August 14, 2025

Council Meeting Minutes 07-22-2025

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, July 22, 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 Dana Snyder called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m., with Councilman John Hatley leading in prayer.

The following were present: Mayor Dana Snyder, Council Members: Keith Clay, John Hatley, Don Steward, Joseph Hutchins, and Danny Garnett. With a quorum present, the meeting was called to order for business transactions.

Mayor Snyder asked the council if there were any corrections or additions to the minutes for the regular council meeting held on July 8, 2025. Don Steward motioned to approve the minutes, and Keith Clay seconded the motion. The Roll Call Vote was ALL AYES. The motion was approved.

The Council proceeded into its work session at 5:05

Police Chief Jarrett Williams presented an Ordinance for its required “first read” by the Council. Chief Williams explained there had been a recent incident where residents had been “hovered over” or harassed at Southside Landing by an unmanned aircraft (Drone). The Chief stated that the Ordinance is patterned after several other Municipalities that currently have ordinances in place to prohibit a drone from being flown over city property or city recreational facilities without a permit issued by the Chief of Police. He stated that currently, Alabama has no state law regulating drone activities. It is regulated by the FAA, and such an Ordinance would enable local law enforcement to be able to make contact with drone operators over city-owned public space. Councilman Steward asked if there would be a permit available for people doing promotional filming and such with drones. Chief Williams explained that there would be a free permit program in place for exceptions. Councilman Clay stated that municipal properties were supposed to be public. He stated that he would be more concerned about what happens over private properties than over public properties. He thinks specific behaviors would be more important to address than an all-encompassing Ordinance regulating drone activity. The Chief stated that all possibilities were explored regarding this particular event, and no state law would allow contact with the persons operating the unmanned aircraft. This ordinance would put something in place to allow law enforcement to initiate contact without usurping the authority of the FAA. The mayor asked if other cities had these Ordinances, and Chief Williams stated that this Ordinance was patterned after the one put in place by the City of Oxford in 2014. He cited several other municipalities and stated that City Attorney Richard Rhea had said that this was a common drone Ordinance. Councilman Garnett asked Counselor Rhea if this would cause any problems with the Federal law, stating that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on flight over private residences, and that there is no problem with open flights. Will the City run into any conflict with their rulings that there is no “right to privacy” above so many feet? Counselor Rhea responded that he did not think so, that the first paragraph of the Ordinance stated that if a drone was being operated, it would have to do so within the established FAA guidelines for Unmanned Aircraft. He stated that this would merely be a local Ordinance incorporating this into the City’s books, giving the ability to make contact. He stated that this Ordinance did not run afoul of the FAA. There was more discussion of prior incidents with drones over private property. Councilman Steward stated that this would give law enforcement the ability to protect citizens on city-owned property. Councilman Clay asked if the FAA already has rules in place, would it have to be an FAA officer to investigate, and if the city had an Ordinance, would they be able to investigate. Chief Williams responded that yes, that would give local law enforcement grounds to investigate. He stated the video of the recent incident was disturbing. Councilman Clay asked if, under FAA rules, the aircraft was in violation. Chief Williams stated that it was not, and with this Ordinance, they would at least be able to ask the operator what they were doing. Councilman Clay brought up a point in the Ordinance that he felt had vague language. The mayor asked if there were any other questions; there were not. This is expected to be on a later council agenda for a vote.

New Business:

A Resolution was presented to surplus property belonging to the city. A metal dispatch console formerly used by Police and Fire, and a 2021 Chevrolet Trail Boss Pick Up Truck currently used by the assistant Fire Chief. The mayor asked the council if they had any questions for the Police or Fire Chief. Councilman Steward asked if these were to be sold on GovDeals. The response was yes. He then asked how many miles were on the truck. Fire Chief Wade Buckner stated that there are approximately 40,000. Don Steward made a motion to approve the Resolution. Joseph Hutchins provided a second. The Roll Call Vote was ALL AYES. The Resolution was approved.

A Resolution was presented to approve the purchase of a 2025 Chevrolet Trail Boss Pick Up Truck for the Fire Department off the State Procurement List. This will replace the Assistant Chief’s Truck, which was approved for surplus in this meeting. The state procurement price is $50,214.20 from McSweeney Automotive. This vehicle was already in this year’s operating budget. Joseph Hutchins made a motion to approve the purchase. Don Steward provided a second. The Roll Call Vote was ALL AYES. The Resolution was approved.

A Resolution was presented to approve the appointment of poll workers in the upcoming municipal election, scheduled for August 26, 2025. The acting city clerk, Cindy Beshears, presented this resolution, which she explained is a requirement by the state for a council to approve poll workers for municipal elections. She stated that all but 2 of the workers have experience in prior elections, and they have all been vetted as registered voters, residing in the City of Southside. Danny Garnett made a motion to approve the Resolution. Joseph Hutchins provided a second. The Roll Call Vote was ALL AYES. The Resolution was approved.

A Resolution was presented for approval for the Chief of Police to apply for the 2025 Edward Byrne JAG Grant. Chief Williams explained that he was requesting grant funding for new tasers (either Taser7 or Taser 10 models), whichever could be funded entirely by the grant if awarded. There is no match required by the city for this grant. Don Steward made a motion to approve the Resolution. Keith Clay provided a second. The Roll Call Vote was ALL AYES. The Resolution was approved.

Old Business:

Mayor Snyder recognized Finance Director Nickie Pylant, who was seeking Council approval to reinvest 5 CDs that are maturing in August, one of which is for the Fire Department. Their total is over 2 million dollars. She stated that these were 180-day CDs and had generated approximately $45,000 in interest income. She stated that one of the CDs would need to be for $300,000, separate for the newly-restricted emergency fund, and she would like to reinvest the remainder in CDS. There was discussion regarding the possible benefit of paying off existing loans; however, Director Pylant stated that the interest would be more than would be saved by the early payoff.
Danny Garnett made a motion to approve the reinvestment of the maturing CDs. Keith Clay made a second. The reinvestment of CDs was approved.

At this time, the mayor asked if there were any comments from the public.

Southside Resident, William Seymour, was recognized and thanked the council for the striping on Lakemont Rd.

Mayor Snyder then asked each council member individually if they had anything to add:

Keith Clay stated that he hated that he missed the work session, but he was on vacation. He heard it went well and thanked the board members and school officials who attended. He has heard it was very positive. He said he is getting a lot of requests for a splash pad.
John Hatley had no comments

Joseph Hutchins had no comments

Danny Garnett had no comments

Don Steward stated that he has had several phone calls since the last council meeting, mainly on 3 subjects. 1. He wished to clarify that council members do have departments they are tied to; however, they are not able to give department heads direction on what to do. His job is to check in with department heads and see if anything is needed, or provide support when they need it. The protocol is to tell the mayor what is needed from the department, and then the mayor directs city employees. He stated that the council is over money. They decide how money is spent. 2. There was some confusion regarding sponsorships on movie nights. This was brought to his attention on social media. He stated that when his business provides a sponsorship for movie night, they write a check to the city, and their advertisement is placed for movie night. His business pays for the sponsorship in return for the advertisement. He stated that Mayor Snyder had been called out, due to the Secretary of State’s website having information backward regarding a movie night sponsorship. The mayor had written a check to the city for a movie night sponsorship, but it was recorded on the Secretary of State’s website backward, and had originally shown that the city had made the sponsorship to the mayor. This was discovered and corrected. He stated that there were others on the website. 3. The work session went very well. He would like the next council to prioritize the tennis courts/pickleball courts, due to Gadsden losing their tennis courts, and Southside Tennis losing its courts to be used for tournaments and home matches. This is very important to the school teams. He stated that the tennis team has to pay the Country Club to use its facilities.

The mayor made the following announcements:

• The next Planning Commission meeting is August 11, 2025, at 6:00 pm in Council Chambers at City of Southside City Hall.

• The next City Council Meeting is scheduled for August 12, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at City of Southside City Hall.

Don Steward made a motion to adjourn. Danny Garnett provided a second. The meeting was adjourned at 5:29.