CEDAR BLUFF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 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, September 10, 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

 

Joan May                                                                     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 June 7, July 9, and August 2, and August 21, and September 5, 2007 meetings.

 

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter that the June 7, July 9, and August 2, and August 21, and September 5, 2007 meetings be approved as presented.  Motion carried (5-0)

 

AYE:  Sprouse, Burkhalter, May, Baker, Harp

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 2:                      Acknowledge the following Boards and Committee minutes

 

a.         Planning Commission meeting of July, and August 6, 2007

b.         Cedar Bluff Utility Board and Solid Waste Authority meetings of June 7, June 18 and July 16, 2007

            The minutes from the Boards and Committee meeting were acknowledged.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 3:                      Presentation of Police Reports for July and August 2007

 

            The Police Reports for July and August, 2007 was presented by Officer J. P. Curry

JULY

ARREST                                                                                               UTC’S

 

DRUGS                                                  4                              SPEEDING                                        3  

DRUG PARAPHERNALIA                                4                              RECKLESS DRIVING                     3

PISTOL WITHOUT PERMIT                                                             NO SEAT BELT                          1      

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE                                     2                              SUSP. OR REVOKED DL          1

DISORDERLY CONDUCT                                                  ATTEMPT TO ELUDE               3

NOISE ORDINANCE                                                                           NO INSURANCE                        1        

CRIMINAL LITTERING                                                                     IMPROPER EQUIPMENT          1

D.U.I.                                                                      2                              DOG ORDINANCE

U.P.P.B                                                                                                   IMPROPER OR NO TAG           4

THEFT                                                                                                   IMPROPER TURN

BURGLARY                                                          1                              IMPROPER PASSING                     

PUBLIC INTOXICATION                                                  NO DL.                                           1     

WARRANTS                                                        4                              CHILD RESTRAINT                   

OTHER                                                                 1                              OTHER                                 

 

THEFT REPORTS                                                                              TRAFFIC CRASHES

           3                                                                                                                   2

RECOVERED PROPERTY                                                              SEIZED PROPERTY

           

AUGUST

ARREST                                                                                               UTC’S

 

DRUGS                                                  2                              SPEEDING                                        5  

DRUG PARAPHERNALIA                                1                              RECKLESS DRIVING                     

PISTOL WITHOUT PERMIT                                                             NO SEAT BELT                                  

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE                                     1                              SUSP. OR REVOKED DL          2

DISORDERLY CONDUCT                                                  ATTEMPT TO ELUDE              

NOISE ORDINANCE                                                                           NO INSURANCE                        1        

CRIMINAL LITTERING                                                                     IMPROPER EQUIPMENT         

D.U.I.                                                                      1                              DOG ORDINANCE

U.P.P.B                                                                                                   IMPROPER OR NO TAG          

THEFT                                                                   1                              IMPROPER TURN

BURGLARY                                                                                          IMPROPER PASSING                     

PUBLIC INTOXICATION                                                  NO DL.                                                  

WARRANTS                                                        2                              CHILD RESTRAINT                  

OTHER                                                                 1                              OTHER                                             2

 

THEFT REPORTS                                                                              TRAFFIC CRASHES

                                                                                                                                2

RECOVERED PROPERTY                                                              SEIZED PROPERTY

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 4:                      Presentation of Fire Department Report for July and August, 2007.

 

            The Fire Reports for July and August, 2007 was presented by Fire Chief Curry

 

JULY

Structure related alarms-            3

Vehicle related alarms-              0

Woods and Grass fires-                         2

Medical alarms-                        0

Wrecks or Accidents -               4

Unspecified or other alarms-      1

Total Runs 10

 

           AUGUST

Structure related alarms-            2

Vehicle related alarms-              3

Woods and Grass fires-                         6

Medical alarms-                        6

Wrecks or Accidents -               1

Unspecified or other alarms-      3

Total Runs 21

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 5:                      Presentation of Code Enforcement Report for July and August, 2007  

 

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

 

JULY

One Permit for Manufactured hone

Six Permits for accessory structure

Three Electrical Permits

Three Plumbing Permits

One Mechanical Permit

Two Sewer Pump Station Permits

Two Sign Permits

Seven Zoning Permits

 

Seven Building Permits in July 2007 total construction cost was $32,000.00

            Total construction costs of Building Permits for 2007 is $2,639,800.00

 

                                                        AUGUST

Two Permits for new house

One addition to house

Two Permits for accessory structure

Three Electrical Permits

Three Plumbing Permits

Two Mechanical Permits

One Sewer Pump Station Permit

Five Zoning Permits

 

Five Building Permits in August 2007 total construction cost was $299,500.00

            Total construction costs of Building Permits for 2007 is $2,939,300.00

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 6:                      Presentation of Parks and Recreation Report

 

Mayor Baker called upon Nell Oliver, Parks and Recreation Board Secretary for an update on the Parks and Recreation Boards progress.

 

Mrs. Oliver advised the annual fund-raiser is underway and letters had been mailed out for donations.  Mrs. Oliver reported about $1,500.00 has been received in donations.

 

At this time, Mr. Dennis Lockridge, member of the Parks and Recreation Board presented a proposal to the Council of the playground equipment the Board would like to order for the park.

 

The equipment included is four (4) swings, balance beam, parallel bar, volleyball court, and butterfly park.  One of the Board members is planning to prepare the ground for the volleyball court

 

Mr. Lockridge also advised that Mill Street would be closed and prepared for skateboards and skates.

 

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Harp to accept the proposal for Phase I of the park as presented. Motion carried (5-0).

 

AYE:  Sprouse, Harp, Burkhalter, May, Baker

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 7:                      Consider an ordinance annexing property located at 1405 Co Rd 642, Lot 6 in Meadows Estates; Lots 80 and 81 in Riverside Campgrounds Development; and 1270 Co Rd 599 into the corporate limits of the Town of Cedar Bluffs. (Applicants:  Howard Schuman, Bill & Patricia Turpin, W H Watkins, and Scott Clark)

 

Mayor Baker introduced Ordinance No. 2007-09 to annex property located at 1405 Co Rd 642, Lot 6 in Meadows Estates; Lots 80 and 81 in Riverside Campgrounds Development; and 1270 Co Rd 599 into the corporate limits of the Town of Cedar Bluff.

 

After due and careful consideration, a motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter, to suspend all rules and regulations which unless suspended, would prevent the immediate consideration and adopt6ion of the said ordinance.  Motion carried (6-0)

 

AYE: Sprouse, Burkhalter, May, Baker, Harp

NAY: None

 

A motion was made by Council Member Burkhalter, seconded by Council Member Sprouse, that Ordinance No. 2007-09 annexing the property located at 1405 Co Rd 642, Lot 6 in Meadows Estates; Lots 80 and 81 in Riverside Campgrounds Development; and 1270 Co Rd 599 into the corporate limits of the Town of Cedar Bluff, Alabama be adopted as presented.  Motion carried (5-0).

 

AYE: Burkhalter, Sprouse, Harp, May, Baker

NAY: None

  

AGENDA ITEM NO. 8:                      Public hearing and consider an ordinance to amend Article V, Section 14.6, Special Requirements E. “LR” Lakefront Recreational Zone to limit the number of recreational vehicles to one (1) per lot.

 

Mayor Baker declared a public hearing open to discuss amending the Zoning Ordinance.

 

No persons appeared.

 

After due and careful consideration, Ordinance No. 2007-10 was introduced and entitled “An ordinance amending Ordinance No. 107 regarding the zoning provisions as it applies to the Town of Cedar Bluff and amending the official zoning map of the Town of Cedar Bluff”,

 

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter that Ordinance No. 2007-10 be adopted as presented.  Motion carried (5-0).

 

AYE:  Sprouse, Burkhalter, May, Baker, Harp

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 9:                      Consider giving $1,000 for the Children’s Advocacy Center.

 

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter, to defer this item to a later date.  Motion carried (5-0).

           

AGENDA ITEM NO. 10:                    Consider adding Public Works Director to the title of the Zoning Official.

 

Mayor Baker advised that this action would not include any pay changes, but it would give Zoning Official/Inspector more authority for inspections regarding the roads, streets and sewer inspections.

A motion was made by Council Member Harp, seconded by Council Member May, to add Public Works director to the title of the Zoning Official/Inspector Jimmy Wallace. Motion carried (4-1).

 

AYE:  Harp, May, Baker, Burkhalter

NAY: None

ABSTAIN: Sprouse

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 11:                    Consider appointments to the Cedar Bluff Reserve Officers.

 

Officer J. P. Curry advised that the Cedar Bluff Police wanted to make the following appointments.

 

Appoint Mr. Billy Joe Dupree to replace Mr. Seth Shankles

Appoint Mr. Jarrod Ferguson to replace Scott Woodall

 

A motion was made by Council Member Harp, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter, to approve the appointments to the Cedar Bluff Police Reserves.  Motion carried (5-0)

 

AYE:  Harp, Burkhalter, May, Baker, Sprouse

NAY:  None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 12:                    Consider appointment of Matthew Sprayberry to the Cedar Bluff Volunteer Fire Department.

 

Fire Chief J. P. Curry requested the appointment of Mr. Matthew Sprayberry to the Cedar Bluff Volunteer Fire Department.

 

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member May, to approve the appointment to the Cedar Bluff Volunteer Fire Department.  Motion carried (5-0)

 

AYE:  Sprouse, May, Baker, Sprouse, Harp

NAY:  None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 13:                    Consider the purchase of a MPH Python III FS K-Band Dual Antenna Radar Unit for the Police Department.

 

Mayor advised that the radar guns currently used by the Police Department did not meet state requirements and would not calibrate and Police Chief Walden had received a quote from MPH Industries Inc. for a Python III FS K-Band Dual Antenna Radar Unit in the amount of $1282.00.

 

A motion was made by Council Member May, seconded by Council Member Sprouse, to authorize the purchase of one Python III FS K-Band Dual Antenna Radar Unit in the amount of $1282.00.  Motion carried 5-0).

 

AYE:  May, Sprouse, Harp, Burkhalter, Baker

NAY:  None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 14:                    Consider the renewal of the Business License Discovery/Recovery agreement with Alatax.

 

Mayor Baker advised that this agreement with Alatax was for business license recover and discovery and the only time it cost the Town any money was if they discovered a business not licensed by the Town.

 

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter, that the agreement with Alatax for business license discovery/recovery be approved as presented.  Motion carried (5-0).

 

AYE:  Sprouse, Burkhalter, May, Baker, Harp

NAY:  None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 15:                    New Business (Any matter not known about or which could not have been reasonably foreseen prior to the posting of the agenda)

 

There was no New Business to be considered.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 16:                    Council Member’s Comments.

 

            In Council Member’s Comments, Council Member Sprouse inquired about the ICC code ordinance regarding the codes for inspection of existing property and residences.  Mrs. Sprouse asked that Inspector Jimmy Wallace check into the adoption of related codes.

 

            At this time, Inspector Wallace advised the Council that the condemnation hearing for property at 5081 Sewell Ferry Road had been heard by the County judge and another hearing has been set for October 15, 2007. Mr. Wallace also advised that the old trailer on Highway 9 had been removed by Mr. Jim Rochester.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 17:                    Citizen’s Participation (A five minute limit per person)

 

            In Citizen’s Participation, Mrs. Marcia Kastl inquired about the enforcement of the public nuisance ordinances.

 

Mrs. Sandra Garner inquired about the status of the street light on Alabama Highway 9 at the Country Store.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 18:                    Adjournment

 

            There being no further business to be considered, a motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter, that the meeting be adjourned. (5:07 p.m.). Motion carried (5-0).

 

AYE:  Sprouse, Burkhalter, May, Baker, Harp

NAY:  None

 

                                                                        _             MARTHA BAKER____________

                                                                                                MAYOR

 

(S.E.A.L.)

ATTEST:

 

_           DELANA MARTIN_____________

                TOWN CLERK

 

APPROVED 10/09/07