City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING December 14 , 2020 The Greenville City Council convened in the Council Chamber of City Hall on Monday, December 14, 2020, at 5:30 p.m. for a regular Council meeting. Mayor Dexter McLendon called the meeting to order. City Clerk-Treasurer Dee H. Blackmon called the roll and recorded the following members present: Mayor McLendon, Councilmembers Ed Sims, Joseph West, and Jae’Ques Brown. Councilmembers Boris Thigpen and Bryan Reynolds was absent. Mayor McLendon led those attending in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. Councilmember Brown delivered the invocation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Mayor McLendon advised each councilmember had received for review a copy of the proposed minutes for the Regular Council Meeting held on November 23, 2020. He asked if there were any additions, deletions or amendments to the minutes as presented. Councilmember Brown moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve the minutes for November 23, 2020, as drafted . Councilmember Sims seconded the motion. Mayor McLendon announced the motion carried with a unanimous vote of the Council. NEW BUSINESS: RESOLUTION 2020-72. A RESOLUTION GRANTING A TAX ABATEMENT TO PEAK ENERGY CORPORATION. Mayor McLendon called on David Hutchison with Butler County Commission for Economic Development. Mr. Hutchison stated the $65+ million project will be 50/50 in the City of Greenville and Unincorporated Butler County. Current property taxes on 550-acre site is $7,600 per year. The project with its investment and its associated improvements will increase significantly. During the first years operation, the Butler County School System will receive $180,000 in new revenue. The average revenue over 34 years will be approximately $109,807 per year. There will be no impact on increased students or infrastructure in Butler County as result of the project. Over the 35-year life of the project, the BCSS will receive approximately $4 Million. The value of the statutory abatement of sales, use and property taxes is valued at $5.6 Million. Although the project will only create 2-3 permanent jobs, there will be approximately 150-250 construction jobs over a 9-12-month period. Hotels, hardware stores, food and other associated businesses will benefit from the project. The project has committed to supporting the Butler County Commission for Economic Development (BCCED) recently established Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) with an annual contribution of $30,000 for 20 years. The RLF will focus on assisting Butler County small businesses with less than 25 employees with access to capital. This will be done in cooperation with local Butler County financial institutions, the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce, the South Central Alabama Development Commission and Grow Southeast Alabama. Mayor McLendon asked for the pleasure of the council. Councilmember West moved to adopt Resolution 2020-72 approving Peak Energy Corporation tax abatement. Councilmember Sims seconded the motion. Mayor McLendon announced the motion carried with a unanimous vote of the council. RESOLUTION 2020-73. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE BUTLER COUNTY COMMISSION REGARDING DEBRIS REMOVAL AND MONITORING SERVICES Mayor McLendon called on City Clerk Dee Blackmon to explain Resolution 2020-73. She stated Alabama law authorizes counties and municipalities to enter into agreements to provide services to each other under mutually agreed on terms. The City of Greenville is not properly equipped to effectively perform debris removal operations in the event of a disaster within its jurisdictional limits and as such, the county and municipality find it to be in their mutual best interests and to the benefit of the citizens they represent, to enter into this Memorandum of Understanding between the city and county which allows the county to have debris removal services performed on municipal property and monitored if needed. Councilmember Sims moved to adopt Resolution 2020-73, approving the memorandum of understanding between the city and county regarding debris removal and monitoring services. Councilmember Brown seconded the motion. Mayor McLendon announced the motion carried with a unanimous vote of the council. APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURES: Councilmember West made a motion to approve the following expenditures: ALABAMA FIRST RESPONDER BENEFITS PROGRAM - $4,559.52 (BUDGETED ITEM) CRITICAL ILLNESS & LONG TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE FOR FIRE FIGHTERS ALABAMA FENCE - $18,282.00 (INSURANCE WILL REIMBURSE) REPAIRS TO FENCE AND BACKSTOP AT BEELAND COMPLEX CAMELLIA COMMUNICATIONS - $10,000.00 (BUDGETED ITEM) AID TO CONSTRUCT FIBER TO SHERLING LAKE HARRIS LOCAL GOVERNMENT - $19,141.27 (BUDGETED ITEM) ANNUAL MAINTENANCE CONTRACT FOR ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE (CITY CLERK & HR) GREENVILLE CASH & CARRY - UP TO $11,500.00 (BUDGETED ITEM) MATERIALS FOR REPAIRS TO PIER AT SHERLING LAKE LEXIPOL - $18,712.00 (BUDGETED ITEM) ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FEE AND ONE-TIME IMPLEMENTATION FEE FOR POLICE DEPT. GOODWYN, MILLS & CAWOOD $5,525.00 DRILLED TEST WELL AT OLD LANDFILL, ANALYTICAL COSTS, SAMPLING AND SUPPLIES SOUTHERN SAND - $2,595.00 DIG OUT SILT POND AT LANDFILL (ADEM REQUIREMENT) MIDSOUTH - $1,342.80 (BUDGETED ITEM) 11.19 TONS OF COLD MIX FOR PATCHING INGRAM EQUIPMENT - $1,475.00 HEAVY DUTY SUCTION HOSE FOR NEW LEAF MACHINE (#44) PERRY BROTHERS AVIATION - $12,116.97 (BUDGETED ITEM) 4343 GALLONS OF GASOLINE FOR THE AIRPORT WALTER CRAIG - $20,777.08 (PATRICK LEAHY BVP GRANT WILL REIMBURSE CITY $10,388.54) 12 - BULLET PROOF VESTS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT Councilmember Brown seconded the motion. Mayor McLendon announced the motion passed with unanimous vote of the Council. OTHER BUSINESS: Councilmember Sims moved to reappoint board member Velma Briggs to the Greenville Housing Authority Board. Councilmember Brown seconded the motion. Mayor McLendon announced the motion carried with a unanimous vote of the Council. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT: Mayor McLendon announced the next regular council meeting will be held Monday, December 21, 2020. COVID numbers have increased rapidly, therefore, to comply with social distancing, the next meeting will be held at Beeland Park. Masks will be required. With no further business or announcements, Mayor McLendon adjourned the meeting at 5:49 p.m. _______________________________ _ Dexter McLendon, Mayor ATTEST: ________________________________ Dee H. Blackmon, City Clerk-Treasurer **ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION APPEARS AT THE END OF THE MINUTES.