City Council

APPROVED AS PRESENTED TO COUNCIL 04/15/25 MEETING MINUTES April 1, 2025 The members of the City Council of the City of Phenix City, Alabama met in a regularly scheduled council meeting on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. at 1111 Broad Street, Phenix City, Alabama, 36867. Upon roll call, the following members of Council were present: Councilmember Arthur L. Day, Jr., Councilmember Vickey Carter Green, Councilmember Steve Bailey, Councilmember R. Griff Gordy, and Mayor Eddie N. Lowe. Also present were City Manager Wallace Hunter, Assistant City Manager Chan Gamble, City Attorney Jimmy Graham, and City Clerk Shannon Davis. Upon a quorum being established, Mayor Lowe called the meeting to order. Reverend Lee Bateman of Trinity Methodist Church delivered the invocation as it was listed on the agenda. Councilmember Gordy led the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag. City Manager Wallace Hunter and Human Resources Director Stephanie Chastain presented employee service recognitions to Terry Joiner – 5 years, Patrick Doleman - 15 years, John Spraggins - 15 years, Shannon Davis – 10 years. Ms. Chastain stated that Jose Silva – 15 years, Hurry Jones – 10 years, Bobby Morgan – 10 years, Adam Tillery – 20 years, John Pinkney – 15 years, were not able to attend. Mayor Lowe presented a proclamation recognizing the Central High School Girls’ Flag Football Team and Coaches on their 2024 AHSAA 6A/7A State Championship Title. PROCLAMATION Mayor Lowe called upon Coach Mitchell Holt, Coach Troy Jackson and members of the Central High School Girls’ Flag Football Team to come forward to accept the Proclamation. Mayor Lowe presented the regularly scheduled meeting minutes of the March 17, 2025 Work Session Meeting and March 18, 2025 Council Meeting for approval. Councilmember Day moved to approve the minutes, which motion was seconded by Councilmember Gordy. Upon said motion being put to a vote, the following vote was recorded: YEAS: Councilmembers Day, Green, Bailey, Gordy, and Mayor Lowe. NAYS: None. ABSTAINS: None. The motion thus passed. Mayor Lowe stated there was no unfinished business to address at this time. Mayor Lowe presented a resolution in reference to accepting and approving a proposed settlement regarding property damage by claimant Progressive Insurance, as Subrogee of its insured, Taylor Long in the amount of $6,859.36. RESOLUTION NO. 2025-60 Councilmember Gordy moved to approve the resolution which motion was seconded by Councilmember Green. Upon said motion being put to a vote, the following vote was recorded: YEAS: Councilmembers Day, Green, Bailey, Gordy, and Mayor Lowe. NAYS: None. ABSTAINS: None. The motion thus passed.  Mayor Lowe presented a resolution in reference authorizing and directing the Mayor and City Manager to sign Change Order No. 3 with Architectural Innovations Design Group, LLC for the New Human Resources Office, now known as the New Information Technology Building. RESOLUTION NO. 2025-61 Councilmember Green moved to approve the resolution, which motion was seconded by Councilmember Bailey. Upon said motion being put to a vote, the following vote was recorded: YEAS: Councilmembers Day, Green, Bailey, Gordy, and Mayor Lowe. NAYS: None. ABSTAINS: None. The motion thus passed. Mayor Lowe presented a resolution in reference to authorizing and directing the Mayor and City Manager to enter into and sign a contract with Annie B. Benton to purchase property located at 1018 5th Street South for future expansion of Edmonds Cemetery in the amount of $6,500.00 plus applicable closing cost. RESOLUTION NO. 2025-62 Councilmember Day moved to approve the resolution, which motion was seconded by Councilmember Gordy. Upon said motion being put to a vote, the following vote was recorded: YEAS: Councilmembers Day, Green, Bailey, Gordy, and Mayor Lowe. NAYS: None. ABSTAINS: None. The motion thus passed. Mayor Lowe presented a resolution in reference to authorizing Alabama Power to install one (1) 207 Watt LED Street Light (27,001 – 34,000 Lumens – Type III – Gray 4000K) on Riverchase Drive near Grist Mill Drive. RESOLUTION NO. 2025-63 Councilmember Gordy moved to approve the resolution which motion was seconded by Councilmember Day. Upon said motion being put to a vote, the following vote was recorded: YEAS: Councilmembers Day, Green, Bailey, Gordy, and Mayor Lowe. NAYS: None. ABSTAINS: None. The motion thus passed. Mayor Lowe presented a resolution in reference to authorizing and directing the Mayor and City Manager to sign an indemnification letter with Alabama Cooperative Extension System to provide funding for the pedestrian travel lane along Fontaine Road. RESOLUTION NO. 2025-64 Councilmember Day moved to approve the resolution, which motion was seconded by Councilmember Bailey. Upon said motion being put to a vote, the following vote was recorded: YEAS: Councilmembers Day, Green, Bailey, Gordy, and Mayor Lowe. NAYS: None. ABSTAINS: None. The motion thus passed. Mayor Lowe presented a resolution in reference to authorizing the Mayor and City Manager to enter into an agreement with Ritch Electric Company, Inc., to upgrade City maintained streetlights to energy efficient LED lights. RESOLUTION NO. 2025-65 Councilmember Gordy moved to approve the resolution, which motion was seconded by Councilmember Bailey. Upon said motion being put to a vote, the following vote was recorded: YEAS: Councilmembers Day, Green, Bailey, Gordy, and Mayor Lowe. NAYS: None. ABSTAINS: None. The motion thus passed. Mayor Lowe presented a resolution in reference to the purchase of one (1) 2025 Ford F- 150 Supercrew 4x4 pickup truck purchased under State Contract T191 from Stivers Ford Lincoln, Montgomery, Alabama, in the amount of $47,035.00. RESOLUTION NO. 2025-66 Councilmember Green moved to approve the resolution, which motion was seconded by Councilmember Day. Upon said motion being put to a vote, the following vote was recorded: YEAS: Councilmembers Day, Green, Bailey, Gordy, and Mayor Lowe. NAYS: None. ABSTAINS: None. The motion thus passed. Mayor Lowe declared that now was the time and place for a public hearing in reference to an Ordinance to rezone 36.60+/- acres of land located on Colin Powell Parkway from an M-1 Zone (General Manufacturing District) to an M-2 Zone (Heavy Manufacturing District), Broken Arrow Land Holdings, LLC, owner. Neither hearing nor seeing anyone come forward, Mayor Lowe declared the hearing closed. Mayor Lowe presented an Ordinance to rezone 36.60+/- acres of land located on Colin Powell Parkway from an M-1 Zone (General Manufacturing District) to an M-2 Zone (Heavy Manufacturing District), Broken Arrow Land Holdings, LLC, owner. ORDIANCE NO. 2025-05 Councilmember Gordy moved to approve the ordiance, which motion was seconded by Councilmember Day. Upon said motion being put to a vote, the following vote was recorded: YEAS: Councilmembers Day, Green, Bailey, Gordy, and Mayor Lowe. NAYS: None. ABSTAINS: None. The motion thus passed. Mayor Lowe presented for second reading an Application for an Off-Premise Beer License and Off Premise Wine License submitted by NVSM Management LLC dba Marathon 106 located at 1221 East 280 Bypass, Phenix City, Alabama. Councilmember Day moved to approve the application, which motion was seconded by Councilmember Gordy. Upon said motion being put to a vote, the following vote was recorded: YEAS: Councilmembers Day, Green, Bailey, Gordy, and Mayor Lowe. NAYS: None. ABSTAINS: None. The motion thus passed. Councilmember Green stated that the City Employees that received service awards had a combined total of 115 years of service to the City. Councilmember Green also stated that they were happy to see the amount of dedication to employee’s work and that they appreciate each one of them. Councilmember Green thanked each of the employees and congratulated them on their service years. Councilmember Green thanked City Clerk Shannon Davis on her service award and stated that City Council appreciates everything she does for them. Councilmember Green congratulated the Members of Central High School Girls' Flag Football AHSAA 6A/7A State Championship Team and all of the Coaches on a job well done. Councilmember Green stated that the all girl team has made a positive mark on the City and made history and that she was poud to be a female citizen of Phenix City.  Councilmember Gordy stated that for the majority of the girls on the Central High School Girls' Flag Football Team, football is not their only sport as they also play soccer, basketball, and softball and that they are a talented group and they are a positive representation of Phenix City. Councilmember Day stated that the Central High School Girls' Flag Football Team represent not only for the State of Alabama but at a National level and they are very proud of them. Councilmember Day congratulated the City employees on their combined 115 years of service to the City. Councilmember Day stated the City of Phenix City has one of the best State Retirement Programs. City Manager Wallace Hunter stated that he appreciates City Council and City Employees hard work and dedication to the City. Mr. Hunter also stated that the City is now six months into the new 2025 budget and that they are getting prepared to begin planning the next budget and that there will be a lot of work going into that planning. Mayor Lowe stated that there has been a lot of progress that has been made in the City of Phenix City and that he is grateful for the positive work. Mayor Lowe also stated that people want to be in the City and that they want to continue to create the possibility for future growth. Mayor Lowe thanked CTV Beam for bringing the meeting to the citizens. Mayor Lowe thanked everyone for being apart of the team and that they should recognize the positive impacts as a team not at the individual level of the community and encouraged everyone to be apart of the solutions and not the problems. Mayor Lowe encourage everyone to give what has been given to them and that is love. Councilmember Day stated that he is proud to see the progress in the business areas in the Third District. There being no further business to address, the meeting thus adjourned until April 15, 2025.