STATE OF
CITY OF
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:
Jeff Overstreet
Bobby McCartney
Lloyd Matthews
Bryan Stone
Kris Cornutt
The same constituting a quorum of the City Council, the following business was transacted.
l. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Terry John Calhoun. Mayor Calhoun asked for a moment of silence for fellow employee, Captain Dale Walton who suddenly passed away October 22, 2005.
2. Invocation was given by Jeff Overstreet.
3. Mayor Calhoun led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
4. Mayor Calhoun presented the minutes of October 10, 2005 for review, and asked if there were any corrections, additions, or deletions. There being none, Bryan Stone moved and Kris Cornutt seconded the motion to approve the minutes as presented.
5. Mayor Calhoun presented a recommendation from the Fire Chief to hire Justin Ryan Zemo as firefighter\paramedic at Range 23, Step 18. Jeff Overstreet moved and Lloyd Matthews seconded the motion to hire Justin at this range and step for a one year period.
Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.
6. Mayor Calhoun announced a public hearing was being held concerning Ordinance No. 429, a one cent sales tax increase. He asked if anyone had comments. Lloyd Matthews asked what the money would be used for. Mayor Calhoun said the increase would be used for paving, police cars, roof on recreation center, tractor and bush hog, and raises for employees. Discussion followed. Jeff Overstreet said the Police and Fire Department had endured all the cuts they can, and that the money is being watched carefully. Mayor Calhoun said the tax increase would put the city back to the figures of two years ago, and spending would have to be carefully watched. Randy Campbell asked the council to consider alternative taxing, such as taxing apartments. Discussion followed. Bryan Stone said that the business license schedule has not been changed in twenty-five (25) years and the council is looking at this. He said no one wants to raise the sales tax, but to prevent layoffs and continue city services, it is a necessity. Mayor Calhoun presented the ordinance. Bryan Stone moved and Jeff Overstreet seconded the motion to suspend the rules for immediate consideration. Mayor Calhoun asked for a roll call vote as follows:
Jeff Overstreet yes
Bobby McCartney yes
Lloyd Matthews yes
Bryan Stone yes
Kris Cornutt yes
Mayor Calhoun yes
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Council Minutes
October 24, 2005
Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.
7. Bobby McCartney moved and Jeff Overstreet seconded the motion to adopt Ordinance No. 429. Mayor Calhoun asked for a roll call vote as follows:
Jeff Overstreet yes
Bobby McCartney yes
Lloyd Matthews yes
Bryan Stone yes
Kris Cornutt yes
Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried. He said the ordinance would not be effective until December 1, 2005, and the city will not receive any money until February.
8. Mayor Calhoun presented an application for retail beer, (off premises only) by James Earl Warren. His business name was The Beer Store DBA Corner Stop Grocery. The new name of his business is K-Mar L.L.C. dba The Corner Stop Grocery. This is only a name change. Jeff Overstreet moved and Bryan Stone seconded the motion to grant the request. Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.
9. Mayor Calhoun presented an
application for retail beer, (off premises only) and retail table wine, (off
premises only) by Adnan Muhammad Tayyab.
The trade name is Jet Pep and is located across from
10. Mayor Calhoun asked the council to grant him the authority to borrow $15,000.00 for ninety (90) days to purchase two (2) trucks, year model 2000, 2500 series, ¾ ton King Cab Four Wheel Drive for animal control and the police department. These trucks will be purchased from the State Bid List. Chief Ragan stated that $l0,000.00 will come from the Drug Task Force Unit, and that the old animal control truck will be declared as surplus. Jeff Overstreet moved and Lloyd Matthews seconded the motion to grant the request. Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.
11. Mayor Calhoun presented an ad request from the Southside Tip-off Club for $50.00. Kris Cornutt moved and Bryan Stone seconded the motion to grant the request. Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.
12. Mayor Calhoun asked that the records show that he was appointing Michele Wiles as auditor to audit the city for this past year. She will be starting right away.
13. Casey Ramsey, Program Coordinator for the Muscular Dystrophy Association appeared before the council to thank the Rainbow City Fire Department for their help with the “Fill the Booth Campaign.” They raised over $5000.00. Melvin Potter, Fire Chief thanked the citizens and the fire department for the good job they did. Melvin also introduced the new firemen, Justin Zemo.
14. Lieutenant Rick Hill informed the council that he would forgo his raise this year to give the lower paid officers a raise. Melvin Potter, Fire Chief said he would do this also.
15. Bobby McCartney reported that the recreation center guys are working on the ball fields, and that everything at the community center is running smoothly.
16. Jeff Overstreet announced that next Monday night will be Holloween, and that the little kids will be out. They will not be paying attention, so everyone needs to make sure the kids are taken care of. There will be trick or treating at both fire stations, and the police force will be out in full capacity.
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Council Minutes
October 24, 2005
17. Kris Cornutt reported that we do not have property tax revenues, and he would rather have the sales tax increase than to have to cut city services and maybe lose personnel. He
also stated he would like to give his condolences to Dale Walton’s family with his prayers and thoughts.
18. Lloyd Matthews said he would echo what Kris said, and that he was really touched by what Dale’s son said at the funeral about his fun times with his dad. Lloyd reported that he was not going to vote for the sales tax increase, but said that he had to leave his personal feeling out of this, because to continue city services and give the employees raises, he would vote for the increase.
19. Mayor Calhoun reported that even with the sales tax increase, these next few months will be hard because of lack of revenues.
There being no further business to come before the council at this time, Bryan Stone 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