CEDAR BLUFF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 2008 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 14, 2008 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

 

Joan May                                                                     Forrest Pearson__      

District 2                                                                     District 3

 

Ethel Sprouse                                                             Leatha Harp               

District 4                                                                     District 5        

 

INVOCATION

     

      The invocation was given by Council member Leatha Harp.

 

FLAG SALUTE

 

At this time, Mayor Baker called upon State Representative Richard Lindsey to present a check from the State to the Parks and Recreation Board in the amount of $5,000.00 for playground equipment for the Town Park.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 1:                    Consider approval of the minutes of the December 10, 2007 meeting.

 

Council member Burkhalter advised corrections need to be made on Agenda Item No. 11.  for 2007” needs to be added after incentive.

Mrs. Burkhalter also advised that on Agenda Item No. 15.  “Meeting calendar” needs to be changed to “Holiday schedule”

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter that the minutes of the December 10, 2007 meeting be approved with corrections.  Motion carried (6-0)

 

AYE:  Sprouse, Burkhalter, May, Pearson, Baker, Harp

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 2:                    Acknowledge the minutes from the following Boards, Committees and Authorities.

 

a.       Planning Commission meeting of December 3, 2007

b.      Cedar Bluff Utility Board and Solid Waste Authority meeting of November 6, November 16, November 19, December 3,  2007

                                         

            The minutes from the Boards, Committees and Authorities were acknowledged.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO 3:                     Acknowledge the Cherokee County Narcotics Unit Activity Report from October-December 2007

 

The Cherokee County Narcotics Unit Activity Report was acknowledged.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 4:                    Presentation of Police Report for December, 2007

 

            The Police Report for December, 2007 was presented by Police Chief Steve Walden.

DECEMBER 2007

 

CITATIONS

 

WARNINGS

 

ARRESTS

 

REPORTS

 

DUI

5

No seat belt

5

Assault

0

Domestic

6

No seat belt

0

Child restraint violation

0

Drugs

1

Theft

4

Child restraint violation

0

Speeding

18

Drug paraphernalia

0

Burglary

2

Speeding

11

Speeding +25 mph

0

Domestic violence

1

Harassment

2

Speeding +25 mph

2

No driver's license

1

Reckless endangerment

0

Assault

1

No driver's license

0

No proof of insurance

5

Disorderly conduct

1

Traffic crash

3

No proof of insurance

1

Susp/Rev/Canc DL

1

UPPB

0

Other

6

Susp/Rev/Canc DL

1

Run stop sign

1

Theft

3

 

 

Reckless driving

0

Improper/No tag

7

Burglary

0

CALLS w/no

 

Attempting to elude

0

Improper equipment

8

Public intoxication

1

report taken

 

Run stop sign

0

Other

6

Criminal mischief

0

Alarm

5

Open container

0

Checkpoint

12

Criminal trespass

0

Noise

3

Improper/No tag

0

 

 

Other

1

Animal

2

Improper equipment

0

 

 

Felony warrants

2

Disturbance

22

Other

0

 

 

Misdemeanor warrants

1

Othercall

54

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agency assist

32

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 5:                    Presentation of Fire Department Report for December, 2007.

 

            The Fire Reports for December, 2007 was presented by Mayor Martha Baker.

 

DECEMBER 2007

 

Structure related alarms-          5

Vehicle related alarms-                        0

Woods and Grass fires-                       5

Medical alarms-                       0

Wrecks or Accidents -             5

Unspecified or other alarms-   0

Total Runs 14

                                                                    Total Runs for 2007 – 225

           

AGENDA ITEM NO. 6:                    Presentation of Code Enforcement Report for December, 2007  

 

            The Code Enforcement Report for December, 2007 was presented by Code Enforcement/Zoning Official Jimmy Wallace.

 

DECEMBER 2007

 

Three permits for accessory structure

Two remodel permits

Three electrical permits

One plumbing permit

Two mechanical permits

One moving permit

Five Zoning permits

 

Five Building Permits in December 2007 total construction cost was $27,500.00

            Total construction costs of Building Permits for 2007 is $3,247,300.00

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 7:                    Consider allowing Vickie Robinson to address the Council regarding the Progress Review & Forecast Edition

 

Mayor Baker called upon Ms. Vickie Robinson, Cherokee County Herald to address the Council to purchase a space in the 2008 Review and Forecast. The cost of a 4 column by 10.5 inch space is $183.96.

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Pearson, to purchase the same advertisement space as in 2007.  Motion carried.  (6-0)

 

AYE:  Sprouse, Pearson, Baker, Harp, Burkhalter, May

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 8:                    Consider application submitted by Alicia Bailey dba Vito’s Italian Café` for retail beer and wine sales.

 

Mayor Baker advised that Pasquales restaurant has changed the name to Vito’s and is applying for a retail beer and wine license for consumption on premise.

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter, to approve the application for Vito’s Italian Restaurant to sell retail beer and wine for consumption on premises.  Motion carried (6-0)

 

AYE: Sprouse, Burkhalter, May, Pearson, Baker, Harp

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 9:                    Consider recommendations from the Planning Commission (deferred from 12/10/07 meeting).

 

·         Rezone certain property located on Alabama Highway 9 and County Road 92 from the Trammel Mobile Home Park on Hwy 9 to the intersection of Hwy 9 and County Road 92 from R-2, Medium Density Residential District to HC, Highway Commercial Zoning District

Planning Commission recommends approval

 

Mayor Baker asked for a motion to approve the recommendations from the Planning Commission.

Council Member Sprouse advised the Council that she felt the highest and best use of the property is not Highway Commercial since the property is below grade. 

Council Member Sprouse also requested the Planning Commission check into getting a land use plan for Cedar Bluff.

It was the consensus of the Council that this item be deferred to the February 11, 2008 meeting.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 10:                  Consider an ordinance establishing the salary of the Mayor and Council Members of the Town of Cedar Bluff.

 

Mayor Baker introduced Ordinance No. 2008-01 “An ordinance establishing the salary of the Mayor and Council Members of the Town of Cedar Bluff, Alabama to be paid monthly.

Mayor Baker advised this ordinance is to increase the Mayor’s salary to $750.00 and the Council Member salary to $150.00.

Council Member May made a motion to keep salaries the same and not be increased.  Council Member Burkhalter made the second to the motion and it carried to keep salaries the same and not pass new ordinance.  (6-0).

 

AYE:  May, Burkhalter, Pearson, Baker, Sprouse, Harp

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 11:                  Public hearing and consider an ordinance to rezone property located at the intersection of AL Hwy 9 and County Road 63 from “RR” Rural Residential District to “HC” Highway Commercial Zoning District Zoning District. (Applicant:  Betty Zoller)

 

Mayor Baker declared a public hearing open to consider rezoning property located at the intersection of AL Hwy 9 and County Road 63. 

No persons appeared and the public hearing was closed.

Mayor Baker introduced Ordinance No. 2008-02 “An ordinance to rezone property located at Alabama Highway 9 and County Road 63 from “RR” Rural Residential District to “HC” Highway Commercial Zoning District.”

After due and careful consideration, a motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter, to adopt Ordinance No. 2008-02 to rezone property located at Alabama Highway 9 and County Road 63 from “RR” Rural Residential District to “HC” Highway Commercial Zoning District.  Motion carried (6-0)

 

AYE: Sprouse, Burkhalter, May, Pearson, Baker, Harp

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 12:                  Public hearing and consider an ordinance to rezone property located on County Road 92 (both sides of road), from “R-2” Medium Density Residential Zoning District to “RR” Rural Residential Zoning District. (Applicant:  Planning Commission)

 

Mayor Baker declared a public hearing open to consider rezoning property located on County Road 92 (both sides of road), from “R-2” Medium Density Residential Zoning District to “RR” Rural Residential Zoning District. 

Council Member Sprouse advised she felt the land was not suitable for rural residential and that it should be rezoned to a higher density.

No other persons appeared and the public hearing was closed.

Mayor Baker introduced Ordinance No. 2008-03 “An ordinance to rezone property located on County Road 92 (both sides of road), from “R-2” Medium Density Residential Zoning District to “RR” Rural Residential Zoning District.”

After due and careful consideration, a motion was made by Council Member May, seconded by Council Member Pearson, to adopt Ordinance No. 2008-02 to rezone property located on County Road 92 (both sides of road), from “R-2” Medium Density Residential Zoning District to “RR” Rural Residential Zoning District.  Motion carried (5-2)

 

AYE: May, Pearson, Baker, Harp

NAY: Sprouse

ABSTAIN: Burkhalter

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 13:                  Public hearing and consider an ordinance to amend the zoning ordinance, Article V, Section 6.2, Permitted Uses (remove “C”).

 

Mayor Baker declared a public hearing open to consider amending the zoning ordinance, Article V, Section 6.2, Permitted Uses to remove “C” (No Class A manufactured homes in “R-1” Low Density Residential Zoning District).

No persons appeared and the public hearing was closed.

Mayor Baker introduced Ordinance No. 2008-04 amending the zoning ordinance