CEDAR BLUFF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 2007 AT 4:00 P.M.

 

The Cedar Bluff Town Council of the Town of Cedar Bluff, County of Cherokee, State of Alabama, met in Regular Scheduled Session in the Council Room at Town Hall, 3420 Spring Street, Cedar Bluff, Alabama, Monday, January 8, 2007 at 4:00 p.m., pursuant to notice duly posted as prescribed by law. Mayor Martha Baker presided and called the meeting to order.  Members in attendance were as follows:

 

Martha Baker                                                               Billie Burkhalter

Mayor                                                                          District 1

 

Rick Sides                                                                    Ethel Sprouse

District 2                                                                      District 4

 

Leatha Harp

District 5

 

ABSENT:

Forrest Pearson

District 3

           

INVOCATION

     

      The invocation was given by Council member Leatha Harp.

 

FLAG SALUTE

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 1:                      Consider approval of the minutes of the December 11, 2006 meeting

 

            A motion was made by Council Member Burkhalter, seconded by Council Member Harp that the minutes of December 11, 2006, be approved as presented.     Motion carried (5-0).

 

AYE:  Burkhalter, Harp, Sides, Baker, Sprouse

NAY:  None

         

AGENDA ITEM NO. 2:                      Acknowledge the minutes from the Planning Commission meeting of December 4, 2006.

 

            The minutes from the Planning Commission meeting of December 4, 2006 were acknowledged by the Council.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 3:                      Presentation of Police Report for December 2006 by Police Chief Walden.

 

            The Police Report for December 2006 was presented by Police Chief Walden.

 

ARREST                                                                                UTCS

DRUGS                                                                                   SPEEDING                           1

DRUG PARAPHERNALIA                                                    RECKLESS DRIVING

PISTOL WITHOUT PERMIT                                                 NO SEAT BELT

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE                    4                                  SUSP. OR REVOKED DL  

DISORDERLY CONDUCT                1                                  ATTEMPT TO ELUDE

NOISE ORDINANCE                                                            NO INSURANCE            

CRIMINAL LITTERING                                                        IMPROPER EQUIPMENT

D.U.I.                                                                                      DOG ORDINANCE

U.P.P.B                                                                                   IMPROPER OR NO TAG   

THEFT                                                1                                  IMPROPER TURN

BURGLARY                                                                           IMPROPER PASSING

PUBLIC INTOXICATION                 1                                  NO DL

WARRANTS                                      11                                CHILD RESTRAINT

OTHER                                               4                                  OTHER

 

THEFT RFPORTS                            16                                TRAFFIC CRASHES        3

RECOVERED PROPERTY                                                 SEIZED PROPERTY

1-Milwaukee band saw

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 4:                      Presentation of Code Enforcement Report for December, 2006 by Code Enforcement Officer Jimmy Wallace.

 

            The Building Report was presented by Zoning Official Jimmy Wallace.

 

Two Building Permits for new House

Three Permits for Accessory Structures

Seven Zoning Permits

Three Electrical Permits

Two Plumbing Permits

Three Mechanical Permits

Two Sewer Pump Station Permit

Five Building Permits in December 2006 total construction cost was $229,800.00

January through December 2006 total construction cost was $11,223,540.00.

Permits for the year of 2006 totals were almost 8 times permits for 2005 which totaled $1,454,165.00.

 

We issued 90 Building, 57 Electrical, 39 Plumbing, 42 Mechanical, 10 Sewer Pump, 4 Gas, 1 Demolition, 4 Moving, 4 Sign, 2 Pool, and 92 Zoning Permits in 2006.

Only 18 Building Permits were issued in 2005. No other type permits were issued.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 5:                      Presentation of Fire Department Report for December, 2006 by Fire Chief J. P. Curry.

 

            The Fire Report, was given by Fire Chief J. P. Curry

 

Structure related alarms- 5

Vehicle related alarms- 0

Woods and Grass fires- 2

Medical alarms- 3

Wrecks or Accidents -3

Unspecified or other alarms- 0

 

            Fire Chief Curry advised the Council that tile had been donated for the Fire Department by J & M Hardware and Mr. Clark Combs, Jr. would be installing the tile and would be donating his labor.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 6:                      Consider the recommendations submitted by the Planning Commission from the meeting of January 2, 2007.

 

The Planning Commission held public hearing on the following items and makes the following recommendations to the Town Council for consideration:

 

  • Amend Article V, Section 7.2 (D), to allow campers and recreational vehicles (only if lot does not have enough area above Alabama Power Flood Easement line to build a house on). Rules and Regulations of the LR Lakefront Recreational Zone will apply. 

 

  • Amend Article V, Section 8.2 (A), R-3, High Density Residential Zoning District, all uses permitted in R-2, Medium Density Residential Zoning District, except 7.2 (D).

 

            A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter, to approve the recommendations submitted by the Planning Commission.  Motion carried (5-0).

 

AYE:  Sprouse, Burkhalter, Sides, Baker, Harp

NAY:  None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 7:                      Consider the possibility of financial support for the Boat & Travel Shows and Retiree Shows sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.

 

            Mayor Baker advised the Boat & Travel Shows were an excellent way to let people know about our Town and what we had to offer.

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter, to enter into a contract with the Chamber of Commerce for the Boat & Travel Shows and Retiree Shows for $500.00 for the year 2007.  Motion carried (5-0)

 

AYE: Sprouse, Burkhalter, Sides, Baker, Harp

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 8:                      Consider request from Vicky Robinson, Cherokee County Herald for the Town of Cedar Bluff to purchase advertisement in the Progress Addition.

 

            Ms. Vicky Robinson, Cherokee County Herald presented the Council with the advertisement sizes and costs for the Progress Addition.

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter, to purchase the same advertisement as last year with a slight change in the wording.  Motion carried.

 

AYE: Sprouse, Burkhalter, Sides, Baker, Harp

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 9:                      Consider declaring the 1991 Chevrolet S10 and the 1992 Dodge Dakota pickup owned by the Town as surplus and authorizing the same to be advertised for sale.

 

            A motion was made by Council Member Sides, seconded by Council Member Harp, to declare the aforementioned vehicles as surplus and no longer needed by the Town of Cedar Bluff.  Motion carried (5-0).

 

AYE:  Sides, Harp, Burkhalter, Baker, Sprouse

NAY: None

 

            A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Sides, to advertise the aforementioned surplus vehicles for sale and to set the minimum price at $600.00.  Motion carried. (5-0)

 

AYE:  Sprouse, Sides, Baker, Harp, Burkhalter

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 10:                    Consider increasing the number of Police Officers for the Town of Cedar Bluff.

           

            Police Chief requested the Council authorize the Police Department to add two (2) reserve officers to the ten (10) already in place. 

Chief Walden advised the Council that the cost of each reserve officer is $125.00 per year for worker’s compensation.

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Sides, to increase the Town of Cedar Bluff Reserve Officers to twelve (12). Motion carried (5-0)

 

AYE:  Sprouse, Sides, Baker, Harp, Burkhalter

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 11:                    New Business (Any matter not known about or which could not have been reasonably foreseen prior to the posting of the agenda)

 

            In New Business, Chief Walden, advised he had received two (2) applications for reserve officers and would like to request the Council approve them as reserve officers to allow them to go through training with the other officers this month.

            A motion was made by Council Member Sides, seconded by Council Member Harp, to appoint Mr. James D. Storey and Mr. Elton Scott Woodall to the Cedar Bluff Police Reserve Officer.  Motion carried (5-0).

 

AYE:  Sides, Harp, Burkhalter, Baker, Sprouse

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 12:                    Citizen’s Participation (A five minute limit per person)

 

            In Citizen’s Participation, Ann Carr inquired if Animal Control was a dead issue and Mayor Baker advised that until the Town has sufficient funds and employees another ordinance will not be adopted.

            Mrs. Carr also suggested the Police Officers increase patrolling on Rosemary and Summer Place on the weekends due to people riding four wheelers.

            Mr. Robert Kastl inquired about an update on the cable franchise agreement since Charter Communications has sold to Rapid Communications.  Mayor Baker advised that the Town has been in touch with the cable companies.

            A citizen also suggested the town charging an impact fee for all construction and development.

            Mr. Jerry Baker encouraged all persons who could to attend the Boat and Travel Shows.  He advised they are well worth attending.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 13:                    Council Member’s Comments

 

            In Council Member comments, Council Member Sprouse advised the Park Fun-Raiser Committee is ready to meet with the Parks and Recreation Board to discuss fund raising ideas.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 14:                    Adjournment

 

            There being no further business to be considered, the meeting was adjourned. (4:51 p.m.)

 

                                                                        ___MARTHA BAKER______________

                                                                                           MAYOR

 

(S.E.A.L.)

ATTEST:

 

 

____DeLANA MARTIN_____________

            TOWN CLERK

APPROVED 02/12/07