Work Session Minutes 09-12-2024

CITY OF SOUTHSIDE
COUNTY OF ETOWAH
STATE OF ALABAMA

The City Council of the City of Southside convened on September 12, 2024 to hold a council work session. Mayor Dana Snyder called the work session to order at 1:09 p.m. The meeting was held in council chambers of the City of Southside City Hall, located at 2255 Highway 77 Southside, AL 35907.

The following council members were present: Mayor Dana Snyder, Council members: Keith Clay, Danny Garnett, Don Steward and John Hatley. Joseph Hutchins was not in attendance. Also in attendance were Fire Chief: Wade Buckner, Police Chief: Jarrett Williams, Public Works Director: Mark Owen, Parks and Recreation Director: Michael Weldon, Building and Zoning Official: Judd Rich, Court Clerk: Crystal Franklin, and Finance Director, Nickie Pylant. With a quorum being present, the meeting was opened for discussion.

The following items were on the work session agenda, which would potentially be addressed at the 09-24-2024 council meeting:

THE FOLLOWING WERE ON THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION:

 Discussion: FERC Permit/ No Wake Zone
 Discussion: Change name on Fire Construction Account to Sanitation
 Discussion: FY 2024/2025 Budget
 Other General Business of the City
Items discussed during the work session:

 Discussion: Required “no wake” zone around the bridges/Southside Landing area. Application was submitted for area from before the boardwalk to the bridges, however, there is a need for buoys on both sides of the river. New Signs have been ordered to post from ALEA

 Discussion: Need for FERC permit: Kayak Launch had to be removed pending permit from Alabama Power. The confusion stemmed from the fact that in a residential area, there is no permitting necessary for removable objects, however, that does not apply to commercial or recreational areas. Mayor Snyder stated that Alabama Power suggests if there is anything else that the city wishes to do over the next two years on Alabama Power right of way, to go on and add it to this permit application, for both cost and time efficiency. ALEA made the suggestion for drop-down buoys to mark the end of the boat ramp instead of poles, to avoid heavier damage if bumped. There will need to be engineered drawings of the Kayak Launch submitted with the application.

 Discussion: Finance Director, Nickie Pylant stated that she wished to close the existing fire construction account, which is now obsolete. She also explained that she would like to establish an account, solely dedicated to sanitation funds, since those funds are restricted as to what can be dispersed out of them. This would create a clearer picture of what money exists for sanitation purchases/spending.

 Discussion: FY 2024/2025 proposed annual budget

 Nickie Pylant previously provided the council and mayor with a copy of the proposed budget, at the 09-10-24 regular council meeting for their review before discussion. This budget was prepared with input from the Finance Director, Department Supervisors, and the Mayor. The council went over the expense and revenue budgets and discussed the following:

 Fire Tax Account: It was clarified that this is a separate account, and that these funds are restricted. All fire expenses may be paid from the funds except salaries and benef

 Discussion: Existing funds are in place to cover any expenditures that appear to be deficits

 Discussion: Current CD’s, what funds they are from, and which are restricted to certain uses

 Discussion: Pay raises: step raises vs. merit raises. Councilman Steward inquired about some proposed multi-step raises. Chief Williams stated that it was an attempt to get compensation in line with current responsibilities tied to ranks and experience. There was discussion of police overtime, repayment from various grants, decrease in necessity of overtime for shift coverage on night shift due to currently being fully staffed.

Discussion: Don Steward stated that he would like to see the mayor’s position be a full-time position, with the mayor’s salary at $42,000/year and council members increased to 750.00/ month citing a survey of cities in the state with like-size populations. This would not go into effect until the next administration, and the full-time mayor position would have to go through the next legislative session for approval, so it would not be effective until 2029. It would need to be addressed by January.

 Discussion: Councilman Clay went through his questions about items he had seen in his research of the proposed budget. Nickie Pylant answered his questions and gave explanations for Councilman Clay’s questions.

 Discussion: Disaster Relief Fund/Retirement Fund

 Discussion: Police Department Budget items: Subscriptions, Office Supplies, replacement of police vests will come out of equipment.

 Discussion: Fire Dept. Shift coverage.

 Discussion: Parks and Recreation: building maintenance: New emergency AED equipment at sports complex and explanation of compatibility with current emergency equipment.

 Discussion: Building additions for City Shop, sanitation needs and revenues, increase of fees at solid waste transfer station,

 Discussion: Need for Library Director to be a full-time position.

 Discussion: There are no major needs beyond operating expenses on the Court budget for the upcoming year.

 Discussion: Building Maintenance expenses/possible adjustments, nuisance abatements, need to adjust community center roof project to reflect newly discovered light-relocation. Lights are currently mounted on roof flashing, will need to be moved from new roof area. Will come from Parks and Recreation Building Maintenance on the FY 2023/2024 budget. Discussion of building code ordinance adjustments and time line to set the public hearing/ code effective date. The plan is to put notices in all contractor’s license renewal letters as well as posting.

 Discussion: adjustments/ additions to make Council Chambers audio more conducive to streaming.

 Discussion: Maintenance Contracts heating/cooling

 Discussion: Requested striping on Fowler’s Ferry South and costs. Mayor Snyder stated that 11,900.00 would stripe from Smith Rd to Green Valley. She stated that moving forward, striping estimates will be included in the paving projects.

 Discussion: Discussion of existing sanitation funds and potential expenditures

 Discussion: Purchase of 1 Tahoe, radio repeaters, 3 Pavilions, 91k street paving equipment out of ARPA to get these funds committed before the December Deadline.

 Discussion: Sun Sails for Southside Landing playground, another Tahoe, Side by Side for Parks and Recreation, PA System for Community Center, and Dash Cameras for the Police Department in the General Fund Expenditure Budget

 Discussion: Crane rental/ new light installation for softball complex, is an important capital project for the upcoming year.

 Discussion: Condition of 4 dodge Chargers still in the Police Department fleet. Potential purchase of 2 Tahoe’s would allow for all four to be declared surplus, which would allow for the extra vehicle to become a 2020 Tahoe. There was more discussion of whether to purchase the 2024 Tahoe(s) on the lot at Donoho Chevrolet, or to wait the potential 6 months on the 2025 models available on the state bid list.

 Discussion: Various scenarios for timetable/funding for light refurbish for Softball Complex

 Discussion: Chief Buckner stated that he had approached the Etowah County Board of Education for partial funding of radio repeater project, and stated that they had seemed receptive.

 Parks and Recreation Director Michael Weldon stated that a fish chute needs to be added to the FERC permit application

 Mayor Snyder stated that the council would need to go into Executive Session at this time to discuss name and character and property.

 Finance Director, Nickie Pylant committed to get the council the sheets with a different layout of funds/expenditures/revenues. She also made a request of the council, regarding journal entries which need to be adjusted on the proposed budget amendments.

With no other business to discuss, the council adjourned the work session at 4:15p.m.