Council Minutes

The Town Council of the Town of Steele, Alabama, met in Regular Session at 6:30 PM on Monday, May 4, 2020 at Steele Community Center. The following members were present:

Present: Roger Adams, Mayor
Richard Reynolds, Councilmember Michael Stevens, Councilmember Philip Gleason Jr., Councilmember Nancy Miller-Borg, Councilmember Rick Barnes, Councilmember

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Adams, who then asked Councilmember Barnes to lead everyone in a word of prayer.

The Town Council having read the minutes from the Regular Council Meeting on Monday, April 6, 2020, motion was made by Councilmember Miller-Borg to approve the minutes, seconded by Councilmember Reynolds and approved by the Town Council.

Ayes: Gleason Jr., Stevens, Miller-Borg, Barnes, and Reynolds. Nays: None.

Mayor Adams asked the Council to look over the February Financial reports and approve them at the next Council Meeting.

The St. Clair County Commission sent the Town a document stating that they will furnish the voting machines for the next election. Mary Walker with the St. Clair County Commission told the Mayor that we do need to be in contract with Thomas Voting Machines as well as St. Clair County Commission. She also stated that public testing is not necessary. Councilmember Miller-Borg asked what the county gives us in this agreement, to which Mayor Adams responded that the St Clair County Commission provides the machines and Thomas Voting Machines provides delivery, set up and will handle any problems incurred with the machines during the election. Councilmember Barnes made a motion to approve the St. Clair County Commission agreement, seconded by Councilmember Miller-Borg and approved by the council.

Ayes: Gleason Jr., Stevens, Miller-Borg, Barnes, and Reynolds. Nays: None.

Mayor Adams stated that the town needs a new dump truck. He will place an advertisement in the St. Clair Times requesting bids for a dump truck. Cost for the dump truck will run between $80,000 and $90,000 dollars. Mayor Adams said that anything over
$15,000 has to be bid out unless it is purchased from the State Bid Contract. Councilmember Stevens stated that the only way not to request bids is if it is bid out twice, and no bids are received. The bids would be received until May 18, 2020. Councilmember Reynolds made a motion to solicit bids for a dump truck with a dump bed off of the State Bid List, seconded by Councilmember Barnes and approved by the council.

Next on the Agenda was the replacement of a copy machine for Town Hall. Mayor Adams stated that our current copy machine was 7 years old and has started having a lot of problems. He spoke with Lookout IT regarding a recommendation for a replacement machine. They recommended that we purchase a Canon iR Advance C256iF 111. This machine is available from ABS Business Equipment in Attalla and the purchase price is
$2,795.00 or can be rented for $79.00 per month for 39 months. This does not include a Supplies and Maintenance Agreement which includes all parts, labor, toner and service calls at a cost of $15.00 per month. Councilmember Reynolds made a motion to purchase the Canon copier for $2,795.00 with a monthly maintenance agreement of $15.00 per month. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Barnes and approved by the council.

Ayes: Gleason Jr., Stevens, Miller-Borg, Barnes, and Reynolds. Nays: None.

Mayor Adams stated that he would like approval to contract Engineers of the South as our Sanitary Sewer Operators. Engineers of the South manage approximately 50 sewer systems in our area. They would come and obtain samples and take them to an independent lab.
The cost without lab testing is $600.00 monthly. With lab testing, the cost would be
$930.00 per month. Mayor Adams stated that we would save money by letting Engineers of the South be our Sanitary Sewer Operators. They will visit and treat one time a month, will do all the testing, maintain records and will do everything regarding the Town sewer operations in accordance with ADEM requirements. This will exclude responses to Warning Letters, Notice of Violations and Consent, and Letters of Non-Compliance.
Councilmember Gleason Jr. made a motion to approve hiring Engineers of the South as our Sanitary Sewer Operators, seconded by Councilmember Barnes and approved by the Council.
Ayes: Gleason Jr., Stevens, Miller-Borg, Barnes, and Reynolds. Nays: None.

Fair Housing Resolution 2020-004, and Fair Housing Resolution 2020-005 were brought up to the Council. This is to declare that April 2020 will be Fair Housing Month for the Town of Steele. Resolution 2020-004 is just a general resolution, and Resolution 2020-005 is specific for the Town of Steele.

The MWPP Report has been prepared by Engineers of the South, Mike Walraven, and Randy Thompson have approved to send the report to Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). It is a requirement of ADEM that a Municipal Water Pollution Prevention (MWPP) Program resolution is passed and sent to ADEM with the report. Councilmember Miller-Borg made a motion to pass the Resolution, seconded by Councilmember Reynolds and approved by the Council.

Ayes: Gleason Jr., Stevens, Miller-Borg, Barnes, and Reynolds. Nays: None.

Next on the agenda was the culvert pipe replacement at Valley Drive. The nine I roll n ino

Mayor Adams brought up the purchase of a new radio for the Fire Department. The current radios being used have lasted 10 years, and Chief Martin stated that this is the first one that has had to be replaced. Councilmember Miller-Borg made a motion to approve the purchase of the new radio at a cost of $1099.00 to be paid out of the Fire & EMS account, seconded by Councilmember Barnes and approved by the Council.

Ayes: Gleason Jr., Stevens, Miller-Borg, Barnes, and Reynolds. Nays: None.

The Mayor brought up resurfacing Herb Collette drive. Bobby Welch has started construction of homes there and is asking that the Town improve the street. Mayor Adams asked the Council to be thinking about this, and it will be addressed later. Councilmember Barnes stated that the sooner we get the base in, the better.

Mayor Adams brought up a possible upcoming expense. When the previous Town Clerk (Jessica Martin) was employed with the Town, she was told that she didn’t need to enroll in Local Government Insurance because her husband was insured through Local Government Insurance and she was covered under him. According to information received recently from Local Government Insurance, every employee has to individually enroll in insurance. They have stated that we would have to back pay for Mrs. Martin’s insurance from her hire date in 2016 to the date of her resignation. Mayor Adams stated that he would request a waiver.

The washout on Lakeview Street was brought up. Mayor Adams mentioned that we may need to put concrete over riprap. Coy Free has given permission to clean out the area that is washing out where the banks are collapsing. Councilmember Gleason Jr. mentioned that at one time there was one big pipe and now there are two pipes. He stated that limbs and debris get caught up in between the pipes, which creates a problem. Mayor Adams stated that we will do some investigation and come up with a solution.

Mayor Adams asked if anyone else in attendance had any business to bring before the Council.

Mayor Adams stated that we are still under current COVID-19 orders until May 15th•

Councilmember Miller-Borg stated that the Library is open and Town Hall remains closed.

Councilmember Stevens mentioned that on Georgia Road, the drop off on the side of the road is significant. The Council discussed different options for the shoulder work.

Councilmember Gleason Jr. stated that everything is ready for the July4th Celebration, they are just waiting on the Govenor’s decision on opening the State.

Town Council Minutes May 4, 2020
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Councilmember Barnes mentioned that he had emailed the link for a cheaper option for the speed humps on Lakeview Street.

Mayor Adams said that the next Council Meeting will be on Monday, May 18, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.

With there being no further business to come before this Regular Council Meeting of May 4,, 2020, Councilmember Barnes moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Councilmember Miller-Borg and adjourned at 7:54.