CEDAR BLUFF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, DECEMBER 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, December 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                                                                     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 November 13, 2007 meeting.

 

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Pearson that the minutes of the November 13, 2007 meeting be approved as presented.  Motion carried (6-0)

 

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

NAY: None

 

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

 

a.       Planning Commission meeting of November 5, 2007

b.      Cedar Bluff Utility Board and Solid Waste Authority meeting of September 26 and October 15, 2007

                                         

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

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 3:                      Presentation of Police Report for November, 2007

 

            The Police Report for November, 2007 was presented by Police Officer Jimmy Wallace

NOVEMBER 2007

 

DUI                               0          No seat belt                   1          Child restraint violation    0

Speeding                       12         Speeding +25 mph         3          No driver's license          1

No proof of insurance      0          Susp/Rev/Canc DL         0          Reckless driving             0

Attempting to elude        0          Run stop sign                1          Open container              0

Improper/No tag             1          Improper equipment        0          Other                            0

Drugs                            2          Drug paraphernalia         2          Domestic violence          2

Reckless endangerment 0          Disorderly conduct         1          UPPB                           0

Theft                             1          Burglary                        0          Public intoxication          3

Criminal mischief           0          Criminal trespass           0          Other                            1

Felony warrants             0          Misdemeanor warrants   2          Domestic                      5

Theft                             4          Burglary                        1          Harassment                   0

Assault                                     2          Traffic crash                   1          Other                            5

Alarm                            3          Noise                            2          Animal                          0

Disturbance                   21         Othercall                       40         No seat belt                   2

Child restraint violation    0          Speeding                       34         Speeding +25 mph         0

No driver's license          1          No proof of insurance      5          Susp/Rev/Canc DL         1

Run stop sign                3          Improper/No tag             2          Improper equipment        1

Other                            2          Agency assist               38         Checkpoint                    1

Assault                                     0

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 4:                      Presentation of Fire Department Report for November, 2007.

 

            The Fire Reports for November, 2007 was presented by Police Officer Jimmy Wallace.

NOVEMBER

 

Structure related alarms-            6

Vehicle related alarms-              1

Woods and Grass fires-                         3

Medical alarms-                        5

Wrecks or Accidents -               0

Unspecified or other alarms-      2

Total Runs 18

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 5:                      Presentation of Code Enforcement Report for November, 2007  

 

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

 

NOVEMBER

 

One Permits for addition to house

One Sewer Pump Permit

 

One Building Permit in November 2007 total construction cost was $45,000.00

            Total construction costs of Building Permits for 2007 is $3,219,800.00

 

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

 

Mayor Baker called upon Mrs. Nell Oliver, Secretary for the Parks and Recreation Board to give a progress report on the playground equipment for the park.

Mrs. Oliver advised the Garden Club was working on the Butterfly Garden and that donations were still being received for park equipment.  She also advised that the grant monies applied for should be in after the first of the year.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 7:                      Presentation of check to Cedar Bluff School for a percentage of alcohol sales for fiscal year 2006-07.

 

Mayor Baker advised the check for 20% of alcohol sales in Cedar Bluff would be presented to the Cherokee County Board of Education in the amount of $24,031.00.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 8:                      Consider recommendations from the Planning Commission.

 

Mayor Baker advised that were several recommendations to be considered from the Planning Commission and would like for the Council to consider each item separately.

 

Mayor Baker called upon Zoning Official Jimmy Wallace to explain each recommendation from the Planning Commission.

               

·        Rezone certain property located at the intersection of Alabama Highway 9 and County Road 63 from RR, Rural Residential District to HC, Highway Commercial Zoning District.

Planning Commission recommends approval

 

Mr. Wallace advised this item was to rezone the newly annexed property on County Road 63 to “HC” Highway Commercial.

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Harp, to approve the Planning Commission recommendation to rezone certain property located at the intersection of Alabama Highway 9 and County Road 63 from RR, Rural Residential District to HC, Highway Commercial Zoning District. Motion carried (6-0).

 

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

NAY: None

 

·        Rezone certain property located on Alabama Highway 9 (Trammel Mobile Home Park) from “R-2” Medium Density Residential Zoning District; to “MHP” Manufactured Home Park Zoning District for its current use

Planning Commission recommends approval

 

Mr. Wallace distributed maps to the council showing the rezoning recommendations.

After a lengthy discussion regarding the permitted uses and the increased density for R-2, a motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter to deny the Planning Commission recommendation to rezone the Trammel Mobil Home Park to “MHP” Manufactured Home Park Zoning District from “R-2” Medium Density Residential Zoning District.  Motion carried (6-0)

 

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

NAY: None

 

·        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

 

Council Member Sprouse expressed concerns about rezoning property to “HC” Highway Commercial Zoning District before use of the property is decided.

After a lengthy discussion about the use of the property, a motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council May, to table this item to the January 14, 2008 Council meeting.  Motion carried (6-0)

 

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

NAY: None

 

·        Rezone the remaining R-2 section of the city limits on County Road 92 (both sides road), from R-2, Medium Density Residential Zoning District to RR, Rural Residential Zoning District

Planning Commission recommends approval

 

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Harp, to approve the Planning Commission recommendation to rezone the remaining R-2 section of the city limits on County Road 92 (both sides road), from R-2, Medium Density Residential Zoning District to RR, Rural Residential Zoning District. Motion carried (6-0).

 

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

NAY: None

 

·        Amend Zoning Ordinance to remove C from Section 6.2 of Article V

Planning Commission recommends approval

 

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Pearson, to approve the Planning Commission recommendation to amend the zoning ordinance to remove C from Section 6.2 of Article V. Motion carried (6-0).

 

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

NAY: None

 

·        Amend Article III, Section 4-1, A of the Zoning Ordinance

Accessory structures shall be permitted in the rear and side yards only

Planning Commission recommends approval

 

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter, to approve the Planning Commission recommendation to amend the zoning ordinance Article III, Section 4-1, A accessory structures shall be permitted in the rear and side yards only. Motion carried (6-0).

 

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

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 9:                      Consider an ordinance amending the alcohol ordinance regarding expiration dates and wording for Section 4, (11) Container.

 

Mayor Baker introduced Ordinance No. 2005-03 Amended “An ordinance regulating the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages within the Town of Cedar Bluff, Alabama; establishing license fees and providing license procedures; establishing punishment for violations and other matters.”

Mayor Baker advised the amendment of the ordinance is to extend the expiration date of alcohol license to December 31 each year.

Mayor Baker also advised the word “keg” would be deleted from the ordinance since the Alabama law calls for a referendum to serve alcohol from a keg.

After due and careful consideration, a motion was made by Council Member Pearson, seconded by Council Member Sprouse, to adopt Ordinance No. 2005-03 Amended as presented.  Motion carried (6-0)

 

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

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 10:                    Consider an ordinance regulating personal names being placed on any type of equipment or structure being placed in the town park..

 

Mayor Baker introduced Ordinance No. 2007-14 “An ordinance regulating personal names being placed on any type equipment or structure being placed in the Town Park of Cedar Bluff, Alabama”.

 

Mayor Baker advised this ordinance is to allow personal names to be placed on any type equipment or structure in the town park as long as the donated item is a useful item that can be used by all citizens of the area that choose to use the park facilities.

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Harp, 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, Harp, Burkhalter, May, Pearson, Baker

NAY: None

 

After due and careful consideration, a motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter, to adopt Ordinance No. 2007-14 as presented.  Motion carried (6-0)

 

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

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 11:                    Consider authorizing Town employees to receive an annual incentive.

 

Mayor Baker advised this action would allow all Town employees including Police Reserves and Volunteer Firefighters to receive an annual incentive for 2007.

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Burkhalter, to give each employee of Cedar Bluff a $25.00 annual incentive.  Motion carried (6-0).

 

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

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 12:                    Consider allowing Mrs. Carolyn Landrem, Weiss Lake Improvement Association to address the Council regarding lake levels and water conservation issues.

 

Mayor Baker introduced Mrs. Carolyn Landrem with Weiss Lake Improvement Association to address the Council regarding the lake levels and water conservation issues.

Mrs. Landrem addressed the Council with statistics on water amounts in the United States and advised that 8% of all water in the United States flows through Alabama. 

Mrs. Landrem requested the Council consider changing the building codes to incorporate low flow toilets and shower heads in all new construction to help conserve water.  She also requested that houses sold meet the same requirements to conserve water.

At this time, Mayor Baker thanked Mrs. Landrem for her information and advised the town would consider her request.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 13:                    Consider repairs to the Fire Department

           

Mayor Baker advised the Council that the Fire Department kitchen and bathroom are in need of repair and Fire Chief Curry is requesting permission to make the repairs as an estimated cost of $4,800. 

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Pearson to authorize the repair of the Fire Department kitchen and bathroom at a cost of $4,800.  Motion carried (6-0).

 

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

NAY: None

Cedar Bluff Town Council Minutes

December 10, 2007

Page 6

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 14:                    Consider Town Council Meeting calendar for 2008.

 

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Harp, to approve the Town Council Meeting calendar for 2008 as presented.  Motion carried. (6-0)

 

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

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 15:                    Consider 2008 holiday schedule for Town Hall.

 

A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Harp, to approve the Town Council holiday schedule for 2008 as presented.  Motion carried. (6-0)

 

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

NAY: None

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 16:                    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. 17:                    Council Member’s Comments.

 

            There were no Council Member’s Comments.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 18:                    Citizen’s Participation (A five minute limit per person)

 

            There was no Citizen’s Participation.

 

AGENDA ITEM NO. 19:                    Adjournment

 

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

 

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

NAY:  None

 

                                                                        _____Martha Baker_________________

                                                                                                MAYOR

 

(S.E.A.L.)

ATTEST:

 

______DeLana Martin__________________

                TOWN CLERK

 

APPROVED 01/14/08