REGULAR MEETING

ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL

 

AUGUST 15, 2005

 

     The Ashland City Council met for a regular meeting on August 15, 2005 at 5:00 P.M. in the Ashland City Hall Auditorium with Mayor Pro-Tem Steed presiding. Council Members present were Zeola D. Echols, Gail E. Thompson, Rebecca G. Boddie and Mike Beale. Also present were City Clerk Charles E. Foster, Assistant City Clerk Donna J. Bennett, Police Chief Derrick Forbes, Maintenance Supervisor Randy Hanners, Ashland Housing Authority Director Stan Gaither, Clay County Commissioner Kevin Kiser, Clay County Engineer Brian Smith, Kim Medley of the Clay Times-Journal, Al Haynes of WTRB, Bobby Dark and Ben Stowes.

                                                                                                                                                           

     Mayor Terry Turner, Fire Chief Randy Mitchell and Code Enforcement Officer Terry Raughton were absent.

 

     Mayor Pro-Tem Steed called the meeting to order.

 

     Council Member Echols gave the invocation.

 

     Council Member Thompson made a motion approving the agenda with the following additions/changes.   Under informational items, Items 1 and 2 were swapped in sequence.  Under new business, Item No. 5 - Jennifer’s Design Studio, Update of website was added.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Boddie and all votes were unanimous.

 

      Council Member Boddie moved to approve the minutes of the previous council meeting.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Echols and all votes were unanimous.

 

      Under informational items, Mayor Pro-Tem introduced Mr. Bobby Dark, Chairman of the Alabama Black Democratic Caucus of Clay County.  Mr. Dark asked of the Council to approve Resolution No. 08-15-02-2005 celebrating the 40^th Anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.  At this time, Council Member Beale made a motion to approve Resolution No. 08-15-02-2005 celebrating the 40^th Anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Thompson and all votes were unanimous.  Mayor Pro-Tem Steed thanked Mr. Dark.

 

      Clay County Commissioner Kevin Kiser and Clay County Engineer Brian Smith both addressed the Mayor Pro-Tem and Council Members concerning funding needed for future paving needs for the county and city.  Several items were discussed.  Council Member Beale made a motion to commit a 20% match or approximately $30,000 to help fund the cost of paving Cragford Road.  This project will include approximately 1.4 miles of paving in the Ashland City Limits.  This commitment is contingent upon the county’s approval of this agreement.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Boddie and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Under committee reports, Council Member Echols thanked Randy Hanners and the Maintenance Department for their efforts in cleaning up the City.

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     Council Member Echols also reported that she had spoken to several citizens in her District that had concerns about a vacant lot between Mary Gray and Coolidge Sims on 3^rd Avenue South and a house that the owner wished to have razed.  It was stated that Council Member Echols would need to contact Code Enforcement Officer Terry Raughton concerning these items upon his return to work.

 

     Council Member Thompson did not report.

 

     Council Members Boddie and Beale both extended their thanks to the Maintenance Department.

 

     City Clerk Foster did not report.

 

     Police Chief Forbes asked permission of the Council to allow payroll deductions from the police officers salary for their membership in the Alabama Peace Officer’s Annuity  and Benefit Fund at a cost of $20.00 per month.  Forms must be completed by the officers for this deduction.  Permission was granted by the Council Members.

 

     Chief Forbes addressed the Council with reasons for the recent substantial amount of over-time pay at the Police Department.

 

     Maintenance Supervisor Hanners did not report.

 

      Under new business, Council Member Thompson moved to approve the bills received since the last meeting in the amount of $9537.50.  Council Member Echols seconded the motion and all votes were unanimous.

 

      Council Member Boddie made a motion to enter into an agreement with the Ashland Housing Authority to hire a Police Investigator.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Thompson and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Beale made a motion, upon the recommendation of Chief Forbes, to hire Tony Knight as Housing Authority Investigator at a rate of pay of $28,000 per year beginning August 16, 2005.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Thompson and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Beale made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 08-15-01-2005 to submit an application for a Recreational Trails Program Grant in the amount of $80,000 with the City’s match of $20,000 and granting authorization to Mayor Terry Turner to sign any and all documents concerning this grant.  This motion was seconded by Council Members Boddie and Thompson and all votes were unanimous.

 

      Council Member Thompson made a motion accepting the proposal from Jennifer Alam of Jennifer’s Designs to update the City’s website at a fee of $50.00 per month beginning in December 2005.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Beale and all votes were unanimous.