City Council Regular Session

The city council regular session of the city of Florence, Alabama, was held at 109 South Pine Street at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, with the following members of the City Council in attendance: Kaytrina Simmons, Jackie Hendrix, Alisa Dickson, Josh Bowling, Thomas Spence, Chapel King. AMENDED AGENDA CITY OF FLORENCE, ALABAMA 109 SOUTH PINE STREET CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION MEETING May 19, 2026 5:00 PM 1. Meeting Called to Order 2. Invocation Councilmember Spence led the Invocation 3. Pledge of Allegiance Council President Simmons noted that Bob Leyde, City Clerk-Treasurer was not available for today’s City Council meeting. Ms. Simmons requested Steve Eason attend this meeting to record the minutes Councilmember Bowling moved Motion to appoint Steve Eason in the absence of Mr. Leyde to record the minutes for the meeting on May 19, 2026 Councilmember Spence seconded the motion. A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: Motion Passed. Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None 4. Roll Call 5. Approval of Agenda Council President Simmons noted that item 11N was removed from the consent agenda prior to the approval of the agenda at the request of William Musgrove. Councilmember Spence moved for approval of the amended agenda Councilmember Dickson seconded the motion. A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: Motion Passed. Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None 6. Message from the Mayor Mayor Tyler was not in attendance 1 7. Reports of Department Heads There were no reports from department heads. 8. Reports of Standing Committees There were no reports from standing committees. 9. Public Hearings There were no public hearings. 10. Business from the floor pertaining to items on the consent and regular agenda (5-minute time limit). There was no business from the floor. 11. Consent Agenda Councilmember Bowling moved to approve the consent agenda items Councilmember King seconded the motion. A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: Motion Passed. Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None (a) Resolution to Approve the Minutes from the May 5, 2026, Council Meeting (b) Confirm payment of bills by the City Treasurer. (c) Contract-Brink's Fence Company 1 year contract at the rates listed for installation and repairs at all Gas and Water/ Wastewater Facilities Hourly Labor Rate = $75 per man hour Material markup rate = 30% (d) Contract-IIA Lifting Services, Inc. Annual aerial ladder testing/certification at the Florence Fire Dept $8074.55 from Contractual Services, Account #256-42200 (e) Contract-Barnett Plumbing, LLC 1 year contract at the rates listed for all Gas and Water/Wastewater Facilities (f) Invoice-Hobart Attempt to repair the ice machine at the Florence Police Department training center $1,310.05 from Budgeted Funds, Account #266-42100 (g) Invoice-Hobart Attempt to repair the ice machine at the Florence Police Department $411.00 from Budgeted Funds, Account # 266-42100 (h) Invoice-Certified Alarm-Repairs to badge access at the intake door of the Animal Services Building. (i) Contract-Konecranes Replace power conductor bar on chlorine hoist at Wilson Lake WTP $21,461.04 (j) Invoice-Crouch & Sons Plumbing clear the pipes and stub a new cleanout to repair drainage issues in the downstairs bathrooms at the Police Department. $750.00 from Budgeted Funds, Account #266-42100 (k) Invoice 31187- Williams Fire Apparatus Repairs to Engine 1 at Florence Fire Department $11,238.32 from Account # 261-42200 (l) Invoice 31321- Williams Fire Apparatus Repairs to Engine 12 at Florence Fire Department $9,229.21 from Account # 261-42200 2  (m) Contract- Williams Fire Apparatus On Site Repairs From Account 261-42200 (n) Contract with Mike's Cleaning Service to provide janitorial services at Municipal Court Item 11N was removed from the consent agenda (o) Resolution to approve payment of an invoice from C & H Cooling & Heating for maintenance services provided on the cooling unit at Municipal Court in the amount of $882.70 (p) Agreement-Bubba's Marine Construction, LLC, to provide barge and tugboat to be used for a firework display at the Spirit of Freedom Celebration in McFarland Park July 4, 2026, in the amount of $10,000.00, account #110-2048-51700. (q) Resolution to approve travel vouchers 12. Regular Agenda (a) Contract- Fresh Works LLC New Training Center Classroom $307,001.23 from Account #188-1020-42200 New Training Center Classroom that has been in the planning phase since early 2025 Councilmember Spence moved for immediate consideration Councilmember King seconded the motion. A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: Motion Passed. Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None Councilmember Bowling moved for adoption Councilmember Spence seconded the motion. Discussion: None A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: Motion Passed. Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None (b) Resolution to approve the 2026 Municipal Water Pollution Prevention Annual Report to be submitted to ADEM Councilmember Hendrix moved for immediate consideration Councilmember Bowling seconded the motion. A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: 3  Motion Passed. Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None Councilmember Dickson moved for adoption Councilmember Hendrix seconded the motion. Discussion: None A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: Motion Passed. Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None (c) Resolution to approve a contract between the City of Florence and the Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama, in the amount of $100,000.00, to conduct residential rehabilitation activities through a structured application and inspection program, in accordance with the approved Community Development Action Plan, sponsored by Melissa Bailey. Councilmember Spence moved for immediate consideration Councilmember Dickson seconded the motion. A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: Motion Passed. Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None Councilmember Hendrix moved for adoption Councilmember King seconded the motion. Discussion: None A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: Motion Passed. Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None 4  (d) Resolution to approve the Real Estate Sales Contract and Addendum regarding the purchase of the property located at 301 S. Chestnut Street for the Electricity Department in the amount of $168,000.00 Discussion: Council President Simmons summarized comments made by Mary McDuffa at the work session including how the Electricity Department will utilize this real estate. Also, the expense was properly budgeted in the Electricity Department's budget for this fiscal year. Councilmember King moved Motion for immediate consideration Councilmember Spence seconded the motion. A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: Motion Passed. Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None Councilmember Hendrix moved for adoption Councilmember Dickson seconded the motion. A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: Motion Passed. Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None 13. General Business (a) 700 Specialty Retailer License of consumable hemp products Shree Ram Inc 2024 DBA Cloverdale Food and Spirits 3504 Cloverdale Road #B, Florence, AL 35630 Councilmember Hendrix moved for immediate consideration Councilmember Bowling seconded the motion. A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: Motion Passed. Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None Councilmember Bowling moved for adoption 5  Councilmember Hendrix seconded the motion. Discussion: None A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: Motion Passed. Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None (b) Alcohol Application for Restaurant - Full Menu with 040 - Retail Beer (On or Off Premises) and 060 - Retail Table Wine (On or Off Premises) Rice Box Chen Corp DBA Rice Box 1529 North Wood Avenue, Florence, AL 35630 Councilmember Hendrix moved for immediate consideration Councilmember Bowling seconded the motion. A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: Motion Passed. Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None Councilmember Bowling moved for adoption Councilmember King seconded the motion. Discussion: None A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: Motion Passed. Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None (c) Alcohol Application for a Special Event with On Premises Liquor Beer & Wine Gwendolyn Woods DBA Shoals Cabaret 702 Veterans Dr Florence, AL 35630 (Florence Lauderdale Coliseum) To take place on Friday, July 24th, 2026 Councilmember Hendrix moved for immediate consideration Councilmember Bowling seconded the motion. A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: Motion Passed. 6  Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None Councilmember Dickson moved for adoption Councilmember Bowling seconded the motion. Discussion: None A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: Motion Passed. Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None (d) Alcohol Application for Automobile Self Service Station & Convenience Foods with 050- Retail Beer (Off Premises Only) and 070-Retail Table Wine (Off Premises Only) Subi2026 Inc DBA Mapco 932 302 Cox Creek Parkway Florence, AL 35630 Councilmember Hendrix moved Motion for immediate consideration Councilmember King seconded the motion. A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: Motion Passed. Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None Councilmember Bowling moved for adoption Councilmember Spence seconded the motion. Discussion: None A vote was taken on the motion resulted as follows: Motion Passed. Ayes: Kaytrina Simmons Jackie Hendrix Alisa Dickson Josh Bowling Thomas Spence Chapel King Noes: None 7  (e) Upcoming Board Vacancies and Reappointments Building & Property Maintenance Board of Appeals (2 Alternates Vacancies) Beautification Board (1 Vacancy) Board of Zoning Adjustments (1 Reappointment) 14. Business from the Public (5-Minute Time Limit) There was no business from the public. 15. Council Members Reports and/or Comments (5-Minute Time Limit) Councilmember King: She provided her phone number is 256-956-9621. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Councilmember Hendrix: Reminding everyone to vote. We had a great event at Arts Alive. Thanks to all the vendors who attended. I also want to speak about jobs for a minute. Simmons th serves on the SEDA board and Mayor, and I serve on the SIDC board. On March 19 we had project Hadrian invested $360 million dollars into our community and brought 888 jobs to our community. Today we met again for project Jolt. This is a project in Shoals Research Air Park. Virginia Transformers are making a $302 million dollar investment in our community. In phase one this will bring 819 jobs and phase two will bring 281 jobs. It’s a great time to be in office. These projects are in Colbert County due to many factors, but we always knew we would benefit from the retail side of these projects. I also want to remind you that our General Fund budget is made up of just under 70 percent sales tax. Lauderdale and Colbert Counties are better together. Councilmember Dickson: Thank you Mr. Hendrix for sharing that information with us. How our infrastructure will support that is on my mind. School is out. Be careful and mindful of our city’s children. Councilmember Bowling: I want to echo what Mr. Hendrix said about Arts Alive. It was a great rd event for Florence. I went to Dothan with my golf team and we placed 3 in the tournament. He spoke about his support for area sports teams. We had a great time as a council bowling in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters. We had a lot of fun together. Councilmember Spence: Thanks to everyone watching and who showed up tonight. We appreciate our city employees and department heads for all they do. I want to mention Eric Foster with the Beautification Board he had surgery today and he is doing well. Let’s keep him in our prayers. Go vote. Also, the animal shelter needs volunteers. Council President Simmons: Everyone go vote, the polls are open until 7 p.m. Enjoy your summer. rd The splash pad and pools will be opening on May 23 . Thank you to all the attendees of the district 1 th community meeting on May 11 at Sherrod Avenue Church of Christ. Thanks to the Council, Mayor, Chief Holt, and Chief Jackson from UNA for attending. Thanks for allowing us to use the Church. Thanks to all the citizens for coming. I want to echo Mr. Hendrix. I am proud to be on the SEDA board and was happy to cast my vote in the Jolt project. 16. Motion to Adjourn Councilmember Bowling led the closing prayer 8