work that they have done for the community. Mr. Murphree then quoted “The Man in the Arena” by Theodore Roosevelt. Charles Smith, 1408 Hayden Street, Athens, addressed the City Council and stated that he believes the poor children on the west side of town are neglected regarding public safety, due to the need of a sidewalk on Fifth Avenue. * * * There being no further business to come before the meeting, Council President Lucas asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was made by Councilman Wales and was seconded by Councilman Seibert. The meeting was duly and properly adjourned. /s/ James E. Lucas PRESIDENT, CITY COUNCIL /s/Annette Barnes-Threet CITY CLERK