REGULAR MEETING

ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL

 

OCTOBER 15, 2007

 

 

     The Ashland City Council met for a regular meeting on October 15, 2007 at 5:00 P.M. in the Ashland City Hall Auditorium with Mayor Terry Turner presiding. Council Members present were Zeola D. Echols, Bobbie J. Steed, Gail E. Thompson, Rebecca G. Boddie and Mike Beale. Also present was City Clerk Charles E. Foster, Asst. City Clerk Donna J. Bennett, Police Chief Benny Davis, Maintenance Supervisor Randy Hanners, Code Enforcement Officer Terry Raughton, Louise Campbell of L.P. Campbell Company, Cathy Gerachis of Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc., Abby Pruet of the Clay Times-Journal and Lester Robinson.

 

     Fire Chief Chad Toland was absent.

    

     Mayor Turner called the meeting to order and Council Member Echols gave the invocation.

 

     Council Member Steed moved to approve the agenda with the following additions.  Under New Business, add Item No. 4. - Declaring 2000 Ford Police car, VIN 2FAFP71WXYX109618, car as surplus; Item No. 5. - Donation of 2000 Ford Police car, VIN 2FAFP71WXYX109618; Item No. 6. - Changing status of Lester Robinson as probationary to permanent employee; Item No. 7. - Approving of borrowing up to $128,100 from First American Bank to purchase land and Item No. 8. - Changing employment status of Benny Davis from Acting Police Chief to Police Chief. The motion was then seconded by Council Member Echols and all votes are unanimous.

 

     Council Member Echols moved to approve the minutes of the previous planning meeting.  Seconded by Council Member Steed and all votes were unanimous.

 

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

 

     Under Informational Items, Chief Davis reported that Trick or Treating was scheduled for Wednesday, October 31, 2007, 5:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.

 

     Under committee reports, Council Members Echols, Steed, Thompson, Boddie and Beale did not report. 

 

     City Clerk Foster and Maintenance Supervisor Hanners did not report.

 

     Code Enforcement Officer Raughton reported that the Final Inspection for the Senior Center was scheduled for October 16^th at 11:00 A.M..  Mr. Raughton also wanted thank the Maintenance Department for all their work at Northside Park.

 

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   Under New Business, Council Member Boddie moved to approve the bills received since the last meeting in the amount of $13419.77.  Council Member Steed seconded the motion and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Beale made a motion awarding the bid received on September 26, 2007 for Ashland Park Improvements, JBWT Project No. 05046 to J & D Enterprises, LLC in the amount of $29534.00.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Boddie and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Beale made a motion granting permission to Terry Raughton to make purchase of lights and other items needed for the Ashland Park Improvements Project up to $50,000.  These items will be purchased under the Public Works bid process due to the amount of purchase.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Echols and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Beale made a motion to declare a 2000 Ford Police Car, VIN 2FAFP71WXYX109618 as surplus property.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Boddie and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Boddie made a motion to donate the 2000 Ford Police Car, VIN 2FAFP71WXYX109618 to Millerville Fire Department.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Echols and all votes were unanimous.

     

     Due to the end of his probationary period, Maintenance Supervisor Hanners recommended that Lester Robinson be made a permanent employee.  Upon this recommendation, Council Member Boddie made a motion to change the status of Lester Robinson from probationary to a permanent employee.  This motion was seconded by Council Members Echols and Beale and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Beale reported that closing on the proposed Industrial Site property has been scheduled for 9:00 A.M. on Thursday, October 18, 2007.  The total amount of purchase including the additional ± twenty (20) acres, is $528,100.00 with the City of Ashland using $400,000.00 of city funds already available and he then recommended that the city of Ashland borrow the balance of $128,100.00 from First American Bank, Ashland, Alabama at a rate of 5%.  After discussion, Council Member Beale made a motion approving borrowing up to $128,100.00 from First American Bank, Ashland, Alabama to purchase property from Randy and Angelia Kerr located on Alabama Highway 9 North, a.k.a. Mckinney Farm, to be used for proposed industrial property and further authorizing Mayor Terry Turner to sign all documents related to this purchase.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Rebecca G. Boddie and upon call all votes were unanimous.