STATE OF ALABAMA

 

COUNTY OF ETOWAH

 

CITY OF RAINBOW CITY-COUNCIL MEETING-JULY 25, 2005

 

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 the following members were present:

 

Terry John Calhoun, Mayor

 

Council members:

 

Jeff Overstreet

Bobby McCartney

Lloyd Matthews

Bryan Stone

Kris Cornutt, absent

 

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

 

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

 

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 July 11, 2005, and asked if there were any corrections or deletions.  There being none, Bryan Stone moved and Lloyd Matthews seconded the motion to approve the minutes as presented.   Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

 

5.  Mack Butler, President of PTSO, John Jones School and President of PTO, Rainbow Middle School, appeared before the council thanking the mayor and council for supporting the schools.  He said that the Etowah County School System is tied for 2nd in the county.   

 

6.  Mayor Calhoun presented Resolution No. 05-07, authorizing the municipal court to assess additional court costs and fees on cases involving animal control up to an amount which equals or does not exceed the court costs and fees in the District Court of Etowah County for a similar case.   Bryan Stone moved and Jeff Overstreet seconded the motion to adopt the resolution.   Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

 

7.    Chief Ragan asked permission for Rick Hill to propose an agreement with Devan Lowe for service of police vehicles.  Bryan Stone moved and Jeff Overstreet seconded the motion to table the request.   Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

 

8.  Chief Ragan asked for consideration from the council to hire one officer to work with the DARE Program.  Discussion followed.  Lloyd Matthews moved and Bobby McCartney seconded the motion to post the job for a Dare Officer.  Posing closes August 8, 2005 at 4:00 P. M.    Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

 

9.  Chief Ragan requested that the city send I.T.T.S. Training a check for $3500.00 to cover the cost of a firearms class at the Gadsden Police Department Range taught by Scott Reitz, a nationally recognized firearms/deadly force expert.  He requested that three officers be sent to this class.  The three officers will go for the price of one.  Other officers from other jurisdictions will be attending the class; therefore, most of the money will be recovered.   This will be done in conjunction with the Gadsden Police Department.   Jeff Overstreet moved and Lloyd Matthews seconded the motion to approve this request.    Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

 

 

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Council Minutes

July 25, 2005

 

 

10.   Mayor Calhoun presented the following travel\tuition:

            Donna Kilgore and Melvin Potter to attend FLSA & FMLA Update for Alabama Public Agencies in Birmingham, September 12, 2005 from 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P. M., at the Holiday Inn.

            Chief Allan Ragan to attend the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police 2005 Summer Conference in Auburn, Alabama, August 24-26, 2005 at a cost of $l75.00 and lodging for three nights.

            Officer Chase Jenkins to attend “The New Taser X26 and Advanced Taser M26” instructor course in Anniston, Alabama, August 17 and 18 at a cost of $80.00 and no lodging.

            Sergeant LaMont Tucker, Officer David Mitchell and Officer Scott Holderfield to attend Jacksonville University, August 17-18, 2005 at a cost of $50.00 each for two officers and the third officer attends free.  No lodging fee.

Jeff Overstreet moved and Bobby McCartney seconded the motion to grant the travel\tuition.  Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

 

11.  Mayor Calhoun presented an ad request from the American Legion Post 71, co-sponsored by the Alabama Department of Agriculture Center Board for the Sixty-third Annual Etowah County Fair in the amount of $50.00.  Request died for lack of a motion.

 

12.   Jeff Overstreet reported that a consulting firm looked at the fire department in comparison with other cities similar to Rainbow City in population, staffing, and revenue. He said the report showed that the department’s performance was at or above national averages, but its expenses were excessive.  The study showed that 12% of the department’s total expenses last fiscal year went to overtime pay.  Overtime in the Fire Department cost more than $268,000.00 last fiscal year.  Firefighters averaged 20 overtime shifts per year.  The City Council commissioned the study from Condrey and Associates of Athens, Georgia.  Jeff Overstreet moved and Bryan Stone seconded the motion to post the fire chief position until August 26, 2005 at 4:00 P. M., and to put the fire department on a 28 day pay cycle, effective Friday, July 29, 2005.    Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

 

13.  Mayor Calhoun presented a request for retail beer, off premises only and retail table wine, off premises only for the Tobacco Express, 110 Sutton Bridge Road.    Bryan Stone moved and Lloyd Matthews seconded the motion to approve the request.  Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

 

14.  Concerned citizens from Westminister appeared before the Council concerning drainage problems.  Stephen DeFranco spoke concerning this problem.  He asked how the residents of Westminister could have their property declared a flood zone area.  The city engineer said the flood map has to be amended by FEMA.  Discussion followed.

 

15.  Jimmie Harp, District Attorney, appeared before the council concerning the Drug Task Force of Etowah County, which will operate within the 16th Judicial Circuit of Alabama.  He reported that crystal methamphetamine is Etowah County’s greatest problem, and that the county continues to face heavy trafficking of other narcotics, including crack cocaine and marijuana.  He said a coordinated multi-jurisdictional approach to narcotics enforcement is the best and most cost efficient way to fight the war on illegal narcotics.   He also said seizure money will be used to help refund part of the money back to the city.  Mayor Calhoun presented Resolution No. 05-08, allowing the Mayor to enter into the memorandum of understanding and inter-agency agreement regarding the Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit, and to pay $25,000.00 in quarterly payments to the custodian of funds for the “DEU,” logistical support, and other support deemed necessary.   Chief Ragan recommended the city go along with the drug task force

 

 

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Council Minutes

July 25, 2005

 

 

to help the task force combat crimes.    Jeff Overstreet moved and Lloyd Matthews seconded the motion to adopt Resolution No. 05-08.    Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.

 

16.  Ken Roark appeared before the council concerning the Summer Reading Awards Program at the library.    He thanked Mitch Ramsey, Richard Johnson, Steve Tate, and Tim McKee for their help.

 

17.  Larry Murray spoke to the council concerning the recent changes in the Fire Department.   Discussion followed.

 

There being no further business to come before the council at this time, Jeff Overstreet made a motion to adjourn.

 

Time adjourned:  8:10 P. M.

 

                                                                        ____________________________________  

                                                                            Barbara T. Wester, City Clerk\Treasurer

 

 

                                                                        ____________________________________

                                                                                    Terry John Calhoun, Mayor