February 18, 2025

Council Meeting Minutes 01-28-2025

Agenda

Minutes

CITY OF SOUTHSIDE
COUNTY OF ETOWAH
STATE OF ALABAMA

The City Council of the City of Southside convened in a regular meeting in Council Chambers at City Hall on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. Prior notice of this meeting was given in compliance with Resolution No. 0-035-2005 of the City of Southside, Alabama, and the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Mayor Pro-Tempore, Don Steward called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m., with Councilman Keith Clay leading in prayer.

The following council members were present: Keith Clay, Danny Garnett, John Hatley, Joseph Hutchins, and Councilman Don Steward, who served as Mayor pro tem. Mayor Dana Snyder was not in attendance. With a quorum present, the meeting was opened for business transactions.

Don Steward asked the council if there were any corrections or additions to the minutes for the regular council meeting held on January 14, 2025. Keith Clay motioned to approve the minutes, and Joseph Hutchins provided a second. The Roll Call Vote was ALL AYES. The motion was approved

The first item of business was a prior-noticed Public Hearing regarding the potential funding opportunity through the Land and Water Conservation Fund Program Grant. This is a grant program administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA). The Hearing was opened at 5:02 p.m. Ms. Gillian Farmer, Project Coordinator with the East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission, was on hand to present information and answer questions about the grant. Ms. Farmer stated that she is familiar with the 3-phase design plan developed for the City of Southside for the expansion of the sports complex on Hood Road. She said that the large walking track contained in the project, which is in phases 2 and 3, would meet both the qualifications for this grant, as well as be under the cost ceiling of around one million dollars for this funding opportunity. The estimated cost to construct the track is 1.8 million dollars, which, if awarded, 1 million would be funded through the LWCF grant, with an estimated $800,000-match coming from the city. There were questions about what could be funded by this grant. Ms. Farmer stated that usually, it was projects that involved the development of recreational land, such as the Hood Road Park plan. Councilman Steward asked if it could be used for refurbishment of existing facilities, such as the lights at the softball complex. Ms. Farmer stated that the usual stipulation to this grant was that once something is developed, it must remain public in perpetuity, so refurbishment of existing facilities is generally excluded. There was some clarification of the language about the required match for the funding, and the 50% match is 50% of the total project cost, so in this case, the city would be responsible for 50% of the estimated 1.8 million costs. Councilman Steward asked if the city would be required to provide a commitment letter for the match, and Ms. Farmer said that yes, a commitment letter was a requirement of the grant application. Ms. Farmer was asked if funds already expended for the purchase of land for the park could be counted as an in-kind match. She stated that she did not believe that was possible with this particular opportunity. The grant application is due February 12. The council discussed the pros of the opportunity and asked Ms. Farmer if this is a recurring funding opportunity, she responded yes. Council Members Steward, Garnett, and Clay agreed that they would be more comfortable waiting until the next cycle to be able to provide a funding commitment letter. Ms. Farmer asked the council what their priority would be for the sports complex development. Their response was ball fields/practice facilities in phase 1 would be a priority, which would be over the grant cost ceiling. Ms. Farmer suggested that maybe Phase 1 of the park plan could be split up by the engineer to make it more in line with the funding ceiling. At this point, the council decided to wait and do their due diligence to prepare for the next round of grants. Ms. Farmer stated that this program was focused on community input, and asked the residents in attendance to reach out, as there is a survey available for community input. She stated that she would be glad to send it to residents who emailed and asked for it at: gillian.farmer@earpdc.org. The public hearing was closed at 5:19 P.M.

The meeting then moved into the work-session portion of the agenda.

Fire Chief Wade Buckner addressed the council to request that he be added to the city’s health insurance, as it was included in the budget for this year. He was requesting council action to constitute an event for him to be covered. Chief Buckner would remain part-time, and be covered on the city’s health plan. Councilman Clay made a motion to add this approval to the council agenda. Don Steward provided a second. The item was added to the council agenda.

Finance Director, Nickie Pylant was on the agenda to address the council regarding an investment opportunity for existing city funds currently gaining minimal interest in two accounts. Director Pylant stated that the city currently has 2.6 million dollars sitting in accounts designated for debt, earning .85% interest. She stated that these funds could be put into C.D.’s earning 4% or 4.25% interest, depending on the length of the C.D. The funds could still be designated for debt, they would just be earning more interest. Ms. Pylant provided the council with an information packet, showing the current balance in the accounts, (which are funded by monthly deposits from SSUT taxes (internet sales) and a percentage of city sales tax,) the annual projected income to these accounts, the 2 debt obligations the accounts are earmarked to fund, the annual payments to be made for the next 3 years, and a chart showing potential interest earned for different combinations of amounts and times placed in C.D.s at Metro Bank. Ms. Pylant stated that there is already enough in both accounts to make this year’s respective payments, and still have funds left over, as well as the additional monthly tax income still coming into the accounts. There was a discussion by Director Pylant and the council of different ways to split the amount into CDs and different lengths of CDs. Don Steward made a motion to add this to the council agenda for vote. Keith Clay provided a second. The investment opportunity was added to the Council Meeting Agenda.

The regular council meeting was next on the agenda:

A motion was made to approve Finance Director, Nickie Pylant to invest existing funds into C.D.s to earn a higher interest rate. Splitting the 2.6 million dollars into several C.D.s of different time increments by Don Steward. Keith Clay provided a second. The motion was approved

A motion was made to approve adding Chief Wade Buckner to the city’s health care policy by Keith Clay, John Hatley provided a second. The Roll Call Vote Was ALL AYES. The motion was approved

An agreement was presented for approval for facility use with Southside High School and the Etowah County Board of Education for the Southside City Fest and Car Show to be held on May 24, 2025.

Mayor Pro-Tem Steward made the following announcements:

The Next City Council Meeting is scheduled for February 11, 2025, at 5:00 in council chambers.
The next Planning Commission is scheduled for February 10, 2025, at 6:00 P.M. in council chambers.

Councilman Steward then took questions and comments from the audience.

Questions regarding the CD amounts and percentages were answered,

There was a discussion about City Fest/Car Show planning to be added to the next council meeting agenda on January 11.

Keith Clay reminded everyone that the Southside High Bowling Team would be going to the Regional Competition next week. He wished the team luck and encouraged everyone who saw team members out in the community to do the same. He also thanked Public Works Director, Mark Owen for he and his crew being fast and efficient in handling their projects.

Joseph Hutchins recognized the Southside Panther Wrestling Club, which had participated in the state wrestling tournament last weekend. The event had 600-700 participants. 11 representatives from Southside won medals at the tournament. Councilman Hutchens gave all 11 winners names, weight classification, and their place in the tournament. Southside had its first-ever female wrestler to win her division at state. He stated that the team placed 6th overall out of 56 teams participating.

Danny Garnett expressed a need for a Resolution to be put in place to require a regular scheduled monthly date for financials to be furnished to the mayor and council. There was a discussion of time frames, and it was decided to add this to the next work session.

Keith Clay made a motion to adjourn, Danny Garnett made a second. The meeting was adjourned at 5:49 p.m.