TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2006 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, Tuesday, August 22, 2006 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 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
AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Consider approval of the minutes of the July 10, 2006 meeting.
A motion was made by Council Member Harp, seconded by Council Member Pearson that the minutes of July 10, 2006, be approved as presented. Motion carried (6-0).
AYE: Harp, Pearson, Sprouse, Baker, Burkhalter, Sides
NAY: None
AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Acknowledge the following minutes
a) Planning Commission minutes of July 3, 2006
b) Cedar Bluff Utilities Board and Solid Waste Authority minutes of June 26 and July 17, 2006 meetings
The minutes from the Planning Commission meeting of July 3, 2006 were acknowledged.
The minutes from the Cedar Bluff Utilities Board and Solid Waste Authority meeting of June 26 and July 17, 2006 were acknowledged.
AGENDA ITEM NO 3: Presentation of Police Report for July 2006 by Police Chief Walden.
The Police report was given by Police Chief Walden.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Presentation of Code Enforcement Report for July, 2006 by Code Enforcement Officer Jimmy Wallace.
The Code Enforcement report for July was given by Code Enforcement Officer Jimmy Wallace.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Presentation of Fire Department Report for May, June and July, 2006 by Fire Chief J. P. Curry.
The Fire Report for May, June and July, 2006 was given by Town Clerk DeLana Martin in the absence of Fire Chief J. P. Curry.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: Consider the recommendations received from the Planning Commission
The Planning Commission held public hearings on the following items August 7, 2006 and makes the following recommendations to the Town Council for consideration:
§ Consider increasing the rezoning fee from $25.00 to $100.00
§
Consider rezoning the property in
the middle section of
§ Consider rezoning property located at 2290 HWY 68E, from RR Rural Residential Zoning District to HC, Highway Commercial Zoning District for use as a restaurant and motel. (Applicant: Glenda Kay Tallent Barger)
§ Consider rezoning property located on AL Highway 68 from RR Rural Residential Zoning District to HC, Highway Commercial Zoning District for use as a store and mini storage (Applicant: William T. Harton)
§ Consider rezoning property located on AL Hwy 68 from RR Rural Residential Zoning District to R-3, High Density Residential Zoning District. (Applicant: W K & Ruth Summers)
§
Consider rezoning property located
on County Road 131 from RR Rural Residential Zoning District to HC Highway
Commercial Zoning District for use as a campground, store and motel.
(Applicant:
§
Consider rezoning property located
at
§ Consider rezoning property located at 3410 Stone Drive from RR Rural Residential Zoning District to R-3, High Density Residential Zoning District for use as Multi-Family dwelling (Applicant: Robert & Janice Smith)
§
Consider rezoning property located
at
A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter, to approve the recommendations from the Planning Commission. Motion carried (6-0).
AYE: Sprouse, Burkhalter, Sides, Pearson, Baker, Harp
NAY: None
AGENDA ITEM NO. 7: Consider an ordinance
annexing property located at
After
due and careful consideration, Ordinance No. 2006-14 was introduced and a
motion was made by Council Member Sides, seconded by Council Member Sprouse, to
adopt Ordinance No. 2006-14 to annex the property located at
AYE: Sides, Sprouse, Harp, Burkhalter, Pearson, Baker
NAY: None
AGENDA ITEM NO. 8: Consider a request by
Mayor Baker advised that the DeKalb
County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had requested the Town
of
After a discussion, a decision was
made to contact Ms. Freida Waters with the
AGENDA ITEM NO. 9: Consider
implementing the franchise contract for the Cedar Bluff Utility Board to pay
the Town of
Mayor
Baker advised that further study needed to be completed before the Town
implemented the franchise contract for the Cedar Bluff Utility Board to pay the
Town of
AGENDA ITEM NO. 10: Consider the grant for the Cedar Bluff Fire Department with the Alabama Forestry Commission for 4,800.00 with a twenty (20%) match.
Mayor Baker advised that Fire Chief J P Curry had applied for the Hurricane Ivan Recovery Project, 2006 Statewide Wildland Fire Prevention and Suppression Grant from the Alabama Forestry Commission.
She advised the grant has been partially approved for $4,800.00 with a twenty (20%) match.
A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Pearson, that the grant be approved as presented. Motion carried (6-0).
AYE: Sprouse, Pearson, Baker, Harp, Burkhalter, Sides
NAY: None
AGENDA ITEM NO. 11: Consider accepting the Fire Department applications for volunteer firefighters Seth Adams and Hank Arnold.
Mr. Herb Sherwin with the Cedar Bluff Volunteer Fire Department requested that the applications of Seth Adams and Hank Arnold be accepted for volunteer firefighters for the Cedar Bluff Fire Department.
A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Sides, to accept Seth Adams and Hank Arnold to the Cedar Bluff Volunteer Fire Department. Motion carried (6-0)
AYE: Sprouse, Sides, Pearson, Baker, Harp, Burkhalter
NAY: None
AGENDA ITEM NO. 12: Consider authorizing the Town to purchase two (2) new police vehicles from Adamson Ford Commercial Sales.
Mayor
Baker advised the Town of
She advised the total cost for the vehicles will be $43,933.00 and the total to be financed will be $33,934.00. The Police Department will be able to pay $8,000.00 for a down payment with their funds, while the Town will absorb the remaining costs.
A motion was made by Council Member Sides, seconded by Council Member Pearson, to authorize the Town to purchase two (2) new police vehicles. Motion carried (6-0)
AYE: Sides, Pearson, Baker, Sprouse, Harp,
Burkhalter
NAY: None
AGENDA ITEM NO. 13: Consider revising the wording for building permit fees.
Code Enforcement Officer Jimmy Wallace requested the wording for permit fees be amended as follows:
Residential or Recreational
100-amp
.. $ 40.00
200-amp
...
60.00
201-400-amp,
single phase
.. 80.00
100-400-amp,
three phase
100.00
401-amp
and up single phase or three phase
100.00
Plus
additional $0.07 per amp in excess of 400 amps
Swimming
pools
.. 30.00
Signs
20.00
Alterations
30.00
Industrial
and commercial
$100.00
for the first $5,000.00, plus and additional $3.00 for each $1,000.00, or
fraction thereof, in excess of $5,000.00
Residential
(including duplexes and apartments)
First
bath
... $40.00
Each
additional bath
. 20.00
Water
heater exchange
. 10.00
Sewer
repair or replacement
. 20.00
Remodel
25.00
Commercial
or Industrial
$5.00
per fixture as shown on plumbing plan
$50.00 minimum permit fee
$40.00
for the first unit, plus $20.00 for each additional unit
Recreational and Residential Sewer Pump Stations
.
50.00
Change
out $25.00 for first and $10.00 for each additional
1-4
outlets
.. $25.00
Each
additional outlet
2.00
Water
heater exchange
.. 10.00
For
each public swimming pool
$100.00
For
each private swimming pool
... 25.00
1.
Section
B101-Permit Fees
Mobile Home setup
$100.00
Recreational Vehicle setup
..$40.00
$1,000.00 and less
No Fee, unless inspection
required,
in which case a
$15.00 fee for each inspection shall be charged
$1,000.00 to $50,000
$40.00 for
the first $10,000.00
plus $5.50 for each additional thousand or
fraction thereof,
to and including $50,000.00
$50,000 to $100,000
.$260.00 for
the first $50,000.00
plus $4.00 for each additional thousand or
fraction thereof,
to and including $100,000.00
$100,000 to $500,000
.$460.00 for
the first $100,000.00
plus $3.00 for each additional thousand or
fraction thereof,
to and
including $500,000.00
$500,000 and up
.
..$1,660.00 for
the first $500,000.00
plus $2.00 for each additional thousand or
fraction thereof
2.
Section
B102-Moving Fee
For the moving of any building or
structure, the fee shall be $100.00
3.
Section
B103-Demolition Fees
For the demolition of any building or
structure, the fee shall be $100.00
Zoning Permit Fees
Minimum
Fee
$10.00 for the first $10,000.00
$15.00 for $10,000.00 to $50,000.00
$25.00
for $50,000.00 and up
Mobile home or Recreational Vehicle ...$20.00
A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Harp, to approve the revisions for building permit fees as presented. Motion carried (6-0).
AYE: Sprouse, Harp, Burkhalter, Sides, Pearson, Baker
NAY: None
AGENDA ITEM NO. 14: 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, Mayor Baker introduced an amendment to the Policy and Procedures Manual pertaining to Employee Expense Re-imbursement as follows:
10.9.3 Employee
Travel Expense Reimbursement. All employees shall be reimbursed for
allowable travel expenses incurred during travel on official business. All expenses shall be submitted to the town
clerk, attaching all receipts and supporting documentation.
(a) Transportation Expense. The Town
discourages the use of privately owned conveyances on official business and
directs its employees to use town owned vehicles on official business whenever
possible. Employees may be reimbursed
for transportation expenses incurred for authorized travel by privately owned
or operated conveyances and in some cases, charter or rental of special
conveyances. Local transportation
expenses such as city bus and taxicab fares are considered miscellaneous
expenses.
(b) Mileage Reimbursement for Use of a
Privately Owned or Operated Conveyance
Employees authorized to travel by
privately owned or operated conveyance may be reimbursed for allowable miles
traveled at a rate fixed and established by the standard mileage rate chart for
the Internal Revenue Service.
(c) Use of a Town-Owned or Leased Vehicle
The mayor or his/her designee may
authorize travel for official business in a town-owned or leaved vehicle for:
§
An
officer or employee of the Town of
§
Any
other person who has been approved by the Mayor or his/her designee, to operate
a town- owned or leased vehicle on official business.
A person must
have a valid drivers license to operate a town owned or leased vehicle.
Only other town employees or individuals reasonably
engaged in official business are allowed to ride in town owned or leased
vehicles.
A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter, to approve the amendment to the Policy and Procedures Manual as presented. Motion carried (6-0)
AYE: Sprouse, Burkhalter, Sides, Pearson, Baker, Harp
NAY: None
Mayor Baker, now advised that the Town has received a letter from Blue Cross Blue Shield that employee health insurance has been increased seven (7%) beginning October 1, 2006.
In other New Business, Mayor Baker advised that the Utility Board had decided not to participate in obtaining a new web page for Cedar Bluff, therefore she had requested a refund from Network Solutions for the $250.00 the Town has paid toward the initiation of the project.
Mayor
Baker also informed the Council that she had met with Alatax regarding the
issuance of Business Licenses for the Town of
AGENDA ITEM NO. 15: Citizens Participation ( A five minute limit per person)
Under
Citizens Participation, Ms Ann Carr inquired about the status of the new
animal ordinance or leash law. Mayor
Baker advised that with the initiation of a new animal shelter in
Amanda
Gober, WEIS Radio, noted she thought the City of
Police Chief Walden advised he thought a leash law would require the impoundment of the dog.
Ms.
Ann Carr also inquired about stricter policing on Highway 9 near the
Mr. Ricky Mitchell appeared to request a traffic light in front of Weiss Mart. He also stressed his concerns about the Town needing more police officers and the streets needing to be paved.
Mr. Mitchell inquired about the minimum cost for water bills and was advised by the Mayor that he would need to go before the Utility Board at their monthly meeting for an answer to utility questions.
Mr. Mitchell also inquired about the cost of the alcohol lawsuit and how was the town getting any revenue from the sale of alcohol. Council Member Rick Sides advised the Town had given over $10,000.00 to the school with monies from alcohol sales.
Ms. DeLana Hunter appeared to ask about a place to take tree limbs or to have them picked up. Mayor Baker advised there were advertisements in the Post for such services.
Mayor Baker also
advised that CDG Engineers had received a letter from Alabama Department of
Transportation acknowledging the approval of the sidewalk grant for the Town of
AGENDA ITEM NO. 16: Council Members Comments
There were no Council Members Comments.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 17: Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the meeting, a motion was made by Council Member Burkhalter, seconded by Council Member Sprouse, that the meeting be adjourned. (5:11 p.m.). Motion carried (6-0)
AYE: Burkhalter, Sprouse, Harp, Sides, Pearson, Baker
NAY: None
___MARTHA BAKER________
MAYOR
(S E A L)
ATTEST:
DeLANA MARTIN________
TOWN CLERK
APPROVED 09/18/06