City Council

SEPTEMBER 22, 2025 ATHENS CITY HALL 200 HOBBS STREET WEST ATHENS, AL 35611 4:00 P.M. WORK SESSION Erin Tidwell and Shane Black – Proposed TIF No. 4 4:30 P.M. REGULAR MEETING 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. INVOCATION – Councilman Harper 4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Mayor Marks 5. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MINUTES: 09-08-2025 6. APPROVAL OF WORK SESSION MINUTES: 09-08-2025 7. APPROVAL OF SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES: 8. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES: 9. REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: 10. REPORT OF OFFICERS: A. MAYOR B. CITY ATTORNEY C. COUNCIL MEMBERS: (1) MR. SEIBERT (2) MR. WALES (3) MR. LUCAS (4) MRS. HENRY (5) MR. HARPER 11. PUBLIC HEARINGS PH.1 – Public hearing relating to the zoning approval for the sale of alcohol in the City of Athens by Devdarsh INC, Dba: Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham, 1322 U.S. 72 East, Athens, AL (existing business adding alcohol sales). – Annette Barnes-Threet, City Clerk PH.2 – Public hearing relating to the establishment of Tax Increment Financing District No. 4. – Erin Tidwell, City Planner and Shane Black 11 A. – A resolution concerning the establishment of Tax Increment Financing District No. 4 in order to assist the City with financing the cost of the expenditures associated with public improvements. – Erin Tidwell, City Planner and Shane Black 12. PUBLIC REMARKS REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS 13. RESOLUTIONS, ORDINANCES, ORDERS AND OTHER BUSINESS CONSENT CALENDAR A. Resolution to approve travel and education expenses for personnel of Water Services in the amount of $229.53. – Jimmy Junkin, Water Services Director B. Resolution to reappoint the following to the Athens Alcohol License Review Committee for a term of three years, expiring Sept. 30, 2028: Police Chief Anthony Pressnell, City Clerk Annette Barnes Threet, Fire Chief James Hand, City Planner Erin Tidwell, Jackie Warner, Sally Marks and Ray Neese. – Mayor Marks C. Resolution to reappoint Einar Gudmundsson to the Athens Historic Preservation Commission for a three-year term expiring Jan. 24, 2028. – Erin Tidwell, City Planner D. Resolution to approve the purchase of a 7000# GVWR 83’x20’ Tandem Axel Tube Rail 30’ sides with short 36’ Lawn Gate Utility Trailer from Lone Wolf Trailer Co. at a cost not to exceed $3,315 for the Sanitation Dept. from Sanitation’s existing operational capital. – Terence Brown, Sanitation Director E. Resolution to approve the purchase of 10 Apple 11-inch iPads from CDW-G for use by the City Council, Mayor and administrative/support staff, at a cost not to exceed $7,400, from IT’s existing capital account. – Dale Haymon, IT Director F. Resolution to set a public hearing for the regular meeting on Oct. 27, 2025, to consider the request of Harry Fred Leonard Jr., Nancy Kay Leonard McBay, and Benjie McBay to rezone +/- 1.52 acres of property located directly north of U.S. 72 and directly west of Sweetland Road, from R-1-1 (low density single family residential district) to B-2 (general business district) within the corporate limits of Athens. – Erin Tidwell, City Planner G. Resolution to set a public hearing for the regular meeting on Oct. 27, 2025, to consider the request of Ruthann Barksdale, Emily Simmons and Keith Rowe to rezone +/- 4.48 acres of property located at 14399 Cambridge Lane and 14297 Cambridge Lane from EST (Estate Residential and Agricultural) to R-1-1 (Low Density Single Family Residential District) within the corporate limits of Athens. – Erin Tidwell, City Planner H. Resolution to approve travel expenses for personnel of the Electric Dept. in the total amount of $66.51. – Hunter Allen, Electric Dept. Director I. Resolution to approve the purchase of a 2021 Chevrolet 2500 4x4 Crew Cab truck with service body from ALDOT Equipment Bureau at a cost not to exceed $45,000 for Parks and Rec from the department’s existing capital expenditure fund. – Bert Bradford, CPR Director J. Resolution to purchase a 2025 Ford Explorer from Long Lewis Automotive Group through State Contract T191 for the Sanitation Dept. at a cost not to exceed $40,879.50 from the department’s existing operational capital account. – Terence Brown, Sanitation Director K. Resolution to purchase a 2025 Ford F-150 from Long Lewis Automotive Group through State Contract T191 for Public Works at a cost not to exceed $61,329.50 to be funded from Engineering’s existing capital account – Stacy Dowden, Public Works Director REGULAR MEETING L. Resolution to approve the proposed FY 2026 Gas Department budget with total operating revenue of $20,291,500 and total operating expenses of $19,272,750. – Braxton Guinn, Gas Dept. Director M. Resolution to authorize $23,103.48 to be paid from Water Services Dept. cash reserves to Limestone County for fiber optic line installation. – Jimmy Junken, Water Services Director N. An ordinance to establish regulations to utilize certain aerial space above a public sidewalk for a balcony or similar limited encroachment. – Shane Black O. An ordinance to amend the Entertainment District provisions of the Athens Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance to add clarifying language relating to the use of approved containers. – Shane Black P. An ordinance granting a franchise to Uniti Fiber GulfCo, LLC regarding a non-exclusive franchise granting the limited authority to construct a fiber-optic transmission line system in the City along certain public right-of-way. – Shane Black Q. A resolution approving an amendment/extension of the contract with Athens- Limestone Animal Service. – Shane Black 14. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS PERTINENT TO CITY BUSINESS 15. ADJOURNMENT