STATE OF ALABAMA

COUNTY OF ETOWAH

CITY OF RAINBOW CITY-COUNCIL MEETING-MARCH 23, 2009

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 Barbara T. Wester, City Clerk/Treasurer the following members answered present: Mayor Terry John Calhoun, Council members: Anita Bedwell, Bobby McCartney, Lloyd Matthews, Larry Keenum and Kris Cornutt.

The same constituting a quorum of the City Council, the following business was transacted. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Terry John Calhoun. Invocation was given by Larry Keenum. Mayor Calhoun led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

1. Mayor Calhoun presented the minutes of March 9, 2009 for review and asked if there were any corrections, additions, or deletions. There being none, Larry Keenum moved and Bobby McCartney seconded the motion to approve the minutes as presented. Mayor Calhoun stated all in favor say aye. All ayes. Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

2. Mayor Calhoun stated no bids were received for the items declared as surplus at the Council Meeting on March 9, 2009, for the Recreation Department, Police Department and items in the storage room on the second floor. Anita Bedwell made a motion to donate the items to Eagle Rock or the Thrift Store, and if they do not want them to destroy the items. Lloyd Matthews seconded the motion. Mayor Calhoun stated all in favor say aye. All ayes. Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

3. Mayor Calhoun stated this is a public hearing for Ordinance No. 467 to rezone the other part of the City’s property on Lumley Road from Agricultural District to Manufacturing District. (Deerfoot Industrial Park No. 2). It consists of 47.21 acres. He asked if anyone was present who would like to speak for or against the ordinance. No one spoke for or against the ordinance. Larry Keenum made a motion to introduce the ordinance. Kris Cornutt made a motion to suspend the rules for immediate consideration. Lloyd Matthews seconded the motion. Mayor Calhoun asked the clerk for a roll call vote as follows:

Anita Bedwell yes

Bobby McCartney yes

Lloyd Matthews yes

Larry Keenum yes

Kris Cornutt yes

Mayor Calhoun yes

Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

4. Larry Keenum made a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 467. Kris Cornutt seconded the motion. Mayor Calhoun asked the clerk for a roll call vote as follows:

Anita Bedwell yes

Bobby McCartney yes

Lloyd Matthews yes

Larry Keenum yes

Kris Cornutt yes

Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

5. Mayor Calhoun asked that the records show that the Court Report was presented.

6. Mayor Calhoun presented an ad request from the Gadsden Times concerning the Chocolate Festival. Request died for lack of a motion.

7. Mayor Calhoun read a letter from the Alabama Department of Transportation concerning the traffic signal request at US 411 at Lister Ferry Road in Rainbow City. Johnny Harris, Division Engineer stated in the letter that the State completed their investigation of the project, and based upon their findings, it is their recommendation that a traffic signal not be installed at this time, but if traffic patterns/volumes increase in the future, they will be happy to reevaluate this site.

8. Mayor Calhoun turned over the hiring of Cody Allen in the Recreation Department to Bobby McCartney, Recreation Department Chairman. Bobby made a motion to hire Cody at $8.00 per hour as a permanent part-time employee, with a 6-month probation period. Kris Cornutt seconded the motion. Mayor Calhoun stated all in favor say aye. All ayes. Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

9. Mayor Calhoun turned over the promotion of Vinnie Dupree in the Fire Department to Kris Cornutt, Fire Department Chairman. Kris made a motion to promote Vinnie to EMT Basic Firefighter at the rate of $11.50 per hour, since he has completed his one-year probationary period. Lloyd Matthews seconded the motion. Mayor Calhoun stated all in favor say aye. All ayes. Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

10. Mayor Calhoun stated that Barry Dykes with Inertia Advertising appeared at pre-council to discuss putting a 32-inch monitor in the lobby for announcements, etc.

The monitors will hopefully be put in four (4) locations now, and expand later to other locations. The purposed locations are: (l) Etowah County Court House, (2) Etowah County Judicial Building, (3) Gadsden City Hall, and (4) Rainbow City Hall. There will be no cost for this service. Discussion followed.

11. Mayor Calhoun announced that Congressman Artur Davis will be at the Community Center from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on April 16. He also announced that the Police & Fire Department Banquet will be April l6.

12. Lloyd Matthews thanked the Lions Club for the good job they did with Pancake Day.

Lloyd also stated that Beth Lee was hired in 2004 as the Mayor’s secretary, and asked the Mayor if this is not true. Mayor Calhoun stated this is true. Lloyd then asked the Mayor when he promoted her to Administrative Assistant. He remarked he hasn’t. After that, Lloyd presented him with literature from the Alabama League Book showing her as Administrative Assistant. The Mayor stated he did not know how it got in the book. Lloyd asked him to get to the bottom of how it happened. The Mayor stated he would.

13. Kris Cornutt made a motion to post the position of firefighter/paramedic, and close the position April 3 at 4:00 p.m. Larry Keenum seconded the motion. Mayor Calhoun stated all in favor say aye. All ayes. Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

14. Lloyd Matthews stated that bids for the paving will close April 13 at 11:00 a.m., and will be opened immediately afterwards.

15. Anita Bedwell stated the council has discussed training for department heads. They received a proposal from Jennifer Swank, Corporate Trainer for $1585.00. This will cover two half-day sessions and some follow-up if necessary. Anita made a motion to accept this amount for the training. Lloyd Matthews seconded the motion. Mayor Calhoun stated all in favor say aye. All ayes. Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

16. Anita Bedwell discussed the Easter Egg Hunt. Larry Murray stated the fire department was short on funds and needed around $3,000.00 to have the hunt. Discussion followed. Lloyd Matthews made a motion to give the $3,000.00 for the hunt. Anita Bedwell seconded the motion. Mayor Calhoun stated all in favor say aye. All ayes. Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

17. Bobby McCartney made a motion to purchase an infield machine for $11,406.00 from Beard Equipment for the Recreation Department. Motion died for lack of a second.

Bobby also stated that the Little League and softball tournaments start tonight, and soccer started last weekend. April 2 at 5:00 p.m. will be the opening ceremony at the Vivian Lee Maddox Complex for the first Little League game of the season. Bobby thanked the volunteers and Judge Stover for all their hard work at the complex. He also thanked the Sheriff’s Department and jail inmates for their help at the complex. He announced that Sue Davis will be with the City 20 years the last week in March.

18. Allan Cosby appeared before the Council to thank the City Council and Mayor for the money the City gave to Southside High School and to thank them for the use of the city track.

19. Anita Bedwell stated that she and Larry Keenum attended the Congressional City Conference in Washington D. C. They met with the representatives and senators and discussed things Rainbow City needs. They discussed drainage and road projects and how to get the funding for these projects. This is appropriated funds and not stimulus money.

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

Time adjourned: 7: 10 p.m.

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Barbara T. Wester, City Clerk/Treasurer

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Terry John Calhoun, Mayor