CEDAR BLUFF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 11, 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, Wednesday, October 11, 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 September 18, 2006 meeting.

 

            A motion was made by Council Member Burkhalter, seconded by Council Member Harp that the minutes of September 18, 2006, be approved as presented.     Motion carried (6-0).

 

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

NAY:  None

         

AGENDA ITEM NO. 2:                      Presentation of Police Report for September 2006 by Police Chief Walden.

 

            The Police Report for September 2006 was presented by Code Enforcement Official Jimmy Wallace in the absence of Police Chief Walden.

 

                    ARREST                                                                                    UTC’S

            Drug Paraphernalia       2                                                   Speeding                          3

            D.U.I.                          2                                                   Susp. Or Revoked DL     2             

            Theft                            1                                                   No Insurance                    1

            Public Intoxication        2                                                   Improper Equipment       1  

            Warrants                      4                                                   Improper or No Tag        1 

            THEFT REPORTS      4                                                   TRAFFIC CRASHES     1

                       

AGENDA ITEM NO. 3:                      Presentation of Code Enforcement Report for September, 2006 by Code Enforcement Officer Jimmy Wallace.

 

            The Code Enforcement Report for September 2006 was presented by Code Enforcement Official Jimmy Wallace.

 

            One Building Permit for new House

            One Permit for addition to House

            One Permit for remodel House

            Six Permits Camper setup

            Four Permits for Accessory Structures

            Thirteen Zoning Permits

            Six Electrical Permits

            Two Plumbing Permits

            Three Mechanical Permits

            One Gas Permit

 

Thirteen Building Permits in September 2006 total construction cost was $167,900.00

January through September 2006 together totaled $10,136,540.00

Permits for the first seven months of 2006 totals are almost 7 time permits for 2005 which totaled $1,454,165.00.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 4:                      Presentation of Fire Department Report for September, 2006 by Fire Chief J. P. Curry.

 

            There was no Fire Department Report given.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 5:                      Presentation by Freida Waters, Dekalb County SPCA to speak on behalf of the proposed Animal Shelter for Cherokee County.

 

            Freida Waters, Dekalb County SPCA appeared to speak on behalf of the proposed Animal Shelter for Cherokee County.  Ms. Waters advised that they hoped to raise $90,000.00 dollars by the end of the year and construction should begin in July, 2007.

            She advised the shelter would provide training for animal control officers, but each municipality would be responsible for appointing their own officer. 

            There was a lengthy discussion about the number of officers it would take for the county to do an adequate job of animal control.  Ms. Waters advised that the SPCA had received seventy-five (75) animals from Cedar Bluff in 2006.

            It was noted that the town would work on an ordinance with fines to enforce the lease law.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 6:                      Consider an ordinance annexing property located at 8840 County Road 44 (Curly’s Cove Campground) into the Town of Cedar Bluff.  (Applicant: David C Debter)

 

After due and careful consideration, Ordinance No. 2006-24 was introduced and 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 adoption of the said ordinance.  Motion carried.  (6-0).

 

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

NAY:  None

 

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Sides, that Ordinance No. 2006-24 annexing the property located at 8840 County Road 44, owned by David C. Debter and known as Curly’s Cove Campground, into the town limits of Cedar Bluff, Alabama be adopted as presented.  Motion carried (6-0).

 

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

NAY:  None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 7:                      Public hearing and consider an application for a beer license requested by Riverside Campgrounds located at 1210 County Road 131.  (Applicant:  Donny Muse and John Elder)

 

 

            Mayor Baker declared a public hearing to discuss an application for an off premise beer license for Riverside Campgrounds located at 1210 County Road 131.  No persons appeared and the hearing was closed.

            A motion was made Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Pearson, to approve the off premise beer license application for Riverside Campgrounds located at 1210 County Road 131.  Motion carried (6-0).

 

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

NAY:  None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 8:                      Consider a policy between the Town and the Utility Board to divide monthly expenses to operate the Town and Utility Board and to initiate a rental price for land, buildings and equipment.

 

            Mayor Baker advised that the Town and Utility Board had been in much discussion about a policy to divide the costs of operation as suggested by auditors.  A list of invoices to be divided was presented to the Council and a motion was made by Council Member Harp, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter to approve the policy as presented.

            1/3 electric bill from Cherokee Electric

            1/3 gas bill from Dekalb Cherokee Gas

            1/3 water bill for Town Hall

            ½ water bill for Council Room

            ½ bill for copier from R J Young

            ½ bill for fax machine and DSL line from TDS

            Rental of utility maintenance barn to Utility Board - $400.00

            Rental of Council Room to Town – $25.00 month

 

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

NAY:  None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 9:                      Consider approval of the Standard Operating Guidelines for the Cedar Bluff Volunteer Fire Department.

 

            Mayor Baker advised this item would be deferred to the November 13, 2006 meeting.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 10:                    Consider changing providers for the computer system for the Town.

 

            Mayor Baker advised that the Town had several issues with the current provider for the computer system and she would be inquiring about other possible systems available.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 11:                    Announcement of monies to be distributed to the Cedar Bluff School from alcohol revenue account.

 

            Mayor Baker advised that the Town would pay twenty percent (20%) of net income through November 2006 until after the legal fees are paid on the pending lawsuit.  The check will be issued in December of 2006.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 12:                    Consider budget for fiscal year 2006-2007.

 

            Mayor Baker presented the budget for the Town, Police Department and Fire Department for fiscal year 2006-2007.

            A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Sides, to approve the budgets as presented.  Motion carried (6-0).

 

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

NAY:  None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 13:                    New Business (Any matter not known about or which could not have been reasonably foreseen prior to the posting of the agenda)

 

            Mayor Baker advised that the Neighborhood Revitalization Grant applied for by the Town had been denied by one (1) point.  Council Member Sprouse along with Council Member Harp expressed interest in re-applying for the grant, but Council Member Burkhalter felt the council needed to re-evaluate the needs of the town.

            Mayor Baker also advised that the Sidewalk Grant is in the design process with CDG Engineering.

            The Mayor also advised that she had asked Council Member Forrest Pearson to work on grants for the 2006-2007 year.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 14:                    Citizen’s Participation ( A five minute limit per person)

 

            In Citizen’s Participation, Ms. Carol Mouser complimented the Town on getting the lights lit up in the park again.

            Mrs. Marcia Kastl inquired about an ordinance regulating abandoned vehicles.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 15:                    Council Member’s Comments

 

            Council Member Ethel Sprouse inquired about public nuisance property and asked if any letters had been sent to persons with a public nuisance.  Mayor Baker advised that one letter had been sent.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 16:                    Adjournment

 

            There being no further business to come before the council, a motion was made by Council Member Burkhalter, seconded by Council Member Sprouse, that the meeting be adjourned at 5:02 p.m.  Motion carried (6-0).

 

 

 

 

__MARTHA BAKER______

                                                            MAYOR

 

(S.E.A.L.)

ATTEST:

 

 

____DeLANA MARTIN_________

             TOWN CLERK