September 11, 2025

Council Meeting Minutes 08-26-25

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, August 26, 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 Joseph Hutchins leading in prayer.

The following were present: Mayor Dana Snyder, Council Members: Keith Clay, Don Steward, Joseph Hutchins, and Danny Garnett. John Hatley was not in attendance. 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 August 12, 2025. Keith Clay motioned to approve the minutes, and Don Steward seconded the motion. The Roll Call Vote was ALL AYES. The motion was approved.

The Council entered its work session at 5:03 p.m.
The first item on the work session was a discussion regarding the property that the council had decided to purchase at the previous council meeting. Mayor Snyder asked the council to determine how they wish to pay for the property purchase. Councilman Hutchins stated that he had spoken with the Finance Director about this, and based on his discussion with her, the City had more than enough money set aside to pay cash for this property. He would rather pay cash for it than finance it through a bank. Each council member agreed individually that would be the best way to complete the purchase. The mayor asked if the council would like to add this to the agenda tonight and vote to approve the cash purchase for the property at 2610 Powell St. for $600.00, and authorize the mayor to enter into that agreement. Joseph Hutchins made a motion to approve, and Keith Clay seconded it. The roll-call vote was unanimous, with all ayes. The purchase of the property was approved in cash.

Discussion of the sign at A.J.’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill was next on the agenda. This was discussed at the previous council meeting, where business owners Josh Alverson and Annette Kitchens explained to the council that ALDOT had notified them that the previously city-approved sign at their business was located on the state right-of-way, and would need to be relocated. The estimated cost to move the sign was more than $8,000, and they were seeking some tax incentive/refund to help offset the additional expense, since the city had approved the sign. The mayor stated that for the council to approve a tax incentive, notice would need to be posted and a public hearing held at the next council meeting. Councilman Steward explained that ALDOT had increased their focus in this area, and the A.J.’s property was a little different because of the side street going beside the property. He stated that, since this was a different situation and no one was aware of the effect on the right of way when the plans were approved, the city should help them with the expense due to the situation. Councilman Garnett asked if there was bad information given out, and Councilman Steward said there was, unintentionally, due to the unusual circumstance. Councilman Clay stated that he has heard both sides of the situation, and he would like to hear what the thoughts are at a public hearing. Councilman Garnett stated that the public hearing and then a decision. Councilman Steward made a motion to approve a public hearing at the next council meeting. Danny Garnett seconded. The Roll Call vote was ALL AYES. There will be a public hearing regarding a tax incentive at the next regular council meeting.

New Business:
A Resolution to amend the FY 2024/2025 Budget was presented. The mayor asked the council if anyone would like to ask Finance Director Nickie Pylant any questions regarding the amendments. Councilman Garnett asked if the recently adopted Ordinance establishing an emergency fund had been funded yet. Director Pylant responded that it had, through a C.D., which had matured on August 11. She stated that the $600,000 for the property purchase had been taken from that C.D., and put into a savings account until the council decided at this meeting how it chooses to purchase the property. The emergency fund monies are in a CD now of their own. Councilman Clay stated that it looked pretty straightforward. Councilman Hutchins agreed and made a motion to approve the budget amendment Resolution. Keith Clay seconded the motion. The Roll Call Vote was ALL AYES. The resolution was approved.

Old Business:
At this point, a Resolution was presented to establish a cost assessment of the Court-Ordered Nuisance Abatement at 2095 Broughton Spring Rd. This had been a case brought in Etowah County Circuit Court, where the city was ordered to abate a swimming pool fence nuisance and assess a tax lien to recover expenses. The mayor stated that Judd Rich and Jason Rose from the building and zoning department were in attendance to answer questions. She stated that an itemized cost assessment was presented in the form of a Resolution. Councilman Steward asked if this was to be recouped in the form of a property tax lien, and the mayor stated that it was. Mayor Snyder explained that at this time, the meeting would be considered a public hearing, and if the property owner was in attendance, she was welcome to address the mayor and council. The owner of the property, Ms. Rita Toney, was in attendance and came to the podium to address the mayor and council. Ms. Toney stated that she has new information, that there would be no need for a lien, and she has new insurance information, which she would be glad to share with the building/zoning officials to try to resolve the issue without a tax lien. The mayor asked if anyone else had any input on this matter. They did not. The hearing was closed.

The mayor inquired of City Attorney Richard Rhea if the council still needed to vote to assess the tax lien. Counsellor Rhea stated that the Resolution did need a vote. Don Steward made a motion to approve the Resolution of the cost assessment. Danny Garnett provided a second. Roll Call Vote was ALL AYES. The Resolution was approved.

The mayor stated that Parks and Recreation Director Michael Weldon wished to address the council and asked if they would allow it. They were all in favor. Director Weldon took the podium and requested that the council add to tonight’s agenda the approval to let out bids for the lighting project at the softball complex. He had presented several options and a cost savings presentation at the last council meeting. Joseph Hutchins made a motion to add to the agenda. Don Steward provided a second. The Roll Call Vote was ALL AYES. The bid was added. And approved.

The mayor made the following announcements:

• The next Planning Commission meeting is September 8, 2025, at 6:00 pm in Council Chambers at City of Southside City Hall.
• The next City Council Meeting is scheduled for September 9, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at City of Southside City Hall.
• There is a Council meeting scheduled for September 2, at 12:00 P.M. to canvass election results.
• The City Clerk is expected to come out on the Community Center Steps and read the election totals after tabulations are complete, and the totals will be posted on the Community Center doors.

Finance Director Nickie Pylant then requested to address the Mayor and Council. Director Pylant stated that originally, the council had planned for the pavement striping to come from the general fund; however, after some research, she discovered that striping is allowed to be paid out of the Gas Tax Fund, which is a restricted fund, rarely used due to its limited uses. She was requesting council permission to move the expense to be paid out of the gas tax instead of the general fund in the budget. The total amount of the striping was $31,280. The current balance in fund 12 is $87,170.31. Joseph Hutchens made a motion to add this to the agenda. Keith Clay provided a second. The Roll Call Vote was ALL AYES.

Joseph Hutchins made a motion to approve the budget adjustment, and Keith Clay provided a second. The Roll Call Vote was ALL AYES. It was approved to pay the striping out of the Gas Tax.

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

Keith Clay: Thanked everyone for voting, and thanked all the candidates for running. It is a lot to be willing to put yourself out there and be willing to serve.

Don Steward: Good Luck. He’s glad he isn’t running.
Joseph Hutchins: Good Luck! Thank everyone for being at the council meeting. It makes it easier with people in attendance. Come out and support Southside Football against Hokes Bluff Thursday Night.

Danny Garnett: Thanks to the candidates and voters, this is exactly what this day is supposed to be.

Mayor Snyder thanked the people in attendance again and said the Pledge of Allegiance sounds much better when the room is full.

Don Steward made a motion to adjourn. Keith Clay provided a second. The meeting was adjourned at 5:20