May 2, 2017
COUNCIL MINUTES – May 1, 2017
The Town Council of the Town of Steele, Alabama, met in Regular Session at 6:30 pm on Monday, May 1, 2017. Upon roll call the following members were present:
Present: Roger Adams, Mayor
Richard Reynolds, Councilmember
Brent Dunn, Councilmember
Philip Gleason Jr., Councilmember
Rick Barnes, Councilmember
Absent: Nancy Miller-Borg, Councilmember
Mayor Adams asked Councilmember Barnes to lead everyone in a word of prayer.
The Town Council having read the minutes from the Regular Council Meeting held on April 17, 2017, motion was made by Councilmember Barnes to approve the minutes, 2nd Councilmember Gleason Jr. & approved by the Town Council.
Ayes: Barnes, Gleason Jr., Reynolds and Dunn.
Nays: None.
Ralph Mitchell, from Fire & Rescue Billing Consultants, was present and spoke about his business. Fire & Rescue Billing Consultants receives reports from the Fire Department regarding all fire, HAZMAT/spill, technical rescues, worker’s compensation/industrial accidents and motor vehicle accident responses made by the Fire Department. The information provided by the Fire Department that’s sent to F&RBC, will be prepared on an invoice and forwarded to the insurance company identified as the property/business owner on the report prepared by the Fire Department. F&RBC will collect the payments from the insurance companies, not individuals, and pursue collection of the amount of each invoice until it determines the probability of collection.
F&RBC collects a 15% processing fee of the net amount collected or a $75.00 fee per claim, which will be included only if they collect. Motion was made by Councilmember Barnes to enter into an agreement with Fire & Rescue Billing Consultants, 2nd Councilmember Gleason Jr. & approved by the Town Council.
Ayes: Barnes, Gleason Jr., Reynolds and Dunn.
Nays: None.
Motion was made by Councilmember Reynolds to suspend the rules of not being able to pass a permanent Ordinance at the same meeting as it’s first introduced, 2nd Councilmember Gleason Jr. & approved by the Town Council.
Ayes: Reynolds, Gleason Jr., Dunn, Barnes and Mayor Adams.
Nays: None.
Motion was made by Councilmember Gleason Jr. adopting Ordinance 2017-001 Establishing Fire Service Fees and Charges, 2nd Councilmember Barnes & approved by the Town Council.
Ayes: Gleason Jr., Barnes, Reynolds, Dunn and Mayor Adams. Nays: None.
Town Council Minutes
May 1, 2017
Page 2
The Town’s Engineer, Houston Jenkins, was present and spoke on the Steele Station Road project. Jenkins also stated that Aqua Marine Enterprises, Inc. asked for more days to do work on the Storm Shelter. After discussion, the Council agreed to let Aqua Marine Enterprises, Inc. have 60 days from May 2nd to finish setting the shelter.
Mayor Adams informed Houston Jenkins that the septic tank at the ball field bathrooms has been pumped and has two new septic lids.
Police Chief Mark Ward recommended to Mayor Adams that we update our guidelines for vehicle pursuits. Motion was made by Councilmember Reynolds approving the guidelines for vehicle pursuits, 2nd Councilmember Barnes & approved by the Town Council.
Ayes: Reynolds, Barnes, Dunn and Gleason Jr.
Nays: None.
The Smoking Ordinance was discussed, but we are waiting to decide anything further.
Resolution 2017-002 approving The Town of Steele’s Annual Participation in the “BACK-TO-SCHOOL” Sales Tax Holiday for the 3rd weekend in July, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 21, 2017 and ending at twelve midnight on Sunday, July 23, 2017 and continuing each subsequent year thereafter during the same time period as the State’s “Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday” was approved with a motion made by Councilmember Barnes, 2nd Councilmember Reynolds & approved by the Town Council.
Ayes: Barnes, Reynolds, Dunn and Gleason Jr.
Nays: None.
The Alabama League of Municipalities annual Convention will be held May 20-23, 2017 in Birmingham. Councilmember Nancy Miller-Borg will be attending and would like the Town Council’s approval to vote on behalf of the Town of Steele. Motion was made by Councilmember Reynolds giving Miller-Borg the authority to vote on the Town’s behalf, 2nd Councilmember Barnes & approved by the Town Council.
Ayes: Reynolds, Barnes, Dunn and Gleason Jr.
Nays: None.
Mayor Adams informed the Town Council that he’s purchased two bags of fire ant poison for $36.97 per bag at Lowe’s.
Motion was made by Councilmember Gleason Jr. approving the Open House Fire Department purchases for $57.24 and two banners for $225.00 out of the Fire Department account, 2nd Councilmember Barnes & approved by the Town Council.
Ayes: Gleason Jr., Barnes, Reynolds and Dunn.
Nays: None.
Motion was made by Councilmember Gleason Jr. approving the Fire Department purchase of LED lights for the 1951 Freightliner Fire Truck for $200.00 out of the Fire & EMS account, 2nd Councilmember Barnes & approved by the Town Council.
Ayes: Gleason Jr., Barnes, Reynolds and Dunn.
Nays: None.
Mayor Adams read a Thank You card from the Buel Plemons family, for the plant that was sent by the Town Councilmembers.
Mayor Adams read the April Fire/Medic report.
Town Council Minutes
May 1, 2017
Page 3
Motion was made by Councilmember Barnes approving the reimbursement for Lynda Fann on flowers for in front of the Town Hall sign, 2nd Councilmember Dunn & approved by the Town Council.
Ayes: Barnes, Dunn, Reynolds and Gleason Jr.
Nays: None.
Councilmember Reynolds informed everyone that the Finance Committee meeting went well.
Councilmember Dunn informed the Town Council that he’s been in contact with the man on the Farmer’s Market Guidelines.
Councilmember Gleason Jr. informed everyone that the ball fields are looking good.
Councilmember Barnes is working on ways to help support our local Steele Jr. High School.
After discussion, motion was made by Councilmember Barnes to amend the 2017 budget allocating $2,000 for SJHS, the use of these funds are subject to council approval, 2nd Councilmember Reynolds & approved by the Town Council.
Ayes: Barnes, Reynolds, Dunn and Gleason Jr.
Nays: None.
Councilmember Barnes suggested sending the Town citizen’s letter’s, quarterly or twice a year, on what is going on throughout the Town.
The librarian, Lynda Fann, informed the Town Council of the summer mind craft game that is lined up for this summer. Fann explained to everyone that Holly Silor is getting everything together for the game and would like Silor to work every Thursday to prepare.
Fann also let the Town Council know that the Library has new young adult books and they are working on new ways to get the library to grow.
The St. Clair County Mayor’s Association breakfast will be Tuesday, May 9, 2017, 7:30 am at Breaking Bread.
With there being no further business to come before this Regular Council Meeting of
May 1, 2017, Councilmember Barnes made a motion to adjourn the meeting, 2nd by Councilmember Gleason Jr., adjourned at 7:55 p.m..