SPECIAL CALLED JOINT MEETING
CEDAR BLUFF TOWN COUNCIL AND CEDAR BLUFF UTILITY BOARD & SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2007 AT 3:00 P.M.
The Cedar Bluff Town Council and Cedar Bluff Utility Board & Solid Waste Authority of the Town of Cedar Bluff, County of Cherokee, State of Alabama, met in Special Session in the Council Room at Town Hall, 3420 Spring Street, Cedar Bluff, Alabama, Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at 3:00 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
Also present was Nathan Thacker, Utility Board Member.
INVOCATION
The invocation was given by Council member Leatha Harp.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Executive
Session to discuss the separation of property and or equipment between the Town
of
Mayor Baker advised the Council and the Utility Board that this meeting would be an open meeting with no executive session due to limited reasons for executive sessions.
Mayor Baker also, distributed a counter proposal in answer to one previously submitted to the Town by the Utility Board.
PROPOSAL
FOR SEPARATION OF LAND BETWEEN UTILITY BOARD AND TOWN
The Utility Board agrees to release all ownership and
transfer title to that tract of land known as the Lynn Crider property. Council
Room Property.
That property located on the corner of
That half of property located on the corner of Old Hwy
9 and Spring Street identified as the property presently housing Utility Board
Equipment.
Council agrees to transfer that property presently
being used as a sewage treatment plant
Made up of the following tracts of land.
1.
12
acre tract being used as a lagoon
2.
26
acre tract being used as spray irrigation field
3.
30
acre tract being used as spray irrigation field
The Utility Board agrees to survey the area of the 20
acre tract being used as a firing range and identify the part of that land
necessary for the spray irrigation area. The Town will give the Utility Board a
deed for that part of land necessary for the spray irrigation area.
The Town will retain all mineral rights for the said
properties 1, 2, and 3 listed above.
Other agreements aside from land agreements will be
discussed and will be separate from the land agreement.
After a lengthy discussion about the division of the property at the lagoons and the police shooting range; with issues over the mineral rights and easements, it was decided that no agreement could be made at this time.
At this time, Mayor Baker advised she had talked to Cherokee Electric about street lights in Cedar Bluff; one specifically not being utilitized by the Town is the light facing the water tower. The Town is paying approximately $50.00 per month for the light. It was the consensus of both the Council and the Utility Board to authorize Cherokee Electric to turn off the light at the water tower.
There were two vehicles and several pieces of equipment to be discussed and settled between the Town Council and the Utility Board.
The 1991 Chevrolet S10 pickup has been declared surplus and sold by the Town. The 1992 Dodge Dakota pickup has been declared surplus by the Town is waiting to be sold. Both vehicles are titled to the Town
The Massey Ferguson tractor is valued at approximately $8,000 and the bush hog is about $500. It was also determined the zero turn mower was valued at approximately $8,000.
After much discussion, it was suggested the Town or the Utility Board purchase the tractor and bush hog from the other at half the value.
Mayor Baker advised the Town would consider the option to purchase the Snapper Zero Turn mower and/or the Massey Ferguson Tractor and let the Utility Board know their decision.
A motion was made by Council Member Harp, seconded by Council Member Pearson, to sell the 1992 Dodge Dakota Pickup and divide the money received from both vehicles between the Town and the Utility Board; and to consider the option to buy the mower and/or the tractor from the Utility Board and let them know at a later date. Motion carried (6-0).
AYE: Harp, Pearson, Baker, Sprouse, Burkhalter, Sides
NAY: None
Council Member Sprouse advised that in a one year period Harvey Dupree, Utility Board employee had worked for the Town 511 hours less 40 hours for misquote spraying. 471 hours at $24.29 per hour totals $11,440 per year. Mrs. Sprouse also advised that the Utility Workers worked approximately 150 hours for the Town at approximately $30.00 an hour.
Mayor Baker advised she was aware of the hours the utility workers spent working for the town as well as the hours the town employee spent working for the utility board.
A motion was made by Council Member Burkhalter, seconded by Council Member Sides, that effective immediately Town employees no longer perform work for the Utility Board. Motion carried (6-0)
AYE: Burkhalter, Sides, Pearson, Baker, Sprouse, Harp
NAY: None
A discussion also ensued regarding the monthly obligation warrant payment paid by the Town and the amount of the payment that was for water and sewer. The Mayor advised the payment was a substantial amount and she suggested that since the utility employees are the most familiar with the Christmas decorations and where they are to be put that the utility board employees be authorized to erect the Christmas lights for the year 2007 in exchange for the Utility Board’s portion of the bond payment for that year.
A motion was made by Council Member Sprouse, seconded by Council Member Harp that the Town will continue to make the bond payment for the Utility Board in exchange for Utility employees erecting the Christmas lights for the year 2007. Motion carried.
AYE: Sprouse, Harp, Burkhalter, Sides, Pearson, Baker,
NAY: None
At this time, Mayor Baker advised the Utility Board that she felt they needed to conduct the Utility Board meetings in the Town Council Room instead of the Community Center since it was already heated or cooled and would not require extra utilities. Council Member Sprouse advised she would like to purchase a meeting table and chairs for the Utility Board building and conduct future meetings at the utility building on Old Highway 9.
Council Member Sprouse suggested exchanging the park area property for the Lagoon property, but due to lack of agreement on mineral rights no decision was made.
Mrs. Sprouse advised the Utility Board has paid $1,900 to have the Lagoon/Police Range property surveyed and suggested the Town consider that payment for the mineral rights to the entire irrigation property. It was the consensus of the Town Council and the Utility Board to let the property remain as is for the time being.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Adjournment
There being no further business to be considered, a motion was made by Council Member Sides, seconded by Council Member Sprouse, that the meeting be adjourned. (4:22 p.m.). Motion carried.
AYE: Sides, Sprouse, Harp, Burkhalter, Pearson, Baker
NAY: None
______MARTHA BAKER_____________
MAYOR
(S.E.A.L.)
ATTEST:
DeLANA MARTIN____________________
TOWN CLERK
APPROVED 04/09/07