City Council

. City of Margaret July 20, 2021 6:00 P.M. In attendance: Councilman Jonathan Ray, Councilman Matthew Tortorice, Mayor Pro-Tem Daryl McIntyre, and Mayor Jeffrey Wilson Absent: Councilman James Chapman Prayer: Mr. Barker Mayor Jeffrey Wilson called Meeting to order Discussion Mayor Jeffrey Wilson asked the Council to approve Council Minutes for June 1, 2021 Meeting. Councilman Matthew Tortorice made the Motion to approve Minutes. Mayor Pro-Tem Daryl McIntyre seconded the Motion. Motion passed unanimously. Mayor Pro-Tem Daryl McIntyre made the Motion to table the amended Council Minutes for 11-2-2020 until the next Council Meeting because a quorum for that meeting was not present. Councilman Matthew Tortorice seconded the Motion. Motion passed unanimously. Mayor Pro-Tem Daryl McIntyre made the Motion to table the Council Minutes for 06-23-2021 until the next Council Meeting because a quorum for that meeting was not present. Councilman Matthew Tortorice seconded the Motion. Motion passed unanimously. The variance for Austin Lesley to put a mobile home in District 1 that is more than 10 years was presented to the Council. Councilman Matthew Tortorice made the Motion to accept the variance, pending placing skirting at the bottom of the mobile home. Mayor Pro-Tem Daryl McIntyre seconded the Motion. Mayor Jeffrey Wilsoncalled for a roll call vote: Councilman Matthew Tortorice – YES Councilman Jonathan Ray – YES Mayor Pro-Tem Daryl McIntyre – YES Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Wilks approached the Council concerning building an additional 306 homes in Margaret. The construction entry for these homes will be Copper Springs Rd thru Creekside Subdivision. Councilman Jonathan Ray discussed preventing equipment trucks from tearing up existing roads. The subject of providing sewer was brought up, Mr. Wilks stated that he could get a letter of guarantee from sewer company. Mayor Pro-Tem Daryl McIntyre made the Motion to table the Wilk’s Project discussion until the next Council Meeting. Councilman Jonathan Ray seconded the Motion. Motion passes unanimously. Mayor Jeffrey Wilson informed the Council that the Margaret Community Action Committee would like for the Council to purchase a screen and projector, so that they can do movie nights for the citizens of Margaret. Councilman Jonathan Ray thinks the MCAC needs to try and raise the money themselves. Public Works manager David Parrish informed the Council, that his department is in the need of a vehicle. Mr. Parrish stated that a tilt trucks runs about $7000. Councilman Jonathan Ray suggested getting a 1-ton diesel truck to accommodate the purpose, the Public Works department need the vehicle for. Mayor Jeffrey Wilson suggested considering a mini x. Mayor Jeffrey Wilson would like for Mr. Parrish to look at used diesel trucks on the State bid. Councilman Jonathan Ray would like for Mr. Parrish to get quotes for the vehicle for Public Works. Harvey McWhorter of Brookhaven Development Partners, informed the Council that they are ready to get started on harvesting timber in the Brookhaven Subdivision. The Brookhaven job will take approximately 2 weeks. Then the harvesting of timber will move to the Ridgefield Subdivision which will take approximately 2 ½ weeks. They also did a video of the road conditions prior to starting work. Chief George Wiggin would like for the Council to approve $2600.00 for a motor and transmission for 2 vehicles (Ford Explorer and Dodge Charger) and in the Police Department. Mayor Pro-Tem Daryl McIntyre made a Motion to suspend rules in order to consider the purchase of the motor and transmission for the Police Department. Councilman Matthew Tortorice seconded the Motion. The Motion passed unanimously. Councilman Matthew made the Motion to let Chief Wiggin purchase the motor and transmission as quoted and the money will be taken out of the American Rescue Plan Fund money. Mayor Pro-Tem Daryl McIntyre seconded the Motion. Motion passed unanimously. Chief Wiggin would like for the Council to approve the stripe package decals for the rest of the police cars. The cost for the package is $425 for each SUV And $325.00 for each car. Councilman Jonathan Ray made the Motion to table the discussion for the striping of the police cars. Councilman Matthew Tortorice seconded the Motion. The Motion passed unanimously. Chief Wiggin also informed the Council that the Police Department is in need of 3 police vests because some of the ones they have are expired. Councilman Jonathan Ray asked Chief Wiggin, how many vests are really need and Chief Wiggin responded that the department really needs 5 vests. Mayor Pro-Tem Daryl McIntyre made a Motion to suspend the rules in order to consider the purchase of 5 police vests. Councilman Matthew Tortorice seconded the Motion. The Motion passed unanimously. Councilman Jonathan Ray made the Motion to spend up to $4000.00 for the purchase of level 3 police vests and the money will be taken out of the American Rescue Plan Fund money. Councilman Matthew Tortorice seconded the Motion. The Motion passed unanimously. Councilman Jonathan Ray inquired whether or not Chief Wiggin would keep inventory. Chief Wiggin stated that he would. Chief David Parrish informed the Council of the need for the Fire Department to purchase 3 Zoll defibrillators regular priced at $38,393.25 for a discounted price of $30,330.67. Mayor Pro-Tem Daryl McIntyre made the Motion to the purchase the 3 Zoll defibrillators for the Fire Department up to the amount of $91,000.00 and the money be taken out of the American Rescue Plan Fund. Councilman Matthew Tortorice seconded the Motion. The Motion passed unanimously. Councilman Jonathan Ray would like for Chief Parrish to also get quotes on the auto CPR machine. Chief Parrish informed the Council of the need for the Fire Department to purchase a fire truck for the potential fire station 3. The quote that Chief Parrish was not current. Councilman Matthew Tortorice made a Motion to table the discussion of purchasing a fire truck, to allow Chief Parrish to get an updated quote. The Motion died from a lack of a second. Mayor Pro-Tem Daryl McIntyre made a to suspend the rules in order to consider the taking advantage of the financing offer by Zoll in order to purchase the 3 defibrillators. Councilman Matthew Tortorice seconded the Motion. The Motion passed unanimously. Councilman Matthew Tortorice made the Motion to allow the City to utilize the financing offer by Zoll and make payments using the American Rescue Plan Fund. Councilman Matthew Tortorice made the Motion to allot $40,000.00 of the American Rescue Plan Fund to the Fire Department in order to allow the purchase of a 2003 Kenworth T300 Fire Truck. Mayor Pro-Tem Daryl McIntyre seconded the Motion. The Motion passed unanimously.  Animal control was the up next to discuss. The Council agreed to pay the City a $5000.00 reimbursement fee for the upkeep of the Animal Control Center. The Council suggested a water rate increase in order to keep up with the price increase for the City to purchase water. The increase is: $4.00 across the board. $25.00 for rereads $50.00 reconnect fee Mayor Pro-Tem Daryl McIntyre made the Motion to adjust the water rates to reflect the Council’s suggestion, due to the increase to the City. Councilman Jonathan Ray seconded the Motion. The Motion passed unanimously. Mayor Jeffrey Wilson addressed the drainage issue at Wilson Park. Mayor Jeffrey Wilson would like to keep the fixing of the drainage issue in house. Councilman Matthew Tortorice made the Motion to allow the City to address the drainage problem at Wilson Park. Mayor Pro-Tem Daryl McIntyre seconded the Motion. The Motion passed unanimously. Councilman Matthew Tortorice made a Motion to table the discussion on the drainage for Parkwood until next regular scheduled Council Meeting in order for Mr. Barker can get 3 bids to fix Parkwood. Shawn Lovejoy addressed the Council concerning the drainage concerns on Foxtrot. Mayor Jeffrey Wilson suggested taken up these concerns at the next Council Meeting. Mr. Lovejoy would like the matter to be concern, now. Councilman Jonathan Ray feels that this is not a Council matter at this time. Councilman Jonathan Ray made a Motion to table the Foxtrot issue until the next Council Meeting. Motion died from a lack of second. Mr. Jimmy Moore stated that they are trying to get ahead of future drainage issues by presenting the engineering drawing to the Council. Attorney Erskine Funderburg asked the representatives what did they want from City of Margaret. Shawn Lovejoy stated that they wanted the City to approve the engineering plans. Lovejoy informed the City of their plans to install silk fences and keep the areas swept. Councilman Jonathan Ray informed them that the water still pooling with no place to go. Attorney Erskine Funderburg informed the representatives that the City could not take action on something we don’t if it will work. Mr. Buggs who owns a funeral home that serves the Pell City area informed the Council of a back-to-school event to be held on Saturday July 24, 2021. The funeral home is located on Cogswell Ave across the street from the courthouse. Tim Coshatt addressed the Council about missed garbage pickup on South Hillcrest for 2 weeks. Councilman Matthew Tortorice informed Mr. Coshatt that Waste Management has a shortage of workers, countywide. Mr. Coshatt also inquired about the increase in garbage price and was informed that it was a consumer price index increase. Mayor Jeffrey Wilson asked for any more comments: Councilman Jonathan Ray asked about LED lighting in entrance of Hunters Crossing and Ridgefield Subdivisions. Mr. Barker informed the Council that it will be $28/month. Councilman Jonathan Ray made the Motion to spend the $28/month in order to get the lighting for Hunters Crossing and Ridgefield Subdivisions. Mayor Pro-Tem Daryl McIntyre seconded the Motion. Motion passed unanimously. Councilman Matthew informed the Council that there may not be enough money left in escrow to fix Lakeside Dr. Mayor Jeffrey Wilson inquired why the road wasn’t fixed before now. Stephen Perry a former Councilman informed Mayor Jeffrey Wilson that the intent was to prevent road damage because they were still building. Harvey McWhorter stated that there was an offer to fix the road, but it was declined. Attorney Erskine Funderburg informed Mr. McWhorter that the developer is still liable for plat, regardless of whether or not he sells off lots. Councilman Jonathan Ray made the Motion to adjourn. Mayor Pro-Tem Daryl McIntyre seconded the Motion. Meeting adjourned at 8:04 PM. ___________________________ Jeffrey Wilson, Mayor Attest: ___________________________ Teja McIntyre, City Clerk