By Hamilton Richardson
Elmore/Autauga
On average, Prattville City Council meetings tend to be full of important city business matters but at Tuesday evening’s meeting, the governing body took on a significantly longer agenda, which included money for widening and resurfacing streets, new playground equipment and an outdoor fitness court.
During the portion of the meeting when citizens can make comments to the council, Prattville resident Jon Lee Finnegan shared her concerns about the resolution on the agenda focusing on new playground equipment.
“Regarding the purchase of the playground equipment,” commented Finnegan. “I noticed that the $1,135,000-plus is coming from Covid-19 (funding) and I sincerely feel that this is not the best use of those funds. Maybe broadband or paving or something of that matter.”
Finnegan also questioned other spending regarding the playground and concerns about a resolution regarding a new fitness court but expressed her gratitude for the possibility of a new restroom for the City Hall Creekwalk Area, which was also on the agenda.
Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie, during his Mayor’s Report, spoke to the council about various matters including the success of the Wilson Pickett Music and Arts Festival.
“Saturday was a very busy day in Prattville,” he said. “It was the biggest crowd we ever had. Everybody seemed to be having a really good time. I have to say this about the Wilson Pickett Foundation. They are top notch. They really do appreciate this community.”
Gillespie also noted that the Alabama Bass Trail returns to the area on Saturday.
“This is our seventh year hosting the fishing tournament,” said Gillespie. “The tournament is expected to attract 225 boats and 550 amateur anglers from across the southeastern United States.”
The mayor also expressed his congratulations to PPD Assistant Chief Dianne Thomas’ new opportunity as Police Chief of Talladega.
“I’d like to congratulate her for this achievement and thank her for her service to this community. She has provided so much to this community and I’m certain that her legacy will continue for many decades and years to come,” he said.
On the Consent Agenda for the night, which was approved, were the following items:
- Resolution to reject all bids related to Bid No. 022-005 for reroofing of the Public Safety Building
- Resolution to surplus various GPS equipment from the Planning and Development Department
- Resolution to re-appoint Timothy N. Sanford to the Historic Preservation Commission
- Resolution to re-appoint Zack J. Barker to the Historic Preservation Commission
- Resolution to name the voting delegate for the 2022 Annual Business Session of the Alabama League of Municipalities to be held May 11-14, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Resolution to set a public hearing regarding adoption of the 2021 International Building, Fire and Property Maintenance Codes
On the regular agenda were 19 resolutions and ordinances to for the council to take on.
Ordinance number one was the proposed rezoning of property located inside the city limits at 1089 South Memorial Drive from B-2 and R-2 to B-2. This was first introduced on March 1, 2022.
Ordinance number two was to amend various City of Prattville Code of Ordinances. Councilman John Chambers made an amendment to the measure before the vote was taken. This ordinance was first introduced on March 15, 2022.
Third on the list was an ordinance to amend the Post Construction Stormwater Management Procedures in compliance with the City of Prattville’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems permit. This ordinance was first introduced on March 15, 2022.
The fourth ordinance for consideration was an amendment to the Stormwater Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination procedures in compliance with the City of Prattville’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems permit. This ordinance was first introduced on March 15, 2022.
The establishment of regulations for the Lateral Rehabilitation Assistance Program was the next Ordinance on the agenda. Councilwoman Lora Lee Boone introduced an amendment to this ordinance, which was also first introduced on March 15, 2022.
Each of the previous ordinances was approved.
Purchasing playground equipment was next on the list of measures, which Jon Lee Finnegan had previously discussed with the council. The resolution would amend the FY2022 Budget and authorize the release of funds for the purchase of the equipment through Omnia Partners Public Sector Purchasing Cooperative, Contract No. 2017001134, from GameTime c/o Struthers Recreation LLC for Parks and Recreation at a net cost not to exceed $1,135,922.41.
The need for a network file storage server for the city’s IT department was also on the agenda. This resolution would release funds for the purchase of the server through the Sourcewell Purchasing Cooperative from CDW-G at a net cost not to exceed $59,625.
The council approved the playground equipment purchase as well as the network server and also, in the next resolution, approved the amendment to the FY2022 Budget to authorize one additional part-time seasonal position for the Human Resource Department at a cost not to exceed $7,741.75.
The next resolution would allow the city to amend the FY2022 Budget and to authorize the City of Prattville to enter into an agreement with the State of Alabama, acting by and through the Alabama Department of Transportation for Project No. STPMN-A203(939), CPMS Ref. No. 100075047 for preliminary engineering for widening and resurfacing CR-75 (McQueen Smith Road) from SR-3 (US 31, South Memorial Drive) to CR-2 (Cobbs Ford Road) in an amount not to exceed $270,000 (net cost to city not to exceed $54,000). This measure was approved.
Engineering services for the 2022 Various Street Resurfacing Project was also voted on and approved by the council, in which the cost would not exceed $40,000.
The next two resolutions focused the group on the importance of sports in the community. The first resolution would amend the FY2022 Budget to authorize the mayor to enter into an agreement to adopt and allocate funds for an Outdoor Fitness Court as part of the 2022 National Fitness Campaign at a total cost not to exceed $177,350 (net cost to city not to exceed $127,350).
Also, a resolution amending the FY2022 Budget to authorize the release of funds for the purchase of the SportsCluster System with Total Light Control through the Sourcewell Purchasing Cooperative from Musco Sports Lighting LLC, was approved for Stanley Jensen Stadium. The net cost for this measure was not to exceed $247,500.
Both of the sports-related resolutions passed.
The next on the City Council’s agenda was the addition of a new restroom for the City Hall Creekside Area, which was also approved. The resolution would amend the FY2022 Budget to authorize the release of funds to purchase an Ozark pre-fabricated restroom building through the Sourcewell Purchasing Cooperative from CXT, Inc, an L.B. Foster Company, at a cost not to exceed $61,704.08.
The last resolution on the list of measures was a request for an Attorney General’s Opinion regarding the applicability of the Open Meetings Act to the Industrial Development Board of the City of Prattville. This measure was approved.
The following were measures that were on the agenda but held until May 3, 2022:
- Ordinance to amend Chapter 26- Fire Prevention and Protection, Article II- Fire Prevention Codes
- Ordinance to adopt City of Prattville Code of Ordinances Chapter 67- Property Maintenance Codes
- Ordinance to amend Chapter 105, Buildings and Building Regulations, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Prattville
- Resolution to set a public hearing to pre-zone property outside the city limits located at 1060 Spring Street to R-5.
- Ordinance to petition for annexation of 1060 Spring Street.
Following a few more comments from Jon Lee Finnegan and councilmembers, the meeting was adjourned.
