Regular Session Minutes of the
Council of the City of Dora, Alabama
September 19, 2024
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 Reverend Eric Tolbert. 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 David Box, Norman Holt, Chris Edwards, George Sides, Jr., Randy Spears, Gary Thomas, Robert Busby and Mayor Walker. A quorum was in attendance.
Item #5—Approval of the Minutes – The minutes of the August 8,2024 and August 22, 2024
council meeting were reviewed. The motion was made by George Sides. to accept the minutes as written. The motion was seconded by Gary Thomas. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #6-Departmental Reports A-G – Norman Holt made a motion to approve the departmental reports A-G. David Box seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #7 – Bill List – Norman Holt made a motion to accept the bill list dated September 11, 2024. Gary Thomas seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #8 – Old Business – Mayor Walker related there was no old business with any updated
information. Chris Edwards requested the Buffalo Rock agreement be presented to the council for approval.
Item #9 – Dora High School Football Program – Reverend Coach Tolbert and Coach Steve
Woods came to thank the City of Dora, Mayor and Council for the support of the high school
programs. Norman Holt made a motion to purchase a sign for the football field in the amount of $250 (two hundred fifty and no/100). Chris Edwards seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion passed.
Item #10 – Pay Raises – The remaining employees who had not received a pay raise earlier in the year were addressed at this time. Norman Holt made a motion to give a six percent increase to the magistrate, Merinda Pugh. Gary Thomas seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried.
Randy Spears made a motion to approve a ten percent increase for the golf course employees to Melessa Harris, Bryan Hill, W. Peyton Johnson, Bart Washburn and a twenty-five percent increase to Savannah Vintson. Chris Edwards seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried.
Randy Spears made a motion to approve a 42.9% increase to firefighter Trevor Edwards. David Box seconded the motion. Chris Edwards abstained. The motion carried.
George Sides made a motion to increase the volunteer firefighter call pay. The current calls that are paid at $5 (five)/incident which include medical calls and training will now be paid $10(ten)/incident. The current calls that are paid at $10(ten)/incident which include fire, hazmat calls will now be paid $25(twenty-five)/incident. David Box seconded the motion then rescinded his second. Gary Thomas seconded the motion. Mayor Walker opposed the motion. The motion carried.
Mayor Walker wanted it to be noted that he would be contacting the AL Ethics Commission for their opinion regarding the council members who are volunteer firefighters voting on this item of volunteer firefighter pay.
Item #11 – Ordinance #8 – 2024 – Property Annexation of Odessa Terry (5061 Sharon Blvd) – Second Reading – The ordinance has been read and posted in the necessary locations for the required number of days. The public can be heard for comment. No comments were made. Chris Edwards made a motion to approve Ordinance #8-2024- Property Annexation of Odessa Terry (5061 Sharon Blvd). Randy Spears seconded the motion- Roll Call Vote: George Sides-YES; Randy Spears-YES; Gary Thomas-YES; Robert Busby-YES; Mayor Walker-YES; David Box- YES; Norman Holt-YES. Chris Edwards=YES. YES=8. The motion carried.
Item #12 – Ordinance #9 – 2024 – Property Annexation of Moses and Evelyn Terry (39 Doaty
Street) – Second Reading – The ordinance has been read and posted in the necessary locations for the required number of days. The public can be heard for comment. No comments were made. Chris Edwards made a motion to approve Ordinance #9-2024- Property Annexation of Moses and Evelyn Terry (39 Doaty Street). Gary Thomas seconded the motion- Roll Call Vote: Randy Spears-YES; Gary Thomas-YES; Robert Busby-YES; Mayor Walker-YES; David Box-YES; Norman Holt-YES; Chris Edwards=YES; George Sides=YES. YES=8. The motion carried.
Item #13 – Ordinance #10 – 2024 – Property Annexation of Drummond Company Second
Reading – The ordinance has been read and posted in the necessary locations for the required number of days. The public can be heard for comment. No comments were made. Chris Edwards made a motion to approve Ordinance #10-2024- Property Annexation of Drummond Company. David Box seconded the motion- Roll Call Vote: Gary Thomas-YES; Robert Busby-YES; Mayor Walker-YES; David Box-YES; Norman Holt-YES. Chris Edwards=YES; George Sides=YES Randy Spears=YES. YES=8. The motion carried.
Item #14 – Resolution #7 – 2024 – City of Dora Transportation Plan-Fiscal Year 2025 – Norman Holt made a motion to approve Resolution #7-2024- City of Dora Transportation Plan-Fiscal Year 2025 to include repairs to various bridges, culverts and streets within our existing road network. David Box seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #15 – Fire Department Emergency Vehicle Repair – Chief Booth related the brush truck is out of service. Robert Busby made a motion to pay up to $2,000 (two thousand and no/100) for a rebuilt transmission which will have with a twelve-month warranty and to pay the tow company to take the vehicle to the shop. Norman Holt seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #16 – Fire Department – Educational Resources – Randy Spears made a motion to approve the Fire Chief’s requested $900 (nine hundred and no/100) to be spent on fire prevention resources for community education. David Box seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #17 – Heritage Landing Sewer Extension – Contract A-Force Main Bids – Robert Nelson updated the council on the Heritage Landing sewer extension project. Randy Spears made a motion to reject the only bid received from Gillespie Construction of $2,044,260 (two million, forty-four thousand, two hundred sixty and no/100) for Heritage Landing Sewer Extension- Contract A Force Main Bids. This bid exceeded the budget. Norman Holt seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried. AL Bid Law allows the City to negotiate with any contractor if only one bid is received and the bid exceeds the budget to ask them to bid on the project. Nelson Engineering contacted other contractors including Gillespie Construction and the only company that submitted a bid was B&H Contracting. Norman Holt made a motion to accept the negotiated bid of $1,437,269.25 (one million, four hundred thirty-seven thousand, two hundred sixty-nine and 25/100) from B&H Contracting contingent upon the approval of ADECA. Chris Edwards seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion passed.
Item #18 – Resolution #8 – 2024 – To Award Bid for Heritage Landing Sewer Extension –
Contract A – Sewer Force Mains – Chris Edwards made a motion to approve Resolution #8-2024 to award the bid to B&H Contracting for $1,437,269.25 (one million, four hundred thirty-seven thousand, two hundred sixty-nine and 25/100) for Contract A-Heritage Landing Sewer Extension Force Mains. Norman Holt seconded the motion. ROLL CALL VOTE: Chris Edwards-YES; George Sides-YES; Randy Spears-YES; Gary Thomas-YES; Robert Busby-YES; Mayor Walker-YES; David Box-YES; Norman Holt-YES. YES=8. All in favor and the motion carried.
Before the meeting adjourned, Randy Spears related the park director had not been included in the earlier discussion regarding pay raises and he made a motion to give the park director Chase Gant a ten percent increase in his salary to $550 (five hundred fifty and no/100)/month. Norman Holt seconded the motion. Robert Busby abstained. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #19 – Public Comment – Mayor Walker opened the floor for public comment. None was
made.
Gary Thomas made a motion to adjourn. Norman Holt seconded the motion. All in favor and the meeting was adjourned.