City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING February 12, 2024 PUBLIC HEARING – 5:25 P.M.: NOT THE NORM BOUTIQUE - A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE MERCHANT APPLICATION FOR THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION GRANT PROGRAM AS SUBMITTED BY NOT THE NORM BOUTIQUE . A Public Hearing was held in the Council Chamber of City Hall on Monday, February 12th, at 5:25 p.m. for the purpose of receiving public opinion regarding Resolution 2024-04 to be considered by the City Council. Mayor Dexter McLendon called the hearing to order and City Clerk-Treasurer Dee H. Blackmon recorded the following members present: Mayor McLendon, Councilmembers Bryan Reynolds, Ed Sims, Joseph West, Jae‘Ques Brown, and Boris Thigpen. Mayor McLendon called for public comment. With no comments for or against the measure, Mayor McLendon adjourned the public hearing at 5:27 p.m. The Greenville City Council convened in the Council Chamber of City Hall on Monday, February 12, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. for a regular council meeting. Mayor Dexter McLendon called the meeting to order. The mayor called on City Clerk – Treasurer Dee Blackmon to call the roll and recorded the following members present: Councilmembers Bryan Reynolds, Ed Sims, Joseph West, Jae’Ques Brown, and Boris Thigpen. Mayor McLendon led those attending in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. Councilmember Jae’Ques 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 January 22, 2024. He asked if there were any additions, deletions or amendments to the minutes as presented. Councilmember West moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve the minutes for January 22, 2024, as drafted . Councilmember Thigpen seconded the motion. Mayor McLendon announced the motion carried with a unanimous vote of the Council. PROCLAMATIONS and PRESENTATIONS : NEW BUSINESS: ORDINANCE 2024-01. AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GREENVILLE, ALABAMA, CHAPTER 17, SOLID WASTE. Councilmember Reynolds moved that all rules governing the Council which might, unless suspended, prevent the passag e and adoption of Ordinance 2024-01 at this meeting, be suspended for the purpose of permitting the said ordinance be finally passed and adopted at this meeting. Councilmember West seconded the motion. Mayor McLendon called for a roll call vote to suspend the rules: Mayor McLendon Aye Councilmember Reynolds Aye Councilmember Sims Aye Councilmember West Aye Councilmember Brown Aye Councilmember Thigpen Aye Mayor McLendon declared the motion to suspend the rules passed . Mayor McLendon asked City Clerk – Treasurer, Dee Blackmon, to explain Ordinance 2024-01. Clerk Blackmon stated that in 2018, Republic Services contacted the city and informed them that rates for garbage service had not been increased since 2003. Republic Services is increasing the bill by 3% each year instead of a large increase all at one time. Garbage rates for a 90 gallon can would increase from $19.00 to $22.00 per month and a 30 gallon can would increase from $9.00 to $12.00 per month. Mayor McLendon added this was included in the budget that was approved in September. Councilmember Thigpen asked when will the increase show up on the bill? Dee Blackmon replied it will be on the March water bill. Mayor McLendon asked if anyone has questions or comments. Hearing none, Councilmember Brown moved to place Ordinance 2024-01 into final passage. Councilmember Reynolds seconded the motion. Mayor McLendon called for a roll call vote, which was recorded as follows: Mayor McLendon Aye Councilmember Reynolds Aye Councilmember Sims Aye Councilmember West Aye Councilmember Brown Aye Councilmember Thigpen Aye Mayor McLendon declared the motion passed . RESOLUTION 2024-04. A RESOLUTION APPROVING MERCHANT APPLICATION FOR THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION GRANT PROGRAM AS SUBMITTED BY NOT THE NORM BOUTIQUE. Mayor McLendon explained Resolution 2024-04 was presented in the public hearing at 5:25pm. Not the Norm Boutique is renting the building located at 710 E Commerce Street and have completed the downtown revitalization grant program application for merchant . The Merchant grant is reimbursement of 4% of net sales in which three percent (3%), will be reimbursed to Not the Norm Boutique and 1% will be given to the Ritz Theatre for a period of three (3) years. Mayor McLendon asked if anyone has questions or comments. Hearing none, Councilmember West moved to adopt Resolution 2024-04 approving merchant application for the downtown revitalization grant program as submitted by Not the Norm Boutique . Councilmember Brown seconded the motion. Mayor McLendon announced the motion carried with a unanimous vote of the council. RESOLUTION 2024-05. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OR CITY CLERK-TREASURER TO EXECUTE A MUNICIPAL LEASE FINANCING AGREEMENT WITH CATERPILLAR FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION THROUGH THE NATIONAL COOPERATIVE PURCHASING ALLIANCE. Mayor McLendon called on City Clerk – Treasurer, Dee Blackmon, to explain Resolution 2024-05. She explained this is a lease for a 2024 Caterpillar Backhoe Loader. This purchase was made using the National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance. The City would be financing $188,540.19 for a term of five years. The monthly payments would be $3,114.33 +/- per month. Councilmember Sims asked if this is a lease to purchase? Clerk Blackmon replied yes. Mayor McLendon asked if anyone has any questions or comments. Hearing none, Councilmember Sims moved to adopt Resolution 2024-05, authorizing a lease agreement with Caterpillar Financial Services for a Backhoe Loader . Councilmember Brown seconded the motion. Mayor McLendon announced the motion carried with a unanimous vote of the council. APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURES: Mayor McLendon explained the following expenditures and asked if anyone had questions or comments. Hearing none, Councilmember Thigpen made a motion to approve the following expenditure: SOUTHERN SOFTWARE - $6,646.00 (BUDGETED ITEM) ANNUAL SOFTWARE SUPPORT RENEWAL FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT XBYTE TECHNOLOGIES - $3,475.00 (BUDGETED ITEM) DELL POWEREDGE R640 SERVER FOR CITY HALL SAM’S CLUB - $3,497.80 10 – FOLDING TABLES AND 100 CHAIRS FOR PARKS & RECREATION Councilmember Reynolds seconded the motion. Mayor McLendon announced the motion passed with unanimous vote of the Council. WEED AND DEBRIS VIOLATIONS: BOARD APPOINTMENTS: OTHER BUSINESS: CRAIG WALLER Mayor recognized Craig Waller, and stated you are up. Craig Waller stated, “first off I want to Thank ya’ll for allowing me to speak. I really want to start finding some solutions. I spent a million dollars out of my pocket not the banks to form my 24-hour fitness center and move to Greenville. I was planning on spending another million on multi-family and maybe some bar and grill type stuff, but guys when ya’ll decided to go in and do the fitness center upgrade at the old YMCA, a lot of people and myself feel that is a conflict of interest when there was already two other fitness centers here. Now that hasn’t hurt my business at all, the other place had to sell, another guy got it locally, but I just ask that ya’ll maybe think, put yourself in those shoes when you make those kind of decisions. You know if you had a business would you want some more competition? We are a population of 7,200, ya’ll, we are losing 50 to 60 people per year since the 2020 census. We got to get things moving and competing with small business ain’t going to do it. It just isn’t. We are 45 to 50 million in debt. Ya’ll Clanton is the same size town, the same artery of I65 and they are at 7 million in debt. We got to get a hold on things and turn this thing around. Are we going to have to increase taxes anytime soon? Mayor McLendon said, “you have the floor, you can talk, we are not going back and forth with you, you say what you want to say and we are going to go home.” Craig Waller stated AWESOME, AWESOME, well I think I have said all I need to say, thank you. Mayor McLendon replied with thank you for coming. Craig Waller left the building. Councilmember Sims asked are we adjourned? Mayor McLendon stated no we aren’t adjourned, because I called each of you and said we don’t need to get into something. I am going to tell you Clanton called me to come up and talk to them, because they want to begin development around their interstate. They are trying to get into debt. You spend money to make money. Okay. And those numbers aren’t right, this is someone wanting to run for mayor okay. End of conversation. Okay that was what that was about. Mayor speaking to Parks and Recreation Director, Jerome Harris, “It is up to you with what you do over there” okay and that was the reason you were invited. Thank ya’ll for coming and we are now adjourned. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT: Mayor McLendon announced the next council meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 26, 2024. With no further business or announcements, Mayor McLendon adjourned the meeting at 5:38 p.m. ATTEST: _______________________________ _ Dexter McLendon, Mayor _______ __________________________ Dee H. Blackmon, City Clerk-Treasurer