Regular Session Minutes of the
Council of the City of Dora, Alabama
May 8, 2025
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 Gary Thomas. Mayor Hezikiah L. Walker, Jr. led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Walker. Roll call was taken by Stacy Turner. Present at the meeting were Norman Holt, Chris Edwards, George Sides, Jr., Randy Spears, Gary Thomas, Robert Busby and Mayor Walker. David Box was absent. A quorum was in attendance.
Mayor Walker related he needed to add three items of business to the end of the agenda that just developed yesterday.
Item #5—Approval of the Minutes – The minutes of the April 24, 2025 regular meeting minutes were reviewed. A motion was made by Gary Thomas to accept the minutes as written. The motion was seconded by Robert Busby. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #6— Departmental Reports A-F- Norman Holt made a motion to approve the departmental reports A-F.
Randy Spears seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #7 – Bill List – A motion was made by Norman Holt to approve the bill list dated May 7, 2025. Motion was seconded by Gary Thomas. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #8-Old Business- Wrecker Service-Mayor Walker related that he and Chief Hall decided this item needs to be discussed in a work session at a future date.
Walking Trail Trees-Randy Spears related when he met with the arborist there were 48 (forty-eight) trees that had been removed from our right-of-way, some of them as old as 40-50 (forty to fifty) years old. Norman Holt made a motion to send the city attorney the estimate from the arborist regarding the repair of the walking trail and the trees that were cut down and discuss pursuing legal action. Chris Edwards seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried.
Park Director- Norman Holt encouraged the council to help in the search to find a new director and to consider a director for each sport instead of one director for all the sports offered.
Storm Shelter-A list of storm shelter rules was submitted for the council to review and decide if the city wants to adopt these rules and/or make changes.
Medical Clinic-George Sides made a motion to put a “for rent” sign on the medical clinic for a period of ninety (90) days before seeking a realtor to advertise the building and to ask $2,000 (two thousand and no/100) dollars per month for rent and the City would be responsible for HVAC system. Norman Holt seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried. It was also recommended to contact David Knight of the Walker County Development Authority and the Capstone Clinic regarding the building.
Chris Edwards related the ordinances approved at the last meeting needed to be voted on individually.
Chris Edwards made a motion to approve Ordinance #10-2025-Property Annexation of Hosey Smoot and Tracy Smoot. Gary Thomas seconded the motion. ROLL CALL VOTE: Norman Holt-YES; Chris Edwards-YES; George Sides-YES; Randy Spears-YES; Gary Thomas-YES; Robert Busby-YES; Mayor Walker-YES. YES=7. All in favor and the motion carried. Chris Edwards made a motion to approve Ordinance #11-2025-Property Annexation of Roy and Shirley Penick.
Robert Busby seconded the motion. ROLL CALL VOTE: Chris Edwards-YES; George Sides-YES; Randy Spears- YES; Gary Thomas-YES; Robert Busby-YES; Mayor Walker-YES; Norman Holt-YES. YES=7. All in favor and the motion carried.
Randy Spears made a motion to approve Ordinance #12-2025-Property Annexation of Belinda Lyons and Terry Speigner. Gary Thomas seconded the motion. ROLL CALL VOTE: George Sides-YES; Randy Spears-YES; Gary Thomas-YES; Robert Busby-YES; Mayor Walker-YES; Norman Holt-YES; Chris Edwards-YES. YES=7. All in favor and the motion carried.
Robert Busby made a motion to approve Ordinance #13-2025-Property Annexation of Belinda Lyons and Terry Speigner. Chris Edwards seconded the motion. ROLL CALL VOTE: Randy Spears-YES; Gary Thomas-YES; Robert Busby-YES; Mayor Walker-YES; Norman Holt-YES; Chris Edwards-YES; George Sides-YES. YES=7. All in favor and the motion carried.
Chris Edwards made a motion to approve Ordinance #14-2025-Property Annexation of Faishon Parker and Jaicyrus Parrish. Robert Busby seconded the motion. ROLL CALL VOTE: Norman Holt-YES; Chris Edwards-YES; George Sides-YES; Randy Spears-YES; Gary Thomas-YES; Robert Busby-YES; Mayor Walker-YES. YES=7. All in favor and the motion carried.
Chris Edwards made a motion to approve Ordinance #15-2025-Property Annexation of Bretford Griffin. Gary Thomas seconded the motion. ROLL CALL VOTE: Randy Spears-YES; Gary Thomas-YES; Robert Busby-YES; Mayor Walker-YES; Norman Holt-YES; Chris Edwards-YES; George Sides-YES. YES=7. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #9-Resolution #4-2025- Chris Edwards made a motion to approve Resolution #4-2025-A Resolution Designating an Official Representative to provide information to ADEM pertaining to the application of a CWSRF loan from the AL Water Pollution Control Authority. Norman Holt seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried. This is in reference to the Railroad Avenue/Sharon Boulevard road repair.
Item #10- Ordinance #16-2025-Property Annexation of Michael Smoot- (60 Matthews Street) -First Reading – Ordinance #16-2025 was presented for the first reading. The petition for annexation and a map of said property was presented. The ordinance will be posted and published as required by law.
Item #11- Magistrate Conference- Norman Holt made a motion to approve Merinda Pugh to attend the magistrate conference September 24-27, 2025 for a total of $1,295 (one thousand two hundred ninety-five and no/100). Chris Edwards seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #12-Golf Course Request- Norman Holt made a motion to pay Jackson Tree Service $4,500 (four thousand five hundred and no/100) to grind 18 (eighteen stumps) at Horse Creek Golf Course. Randy Spears seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #13- Police Chief Conference- Robert Busby made a motion to approve Chief Hall to attend the AACOP Summer Conference August 3-7, 2025 for a total of $1,860.96 (one thousand eight hundred sixty and 96/100). Norman Holt seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #14-Economic Development Consulting- Allan Rice presented two consulting agreements for the council to review to decide which agreement would be the best fit for the City and the goals. The agreements will be forwarded to the City Attorney Jim Brakefield for review.
Item #15- Brush Truck- Mayor Walker related that the City of Jasper purchased new brush trucks and have plans to declare this brush truck a surplus vehicle and possibly donating one of the trucks to the City of Dora. It is a 2003 Freightliner that has been sitting on their lot for the past eighteen months. George Sides made a motion to accept the vehicle if offered to the City. Norman Hold seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #16- Boom Lift- Mayor Walker related Jeremy Hicks, Street Department Supervisor has located a 1997 fifty-foot electric boom lift that the street department will be able to use for various projects in the city. Chris Edwards made a motion to purchase the boom lift for $7,500 (seven thousand five hundred and no/100). George Sides seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #17- Jackson Tree Service- George Sides made a motion to pay Jackson Tree Service $1,300 (one thousand three hundred and no/100) to remove a large tree on the right-of-way on Nail Road. Gary Thomas seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #18-Public Comment- None
Item #16-Adjourn- Randy Spears made the motion to adjourn the meeting. Chris Edwards
seconded the motion.
All in favor and the meeting was adjourned.