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 Barbara T. Wester, City
Clerk/Treasurer, the following members answered present: Terry John Calhoun, Mayor; 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 Bobby McCartney. Mayor Calhoun led the Pledge of Allegiance to
the flag.
1. Mayor Calhoun presented the minutes of
February 9, 2009 for review and asked if there were any corrections, additions,
or deletions. There being none, Anita Bedwell make a motion to approve the minutes as
presented. Bobby McCartney seconded the
motion. Mayor Calhoun stated all in
favor say aye. All
ayes. Mayor Calhoun declared the
motion carried.
2. Mayor Calhoun stated he was making an
announcement concerning public participation. He asked that everyone refrain
from talking during the council meeting because the council and clerk could not
hear, and several in the audience complained to him that they could not hear. He asked the public to wait until the public
participation time to speak. Discussion
followed.
3. Mayor Calhoun stated that at the last council
meeting, the council voted to give the
4. Mayor Calhoun stated at the last council
meeting, he asked the council about a joint purchase of a gate at the City shop
with the Utility Board. (Item 5 of the minutes of Feb. 9, 2009). The gate will cost approximately
$11,000.00. The City will pay half of
the cost. It will have a key pad and a
card pad. It will be purchased from Siberton Fence Sales, Inc.
Discussion followed. Lloyd
Matthews made a motion to purchase the gate.
Bobby McCartney seconded the motion.
Mayor Calhoun stated all in favor say aye. All ayes. Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.
5. Mayor Calhoun turned over the hiring of a
Firefighter/EMT to Kris Cornutt, Fire Department
Chairman. Kris stated the committee and
the Chief met and interviewed several good applicants. They recommend the hiring of James Martin at
$11.00 per hour. He is a certified
firefighter and EMT. Kris made a motion
to hire James on a one-year probationary period, and at the end of the year his
salary will change to $11.50 per hour. He will start to work on Friday,
February 27, 2009. Bobby McCartney
seconded the motion. Mayor Calhoun
stated all in favor say aye. All ayes. Mayor
Calhoun declared the motion carried.
6. Mayor Calhoun presented a request from Chief
Ragan to promote Larry Phillips to Sergeant and turned the request over to
Larry Keenum, Chairman of the Police Department
Committee. Larry stated he met with
Chief Ragan and his committee and with Larry’s education and service he made a
motion to promote him and give him $l4.25 and hour effective immediately. Anita Bedwell
seconded the motion. Mayor Calhoun
stated all in favor say aye. All ayes. Mayor
Calhoun declared the motion carried.
7. Mayor Calhoun asked that the minutes show
that the Court Report was presented.
8. Mayor Calhoun stated that Kellis
Vegetation Management, Inc. sprayed last year, and the proposal for this year
is $2600.00. They will spray three times
and more if needed. The areas to be
treated are: Rainbow Landing, wooden
guardrails, rip rap, chain link fence and encroaching kudzu on fence, Hidden
Meadows Ditch, Lister Ferry Guardrail, Riddle’s Bend Road Guardrail, Rainbow
Park: ditch and brush on fence, and South Hawk, Westminster and Sherwood
ditches. Bobby McCartney made a motion
to accept the proposal. Larry Keenum seconded the motion.
Mayor Calhoun stated all in favor say aye. All ayes. Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.
9. Mayor Calhoun stated that bids were opened at
pre-council for the timber harvesting at the future Rainbow City Industrial
Park No. 3. (Deerfoot Industrial Park No. 2.) Two (2) bids were received: Bedwell & Whorton Excavating has a base bid of $364,100.00 and an
alternate bid of $380,650.00. Trent
Thrasher Construction has a Base bid of $64,925.00 and an alternate bid of
$104,729.00. Lloyd Matthews made a
motion to award the bid to Trent Thrasher Construction pending a review by the
city engineer, Jones, Blair, Waldrup &
Tucker. Larry Keenum
seconded the motion. Mayor Calhoun
stated all in favor say aye. All ayes. Mayor
Calhoun declared the motion carried.
10. Mayor Calhoun stated that CDG Engineers has
submitted a Storm water Drainage Project CDBG grant
twice for
11. Mayor Calhoun stated at pre-council Mr. Chuck
Chitwood also discussed the Horton Creek Drainage
Improvement Project. This project has
already been funded. This
grant if for $l, 000,000.00. Mr.
Chitwood stated an environmental review will have to
be done. AST Environmental will do the
survey for $5900.00. Also, an endangered
specs flower blooms in April and the Historical Committee requires a Cultural
Research be done, and he recommended the
12. Mayor Calhoun stated if anyone was wondering, the purple pot was put in the lobby for donations as a
cancer fund raiser. It will take a $25.00
donation to get it moved. Lloyd Matthews
stated if you pay $30.00 you can request it be sent to someone of your
choice. Discussion followed. Mayor Calhoun also announced that the
Chocolate Festival will be Saturday, April 4th, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at
the plaza.
13. Mayor Calhoun turned over the request by
Chief Ragan to Larry Keenum, Police Department
Committee Chairman, to put George Morris, Mike Dedmon
and Wayne Garmon at the rate of $13.00 per hour. Lloyd Matthews seconded the motion. Mayor Calhoun stated all in favor say
aye. All ayes. Mayor Calhoun declared the motion carried.
14. Anita Bedwell
stated the Library has a webcam available to use, and it’s free to be used by
anyone. The Library got a grant for it
last year.
15. Mayor Calhoun stated the Messenger Newspaper
is doing a free story on
16. Bobby McCartney, Recreation Department
Chairman stated he was extending the posting on the Field/Concession Manager
until March 9, 2008 at 4:00 p.m., because only one (l) application was
received. Kris Cornutt
seconded the motion. Mayor Calhoun
stated all in favor say aye. All ayes. Mayor
Calhoun declared the motion carried.
17. Barbara Davis of the Greater Gadsden Greeters
Club appeared before the Council seeking a room to hold their monthly
luncheons, September thru May and two (2) socials. Fifty-four are from
18. Bruce Whorton,
Dogwood Acres appeared before the Council concerning lowering the speed limit
in the subdivision from 25 mph to 15 mph.
Discussion followed. Mayor
Calhoun stated he would have the Chief and Engineer check on lowering the speed
limit. Kris Cornutt
stated a Neighborhood Watch would help more than anything. Discussion followed.
19. Terry Smith stated she would like to see the
pictures in the Council Chambers labeled with the name and date of the picture
if possible. Discussion followed.
20. Harvey Fail asked about public participation
during the council meeting.
Mayor
Calhoun stated no public participation would be held during the council
meeting. It will be held during the
public participation time.
There being
no further business to come before the council at this time, Kris Cornutt made a motion to adjourn.
Time
Adjourned: 7:30 p.m.
_____________________________________
Barbara T. Wester, City Clerk/Treasurer
_____________________________________
Terry John Calhoun, Mayor