April 11, 2025

Council Minutes 3-25-2025

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, March 25, 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 Danny Garnett leading in prayer.

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

Mayor Snyder explained that the council had not met for its regular scheduled meeting on March 11 due to lack of a quorum. She asked the council if there were any corrections or additions to the minutes for the regular council meeting held on February 25, 2025. Don Steward 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 the presentation of the FY2023/2024 financial audit for the City. Joella Bogle, with MDA Professional Group, P.C. presented the audit findings, as well as findings from the “single audit” which must be conducted when a municipality expends $750,000 of Federal funds in one year. (in this case American Rescue Plan Act Funds). Ms. Bogle started by complimenting the staff for their help. She then stated that the city had received a “clean opinion” from MDA in the audit (everything was in order). Ms. Bogle said that total assets for governmental funds increased by $352,000, $221,000 of which was in cash. She stated that the city’s liabilities decreased by $460,000, mainly due to timing differences relative to invoices outstanding last year during fire station construction. She said that fund balances went up by 1.6 million (assets minus liabilities) and that the general fund had an overall revenue increase of $524,000, mainly due to $255,000 in taxes, which is great, because this is local recurring revenue. Licenses and permits increased by $40,000, and garbage revenue increased by $123,000, largely due to an increase in number of customers. Grants and contributions increased by $108,000. Total expenses increased by 4 million, but that is mainly due to paying off one of the big debts (fire department construction loan), which was $4.7 million, then opening up the new debt to the USDA (permanent financing for fire dept.). Ms. Bogle mentioned Capital Outlay, and purchases of needed equipment for the Fire Dept, servers for city hall, mowing equipment, a dump truck, vehicles for police, and radios. Overall total Governmental Funds increased by 4.3 million. Total Capital Assets for the city were at $13.3 million. She said the city has a long-term debt of about 7 million. Ms. Bogle explained the city’s pension liability., and moved on to the budget vs. the actual portion of the report. She explained that it appears as a deficit of 3 million, however, that is due to the 4 million construction debt being paid off, and if that were not included, it would show a positive $800,000. She then covered the auditor’s report, stating that MDA does not audit internal controls, however, they do look at them, test their effectiveness, and report any findings. There were no findings to report, and they found good segregation of duties and procedures in place. The only recommendation for this year was verbal, to adopt a financial policy in writing, which most things are already being done, it just needs to be in writing. The single audit of federal expenditures was the last portion of the report. Ms. Bogle said everything here was found to be in order, and that the funds were spent correctly. She then gave the audit summary, which showed no significant material weaknesses, or deficiencies with the audit or the federal awards. She then asked if anyone had any questions.

Mayor Snyder asked the Council if there was a motion to approve the Audit as presented. Don Steward made a motion to approve, and Danny Garnett provided the second. The Roll Call Vote was ALL AYES. The audit was accepted as presented.

Next, Mayor Snyder recognized Reghan Lowrey and Christy Mayo, with the James M. Barrie Center (child advocacy center for Etowah County) who were in attendance to present the city with their “pinwheel garden” to be placed to recognize April as Child Abuse Awareness Month. Ms. Lowery explained the significance of the Pinwheel Garden and commended the Southside Police Department for their great working relationship with the center. She specifically mentioned Investigators Eric Hawkins and Zach Burrage. Ms. Lowrey and Ms. Mayo both expressed their appreciation for the city’s continued support of the Barrie Center and explained the center’s importance to the community and the surrounding areas.

NEW BUSINESS:

A Resolution was presented to approve a Trailer purchase for the Public Works Dept. This was a budgeted item, purchased through a Sourcewell Contract, (a state-approved cooperative) which does not require a bid. Joseph Hutchins made a motion to approve the Resolution, Don Steward provided a second. The Roll Call Vote was ALL AYES, The Resolution was approved.

A Resolution was presented to approve the construction of a Pole Barn for storage in the Sanitation Department. This was also a budgeted item, and falls under the public works bid law threshold, not requiring a formal bid process. Public Works Director, Mark Owen had gotten three quotes, the lowest was from BAMA SHEDS, for $22,600. 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.

A Resolution was presented to enter an agreement with LGC for a credit/debit card reader in the administrative office, to enable the Revenue Dept to accept card payment for permits, licenses, large item pick-ups, and facility rentals. Mayor Snyder recognized Revenue Officer Macy Winningham, who explained that this would provide a service to residents, businesses and contractors trying to conduct business with the city. The city would be responsible for the cost of the card reader, ($331.25) 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.

A Resolution to abate a nuisance within the city was presented. Mayor Snyder deferred to City Attorney, Richard Rhea for an explanation since this was an abatement ordered in circuit court. Counselor Rhea stated that this was about a residence in Southside with a swimming pool. The City of Southside has an Ordinance in place specifically for fencing around pools, which this fence at this residence does not meet. The city’s code enforcement officials had exhausted all possible administrative remedies to get the homeowner to bring the residence into compliance, and it is still a danger to residents. Counselor Rhea said that the city ended up prosecuting the homeowner, and the case ended up in Circuit Court,
Where the proposed resolution was to abate the nuisance. The agreement was made in the Court for the city to abate the nuisance, (repair the fence to standard) then, ultimately, a lien will be placed for the expense of the repair against the tax liability of the property to recoup the funds. Danny Garnett made a motion to approve the Resolution, Keith Clay provided a second. The Roll Call Vote was ALL AYES. The Resolution to abate the nuisance was approved.

Mayor Snyder then recognized Fire Chief, Wade Buckner, who had come to her with a request earlier in the day. Chief Buckner addressed the council to make them aware that the City of Southside Fire Department had been notified of the award of an Etowah County Community Development Grant of $25,000 toward the expense of acquiring a new Rescue Boat for the Department. Chief Buckner reminded the council that he had previously requested and received approval from the Council to apply for the grant, and now he was seeking approval for the city to cover the remainder of the quoted cost of the rescue boat after the $25,000 grant was applied, which would be $15,390. He explained that they would have much more capability with the new boat, and the existing rescue boat was out of date and lacking in capability.

Don Steward made a motion to add the approval to purchase the rescue boat to the agenda. Danny Garnett provided the second. The Roll Call Vote Was ALL AYES. The purchase was added to the council agenda for March 25.

Don Steward made a motion to approve the purchase of the rescue boat, using a $25,000 Community Development Grant, and a city-match of $15,390 for the purchase. Danny Garnett provided a second. The Roll Call Vote was ALL AYES. The purchase was approved.

The mayor then asked for comments from the public in attendance. She recognized resident: Bill Seymour, who took the podium to address the council. Mr. Seymour wanted to re-state his previous concerns regarding designs for the potential new bridge crossing the Coosa River at the north gateway to the city. Mayor Snyder responded that the bridge design rests with ALDOT engineers and that it is owned and maintained by the State of Alabama and ALDOT. She stated that the state is currently 50% through with a design for the replacement, and there would be clarification when the design is complete.
Mayor Snyder then announced that she would be making a motion for the council to go to an Executive Session after the meeting to discuss an economic development project and that the regular council meeting would be dismissed at that point.
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The Mayor made the following announcements:

The Next City Council Meeting is scheduled for April 8, 2025, at 5:00 in council chambers.
The next Planning Commission is scheduled for April 14, 2025, at 6:00 P.M. in council chambers.

Mayor Snyder then asked the council individually for their comments:

Keith Clay Had no additional comments.

Don Steward: Stated that he had been contacted since the new gateway signs had been installed at the city limits, which removed the school’s state championship recognitions. He stated that he had gotten with Simmons Signs about making a bracket that mounts to the digital sign on School Drive, which would recognize prior state championships, with room for additions. He stated that Simmons would do the bracket for $180.00, and he would like to add that to the agenda for this meeting.

Don Steward made a motion to add the sign to the agenda. Keith Clay provided a second. The Roll Call Vote was ALL AYES. The sign bracket was added to the agenda.

Don Steward made a motion to purchase a state championship bracket sign for $180.00 from Simmons Signs and Graphics. Joseph Hutchins provided a second. Roll Call Vote was ALL AYES. The purchase was approved.

Joseph Hutchins Had no additional comments.

Danny Garnett Had no additional comments.

Mayor Snyder congratulated the Varsity Softball team for winning the Etowah County Tournament last week.

Joseph Hutchins made a motion to adjourn, Don Steward provided a second. The regular meeting was adjourned at 5:43 P.M. and council went into Executive Session.