BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
TOP PHOTO: Decorations in historic downtown Prattville received high praise from council members during the meeting Tuesday.
The Prattville City Council approved just over $64 million for the city’s 2020-21 budget Tuesday night during its regular meeting, with one “Nay” vote, and one abstention.
Voting against the budget was Councilman Albert Striplin. The abstention came from Councilman Marcus Jackson.
There was no discussion among councilors prior to the vote. Voting in favor of the motion were John Chambers, President Jerry Starnes, Blair Gornto, Robert Strichik and Lora Lee Boone.
A main area of interest in the budget this year involved moving the Office of Economic Development from the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce to fall under the role of City Government. Part of this included taking away $250,000 that has historically been budgeted for the Chamber which oversaw economic development for the city.
That amount is basically what would be needed to cover the salary and benefits for the Economic Developer. Since the death of the former director earlier this year, the position has not been filled. Candidates have been interviewed by a committee from the Chamber of Commerce. That hiring process will now cease, as control will now move within the City’s control.
The budget does, however, include funding the Chamber in all other areas, as in the past. We will have future articles on this issue, and how the city will adjust to taking over the office of Economic Development, as well as the search for a candidate to lead in that role.
After the vote, during public comments, Bryant Bo Evans stood to speak to the council about his disappointment in moving Economic Development from the Chamber into City’s control.
“I just wanted to talk about the city’s budget,” Evans said. “There is nothing I can do about it now.” Evans said he has lived in Prattville for most of his life and has been heavily involved with the Chamber for the past two to three years.
“I support (the chamber) and know that they have done a great job in the past five years. They brought in 175 new businesses about 2,000 jobs. I just think it is disappointing that you would take from a private organization just to make the city government bigger,” Evans said.
In closing comments, Councilman Jackson spoke about his abstention from voting on the budget. He said he wanted to make it clear that his abstention had nothing to do with pay for employees. He praised public safety and public works, and said he believes Prattville has the best employees.
“As far as the budget, it is a moving, breathing item folks,” Councilman Strichik said. “It is not an easy thing. There is so much wrapped into the budget. The Chamber does a great job for our city. That relationship I know will continue to be strong. There are some things in it that could go certain ways but that relationship, in my opinion, with the city and Chamber should remain strong. We are very thankful for what the Chamber does for our city.”
President Starnes also addressed the budget, thanking everyone who had a hand in working the numbers. As for the Chamber, he said, “We are not cutting, we are enhancing…we are trying to improve the relationships with the Chamber and the County. We felt this would be a great way to do that. We did not cut anything to funding, just the position with things there. So hopefully we will continue building that relationship with the Chamber and continue down that road.”
Councilors gave high praise to the teams involved with decorating downtown for the Christmas holiday. Earlier this week the city held a non-traditional Christmas Tree Lighting, due to COVID-19. But the public is encouraged to drive through, or walk through, downtown in the coming weeks to admire the hard work that went into the decorations.
In other business, an item on the agenda which had been tabled multiple times since August of this year, failed to pass the council. The resolution to grant a lounge retail liquor – Class II (Package) License for Sunday, Inc., DBA Jacks Liquor and Tobacco Outlet, failed unanimously. When this resolution was first put on the agenda, there were concerns from some area and downtown residents about alcohol being sold at the store.
Other Council Items:
Two ordinances were held for later voting. They included the Pre-Zone of Property located at 1312 Old Ridge Road to R-3, Single Family Residential and a Petition for Annexation of the same property.
The Council approved a Pre-zone of property located South of Old Ridge Road and West of Glennbrooke 7 and known as Glennbrooke 8 to R-3, Single Family Residential.
The Council approved an ordinance for petition for annexation of property located south of Old Ridge Road and West of Glennbrooke 7 and known as Gleenbrooke 8.
The Council authorized the Mayor to sign contracts for service for community initiatives, City-County services, and the Autauga County Emergency Communication District (E-911) as allocated in the FY2020-21 budget.
The Council set a public hearing to rezone 228 Lewis Street from R-3 (Single Family Residential) to T-2 (Mobile Home Park) for Jan. 5.
The Council passed a resolution to authorize the Mayor to enter into a three-year agreement for Sensory Inclusive Certified First Responder Training with KultureCity for the Fire Department at a cost not to exceed $1,000.
The Council amended the FY2021 Budget and to release funds for the purchase of one “Light Structure System” through the NJPA Purchasing Cooperative from Musco Sports Lighting, LLC for the Mac Gray Park Improvement Project for the Parks and Recreation Department at a cost not to exceed $189,900.
The Council released funds for the purchase of one Light Structure System through the NJPA Purchasing Cooperative from Musco Sports Lighting, LLC for the Mac Gray Park 2.0 project for the Parks and Recreation Department at a cost not to exceed $593,505.
Consent Agenda:
Council approved a resolution to authorize the Mayor to have various weeded lots abated per Title 11, Chapter 67 of the Code of Alabama, as amended.
Council approved a resolution to declare various weeded lots to be a public nuisance,and order their abatement and set a public hearing per Title 11, chapter 67 of the Cold of Alabama, 1976, as amended.
Council approved resolution to appoint Councilor Marcus Jackson to the Airport Authority.
Council approved a resolution to surplus and authorize the demolition of brick building located at 910 Washington Ferry Road from the Parks and Recreation Department (bathrooms at Lorenzo ‘Coach Lo’ Pickett Park.)
