Council Minutes – 4/14/22

Regular Session Minutes of the

Council of the City of Dora, Alabama

April 14, 2022

The Council of the City of Dora, Alabama met in the Dora Municipal Building at 6:00 p.m. We were led in prayer by Mayor Randy Stephens. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Stephens.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Randy Stephens. Roll call was taken by SuLeigh Warren. Present at the meeting were David Box, George Sides, Norman Holt, Chris Edwards, Randy Spears, Gary Thomas, Hezekiah Walker, Jr., and Mayor Randy Stephens. A quorum was in attendance.

Item #5— Approval of the Minutes – The minutes of the March 24, 2022 regular meeting minutes were reviewed. A motion was made by Chris Edwards to accept the minutes as written. The motion was seconded by George Sides. All in favor and the motion was carried.

Item #6 – Old Business – None

Item #7— Bill List – A motion was made by George Sides to approve the bill lists dated April 12, 2022. Motion was seconded by Norman Holt. All in favor and the motion was carried.

Item #8 – Departmental Reports – A motion was made by Randy Spears to approve March 2022 Department Reports A-G. Motion was seconded by Gary Thomas. All in favor and the motion was carried.

Item #9 – Linda Jones -VITA Site – Ms. Linda Jones, a representative of VITA SITE located in Birmingham, spoke with the council about the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program that offers free income tax assistance to those who qualify (income based). She asked if the City could provide a site at the Civic Center to service the Dora and surrounding area for the 2022 Income Tax Year (next Spring – January through April). Training will occur in July 2022. She assured the council that laptops, paperwork and anything that would be needed to offer this service will be provided by the IRS. Stated she will be seeking volunteers to work at the site. The service will be offered to resident on Saturdays only. She did say that she would require a secure place, (a closet), to lock up the laptops afterwards. Motion was made by David Box to allow City of Dora to sponsor a VITA SITE at the Civic Center. The motion was seconded by Norman Holt. All in favor and the motion was approved.

Item #10 – RTP Grant – Resolution #5 -2022 – Awarding the Recreational Trails Project Contract to Gillespie Construction – Mayor Stephens informed the council that Gillespie Construction placed the lowest bid for the Recreational Trails Lighting Project (using energy efficient LED lighting). The base bid in the amount of $286,000 takes the lighting project from Highway 78 to the trail entrance at the city park. Alternate bids were placed to extend lighting on the trail. Alternate bid in the amount of $78,000.00 will carry lighting to Sellers Road. Alternate bid in the amount of $133,000.00 will carry lighting to Austin Circle, near the City of Lights, while another alternate puts three lights up the hill at the park entrance at a cost of $23,896. The complete job, end to end and up the hill, will be $520,896.00 plus an additional $50,000.00 for the engineering and administrative costs. David Box made a motion to suspend the rules and proceed with immediate consideration to vote for approval of the lighting project. Roll Call Vote: David Box – Yes; George Sides, Jr. – Yes; Norman Holt – Yes; Mayor Stephens – Yes; Chris Edwards – Yes; Randy Spears – Yes; Hezikiah Walker – Yes; and, Gary Thomas – Yes; Yes- 8. All in favor and the motion carried. Randy Spears made the motion to approve Resolution #5 Awarding the Recreation Trails Project Contract to Gillespie Construction in the amount of $520,896 to install the lighting project from Highway 78 to Austin Circle plus lights going up the hill at the park entrance plus the additional $50,000 for engineering and administrative costs. Motion was seconded by Gary Thomas. Roll Call Vote: Roll Call Vote: David Box – Yes; George Sides, Jr. – Yes; Norman Holt – Yes; Mayor Stephens – Yes; Chris Edwards – Yes; Randy Spears – Yes; Hezikiah Walker – Yes; and, Gary Thomas – Yes; Yes- 8. All in favor and the motion carried.

Item #11 – Park Lights – Norman Holt made a motion to approve That Electric Company’s bid in the amount of $17,889 to replace all 16 lights at the tennis court and playground. Motion seconded by David Box. All in favor and the motion carried. Mayor advised this money would come from the Capital Improvement Fund.

Item #12 –Police Vehicle – Request was made by Chief Jared Hall to add a 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe to the police fleet in the amount of $34,324.00. Chief Hall stated this cost will not include modifications to the vehicle such as the cage, lights, etc. A separate quote of up to $10,000 would be needed for these modifications. Randy Spears made the motion to approve the purchase of the Tahoe in the amount of $34,324.76 plus spending up to 10,000.00 for modifications to the unit. The motion was seconded by David Box. All in favor and the motion carried.

Item #13 – Park Request – Chase Gant has requested $400 for the purchase of a new propane outdoor griddle for the concession stand. Motion to approve purchase was made by Norman Holt with the second made by Chris Edwards. All in favor and the motion carried.

Item #14 – Golf Course Fence – Chris Edwards made a motion to accept the lowest bid by True Link Fence in the amount of $16,570.00 to install 8-foot residential grade fencing at the Golf Course between the driving range and the walking track. The motion was seconded by Randy Spears. All in favor and the motion carried.

Item #15 – Property Tax – Mayor Stephens informed the council that by June 1st the Revenue Commissioner, Jerry Guthrie, will need to be notified as to whether or not the mill property tax of 10.1 will be changed or kept the same. More information will be provided at the April 28, 2022 council meeting. No action required at this time.

Item #16 – Backhoe Repairs – Norman Holt made a motion to rent a backhoe on a monthly basis in the amount of $1,980.00 while the Street Department’s Backhoe equipment is being repaired due to electrical problems. Hezikiah Walker seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried.

Chris Edwards made the motion to adjourn the meeting. Norman Holt seconded the motion. All in favor and meeting was adjourned.