Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
The Prattville City Council held their regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday evening where councilor Albert Striplin returned to a modified seat, in order to avoid stairs, Tuesday evening.
This was Striplin’s first meeting back since the January 2nd City Council meeting, due to alleged serious health concerns. Striplin was greeted with a standing ovation from the council and members in attendance upon his entry. He did not stay for the public portion of the meeting.
The council re-appointed Edward Rouze, and appointed Bradley Neave, Jonathan Brown and Jeremy Day to the Historic Prattville Redevelopment Authority, HPRA. Last City Council meeting, the council passed a resolution stating that appointments to the HPRA are allowed to live within the corporate limits or own property within the historic redeveloping district.
Before passing resolution two, to appoint Bradley Neave to the HPRA, Councilman Robert Strichik posed the question to city Attorney Andrew Odem asking if Neave is qualified to be appointed to the HPRA. Odem addressed the council stating that codes and supporting documents classify that Neave and Day have a membership interest in a property within the Historic District.
A point of privilege was appointed to city Attorney Andrew Odem and City Planner Scott Stephens to address the council and public regarding the upcoming redistricting of Prattville. This is the beginning of discussions on the redistricting process.
The last redistricting was adopted in the 2010 census, currently there’s a benchmark plan in place with Slaughter and Associates Planning Firm for the new city council districts, using the 2020 census block numbers.
“The 2020 census told us that there are 37,781 residents in Prattville, the ideal population is working on the concept of one person one vote. The idea is to have as close as possible to the number of residents in each district,” Stephens said.
Stephens confirmed that number breaks down to about 5,397 within each council district. However, the current districts house vastly different numbers than what the projected redistricting would house.
For example, district three is currently above the ideal number of people in that district by around 2500 people. Stephens confirmed that through the redistricting process the goal is to be plus or minus 5%.
“Every other district is beyond the variance, which is why the redistricting needs to happen. We encourage and hope for the public to provide their thoughts and feedback and submit their own maps through the webpage’s public input form” Stephens said.
The Benchmark plan is publicly available online and can be found here at Redistricting – City of Prattville (prattvilleal.gov). All input and suggestions will be recorded from the upcoming public hearings and via email redistricting@prattvilleal.gov
After the first public hearing on April 9th, the consultant will give an alternative plan, taking into account the public feedback. Then another public hearing with an alternative plan to follow, Odem confirmed.
The council also approved a traffic signal installation on McQueen Smith Road at Tara Drive, as well as approved Webb Builders Inc. and Civil Southeast, LLC for the construction and engineering and inspection services for the new Police and Fire Training Facility. At a cost of $3.9 million.
The Council also approved for the mayor to enter into an agreement with the HPRA for the purchase of 243 S. Chestnut Street for $270,000 plus closing costs.
Before public comments started, city attorney Odem took the floor again to address the public and the council on his findings regarding what actions the city can take legally with the Autauga Prattville Public Library as well as the Prattville Library Board.
“Where the city stands right now as far as authority over the library board is limited. State law statute provides the library board with its current authority, which is dictated in 11-90-3, which includes the controlled expenditure of all funds received or appropriated, purchase books and equipment, elect a librarian and other employees, and manage and control said library,” Odem said.
Council President Lora Lee Boone reminded commenters that names should be omitted to not speak on individuals and excerpts from written texts were not allowed to be read. Boone also reminded the public that “boo’s,” “groans” and comments from the audience while someone is speaking will not be tolerated and Police Chief Mark Thompson will escort that individual out of the building.
Police Chief Thompson among other officers were present for the council meeting Tuesday Night.
Chairman of the Prattville Library Board Ray Boles and the Autauga Prattville Public Library interim Director Tammy Bear both were first to address the council and the public.
“I want to guarantee you that our hours will be the 45 hours that are required to continue our funding. We do have a staff shortage, but we are continuing our programing, and we are looking for applications. Hopefully in a few weeks we will have a full staff and our programs will be back to normal,” Bear said.
Members of both Clean up Alabama, Read Freely Alabama and supporters of both organizations all addressed the council with their grievances. Over 20 members addressed the council stating their displeasure and concern or their appreciation for the stance and actions the board has recently taken.
One member of the public addressed the council by shouting about the Christian values he fought in the military for. Stating that sometimes “you need to raise your voice,” and yelling that values and any act of sex outside of holy matrimony is wicked and shouldn’t be given to our children, referring to content in public libraries.
Other members in opposition of the board brought up the lack of background checks, lack of transparency of the board and how individuals of Read Freely have been turned away from volunteering in the library, stating that the library should be a safe place for every child.
