Work Session Minutes 10-28-2024

CITY OF SOUTHSIDE
COUNTY OF ETOWAH
STATE OF ALABAMA

The City Council of the City of Southside convened for a special called work session at the Southside City Hall on Monday, October 28, 2024. 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 5:31 p.m.

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

The following items were on the work session agenda, which would potentially be addressed at the 11-12-2024 council meeting:

THE FOLLOWING WERE ON THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION:

 Discussion: Project Updates (Departments)
 Discussion: Intersection Study Update
 Discussion: Potential Tax Abatement with AJ’s
 Beautification Board Revitalization
 Other General Business of the City
 Discussion: Pond on Powell Street
Mayor Snyder started the work session with department head reports:

• Library Director, Sheila Watwood stated that the library board had 2 open spots, due to recent resignations (1 health, 1work-related time constraints).
• She introduced her recommendations to fill the vacancies (Ms. Kat Krzystowczyk, and Ms. Tracey Bailey), who were in attendance to meet the council. After a short discussion, the mayor asked if the council would like to add the approval of these ladies to the next agenda. All replied yes.
• Parks and Recreation Director, Michael Weldon addressed the council, and stated that the Christmas Parade would be Monday, December 2nd at 6 p.m., lineup at Southside High at 5:00 p.m.
• Christmas Village (arts and crafts) would be December 14 9am-3pm.
• Neely Henry association Boat Parade would be Sunday, December 8.

• The National Boating Safety Council would like to place a kiosk at Southside Landing for “loaner” life jackets for public use. This would be no cost to the city, and would be placed in memory of Chris Day, former Southside resident, who previously operated a marine salvage/towing business on Neely Henry Lake.
• Gary Bolton Little League Field Sign is in production.
• The community center floor is scheduled to start the week of Nov.11, and should take 2-3 days to complete demo.
• The Parks and Rec. Dept is preparing additional specs to re-bid the sun-sail project on the playground at Southside Landing (missing ADA compliance language and specifications).
• ADECA Block grant is in the preparation stage to begin the energy-efficient lighting updates to city-owned buildings.
• Public Works Director, Mark Owen, updated on the following:
• Skid Steer auger attachment and bits had been ordered from Bobcat of Gadsden to be reimbursed by an Etowah Co. Community Development Grant.
• Update on pricing of amounts on the 24” Planer, Vibratory Roller, and Pavijet MG7 expected to be purchased from ARPA funds.
• Update on the cardboard baler, building addition, and electrical wiring quotes and status to be funded by the 2025 ADEM Recycle Grant, awarded to the city.
• The street dept. has completed crossover repair to a caved pipe at Lake Forest Subdivision, and has completed the repairs at Legacy Trace with the materials donated by Joey Jones Construction.
• The director showed the council and mayor pictures of improvements made to the city shop restroom through an in-house project.
• Chief of Police, Jarrett Williams, updated the mayor and council on the following:
• Cameras placed on Highway 77: the project is completed, and the cameras have been used in solving multiple cases.
• All of the officers’ radios have been updated
• In-car radios have been added to the P.D. admin vehicles, so they can function in any law enforcement capacity.
• The final shipment of new computers for vehicles has been ordered.
• Class A uniforms have been ordered for all officers, so they look more professional when attending appropriate functions.
• Fall Festival was a huge success. The chief specifically praised Patrick Huselton, who was the main organizer of this year’s festival. He also thanked all the city staff who pitched in and helped, and stated that it was a group effort, every department participated to make it a success. He stated they had wonderful sponsors, and there was an estimated 2000 people show up.
• Chief Williams addressed future and ongoing projects:
• Need for the budgeted new Tahoe due to conditions of existing vehicles in the fleet.
• There is an application submitted for a JAG grant to fund another new vehicle as well.
• Discussion by the council and the Chief regarding vehicle conditions, and the length of time it is projected to get replacements off the state bid list. The council would like to let out bids for the 2 new vehicles again, just to see what is available.
• There are also Grant requests out to fund VR Training Headsets and a Surveillance Camera Trailer for city events.
• The Axon In-Car camera project should begin within the next two months. The department will be ordering level 3A vests for officers.
• The Chief provided the Mayor and Council with diagrams for a potential crosswalk and sign placement between the competition gym and the football field.
• Assistant Fire Chief, Nick Anderson Gave the council the current quotes for the complete installation of bidirectional amplifiers for both Southside High School and Southside Elementary. There were quotes from 2 vendors. He stated that the plan was presented to the Etowah County Board of Education on September 3, for possible assistance with cost. These amplifiers would eliminate “dead spots” in the building where first responders have no service.
• He also gave quotes from the same two vendors for VHF repeaters, which would be located at the water tank on Leota Road. This would act as a fail-over option if the existing system went down, which the Assistant Chief explained, happens quite frequently, as recently as this past weekend. He stated that the department is ready to proceed with this project.
• Applications were requested for a firefighter to assume the role of “Training Officer” for the City of Southside, two applications have been received. The decision on this should be made by the end of November.
• An overhead representation was given of Southside Landing, showing the proposed location of a storage building for housing the rescue boat, UTV, and Parks & Rec Equipment. There were also 2 quotes for the cost of the building
• A diagram of Council Chambers was presented, depicting 2 new 50–58-inch TV monitors on swivels to be used during council meetings for audience viewing. Mayor Snyder stated that the purchase orders had already been placed for the needed equipment for this project to be completed.

• Discussion: The mayor stated that she, Councilman Keith Clay and Councilman Danny Garnett had met with representatives from SAIN Associates regarding the ongoing intersection study approved by the council on June 25,2024. Mayor Snyder asked Councilman Clay to share the information from SAIN to the council. There were 3 intersections they reported on: 1. Pilgrims Rest Rd/Cedar Bend Rd N, they found no “short term” recommendations, only future projects/analysis, 2. Hood Rd/Lister Ferry Rd a diagram showing added merge lane for left turns from Hood onto Hwy 77 was presented, as well as turn lanes in both directions on Hwy 77 & truncating Lister Ferry, and 3. A diagram was presented Hwy 77/ Cedar Bend Rd S with representation of turn lanes in both directions on Hwy 77. There was conversation regarding the two intersections with immediate solutions would qualify for funding through the ATRIP II grant, (a resolution to apply would be needed at the November 12 meeting) should the city get the award, which would be up to 2 million dollars, and the only match for the city would be these studies, which are already in progress. There was discussion of pros and cons of all alternatives, as well as possible ideas for the intersection at Pilgrim’s Rest and Cedar Bend N.
• Discussion: Potential Tax abatement AJ’s Bar and Grill. Mayor Snyder stated that David Hooks with Industrial Development Authority (IDA) is putting together an estimate for an abatement following guidelines set forth in amendment 772. There was discussion of different types of tax abatements. The council and mayor all agreed that a restaurant should fall under the same type of abatement structure as prior restaurants granted abatements within the city, and they should look into drafting a policy to standardize the abatement process for the city. The mayor stated that when estimate numbers come in, there would be a public hearing scheduled.
• Discussion: The mayor has had several requests to resurrect the beautification board. There was discussion of when the board was last active, and the possibility of putting out notice for potential members.
• Discussion: The mayor provided the council with an updated street listing with most recent paving dates.
• Discussion: Alabama Power FERC Permit, anything that could possibly added to the Southside landing area should be included to the permit application. There is only one cost, no matter how many items are on it. There are several items to be on the permit: kayak launch, fish chute, buoys at the end of the boat ramp, possibly a future boat house. There were questions of items that were on the original permit, and is it still valid. The mayor committed to getting with Skipper Engineering, who did the original permit, to find out specifics on costs, and existing permits.

At 6:45 P.M. Mayor Snyder made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss Property. Keith Clay seconded the motion. The Roll Call Vote was all ayes.

The mayor stated that the council would recess into Executive Session, and the meeting would not reconvene.