STATE OF ALABAMA

 

COUNTY OF ETOWAH

 

CITY OF RAINBOW CITY-COUNCIL MEETING-JANUARY 28, 2008

 

The City Council of the City of Rainbow City, Alabama, met in regular session at City Hall at 6:30 p.m., and upon roll call by the City Clerk, Barbara T. Wester, the following members answered present:

 

Terry John Calhoun, Mayor

 

Council members:

 

Cora Kelly

Bobby McCartney

Lloyd Matthews

Bryan Stone

Kris Cornutt

 

The same constituting a quorum of the City Council, the following business was transacted.

 

1.  The meeting was called to order by Mayor Calhoun.

 

2.  Invocation was given by Cora Kelly.

 

3.  Mayor Calhoun led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

 

4.  Mayor Calhoun presented the minutes of January 14, 2008 for review and asked if there were any corrections, additions or deletions.  There being none, Bobby McCartney moved and Bryan Stone seconded the motion to approve the minutes as presented.  Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

 

5.  Mayor Calhoun stated it gave him great pleasure to recognize the first and second place winners of the Spelling B at John Jones School.   Jack Stover is the 2nd place winner and Sara Hicks is the first place winner.   Both will compete February 7, 2008 at Gadsden State for the county competition.

 

6.  Mayor Calhoun presented an ad request from Southside Girls Softball for a 3 X 8 sign in the amount of $200.00.  Lloyd Matthews moved and Kris Cornutt seconded the motion to purchase the ad.   Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

 

7.  Mayor Calhoun announced that the American Red Cross Blood Drive will be Tuesday, February 19, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.  The goal for the City is 28 units.

 

8.  Mayor Calhoun presented an ad request from the Messenger, Progress 08 and The Gadsden Times---Living Here.   Bobby McCartney moved and Cora Kelly seconded the motion to purchase a ¼ page ad from the Messenger for $365.00 and a ¼ page ad from the Gadsden Times for $475.00.  Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

 

9.  Mayor Calhoun announced that the first meeting of the Chocolate Festival Committee was held last week and there would be a press conference Thursday, January 31, at 10 a.m. announcing plans and entertainment for this year’s festival.  He stated the Lions Club has had two meetings concerning the movies under the stars, and that they will meet again tomorrow.  They have one sponsor at this time.  He also stated that he had met with Mike McCain, Alabama Power and the engineer concerning the property for the Industrial Park.   Plans for Phase I are underway.  Ralph Lane, Alabama Power called him and stated there was money available to run power to the property in the amount of $20,000.00. 

 

10.  Lloyd Matthews moved and Kris Cornutt seconded the motion to adopt a longevity pay policy to put on next year’s budget.  This would give time to work on the particulars of the meeting.   He suggested paying employees on their anniversary date so there would be no large payouts at one time.  Lloyd stated he felt this is a good way to keep good employees in place.  Bryan Stone stated that the average length of tenure for city employees is 11 years.  Mayor Calhoun stated that the City’s budget is a little over 7 million, and with wages, health insurance, life insurance, social security taxes, retirement, payroll taxes and uniforms totaling around $4,900,000.00, 65% of the budget is going for wages and incentives.   He stated Montgomery recommended 50 to 55% of the budget be allocated for this.   He stated he has talked to several employees about paying the family portion of insurance, and they said they had rather have the insurance paid.  Discussion followed.  Mayor Calhoun asked for a roll call vote as follows:

 

                                                Cora Kelly                   no

                                                Bobby McCartney        no

                                                Lloyd Matthews           yes

                                                Bryan Stone                 no

                                                Kris Cornutt                 yes

Mayor Calhoun stated the motion did not carry.

 

11.  Kris Cornutt stated he would like to change the title of Jaimie Pickle Jones (library) from temporary part-time to permanent part-time.  This way she would receive 20 (twenty) hours of vacation per year.   Kris moved and Lloyd Matthews seconded the motion to change her title.  Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.   Kris also discussed the front part of the parking lot of K-Mart and the cars parked there with for sale signs on them.   Discussion followed.

 

12.  Cora Kelly moved and Bryan Stone seconded the motion to solicit bids for two (2) Radio Dispatch Control Systems for the Fire and Police Dispatchers and open the bids at 2:00 p.m., February 11, 2008.  Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

 

13.  Bobby McCartney stated that the concession stand is under construction, and hopes it will be completed by March.   He also announced that practice has started at the ball fields.  

 

14.  Larry Murray announced that the Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be March 15, at 10:00 a.m.

 

There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, Bryan Stone made a motion to adjourn.

 

Time Adjourned:  7:00 p.m.

 

                                                            __________________________________________

                                                                      Barbara T. Wester, City Clerk/Treasurer

 

                                   

                                                            __________________________________________

                                                                                  Terry John Calhoun, Mayor