[0:01] All right, six o'clock. We'll call them any to order. Allen Sturford, we'll lead us in our indication

[0:06] and pledge.

[0:09] Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, God as we come to you today, we just thank

[0:13] you, God, for your many blessings. God, I'd just pray that you'd be with us as we go

[0:18] on to this city's business today. God, God, I pray that we would do it mainly for the

[0:23] building of your kingdom. God, I pray that you give us the wisdom to make the decisions

[0:28] that need to be made. God in them is we enter these times. God does the next couple of weeks

[0:33] as the kids, children start going back to school, students are going to be back in school. God,

[0:38] we will be remiss if we didn't ask you to protect for your protection overall of them. God, as they

[0:45] start back the school year, God, we pray for a great year for the administration, teacher,

[0:50] students. God, we just pray in God for a mighty move and God of your spirit, God of your protection.

[0:56] God, and we're just thinking praise you, God, for who you are and for all that you do for us in your sweet name, we pray, amen.

[1:05] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic, which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[1:19] So, thank you, Allen.

[1:22] Roll call?

[1:23] All right.

[1:24] Here.

[1:30] All right.

[1:31] Thank you, everybody, for being here.

[1:32] We will move into the approval of minutes, approved July 13th, 2026, 5 p.m.

[1:37] Council work session, July 20th, 2026, 930 a.m.

[1:41] Council work session, and July 20th, 2026, 10 a.m.

[1:44] Council meetings.

[1:45] Everybody okay with taking those as one?

[1:47] Okay.

[1:48] So moved.

[1:49] I have a motion by Ms. Wershler.

[1:51] Second by Mr. Bullard.

[1:52] Any discussion?

[1:54] Roll call.

[1:55] All right, the approval of minutes is approved with a vote of 4 to 0, moved into resolution.

[2:05] Resolution number 26217, approve agreement with Al Dock for grading and landscaping right

[2:11] away on Central Avenue off Alabama 67.

[2:14] Yes, Mayor Couts, this is an agreement with Al Dock for our projects just south of the

[2:24] Second, second.

[2:25] Second, my name is Mr. Bullard.

[2:26] Any discussion?

[2:28] Roll call.

[2:30] Aye.

[2:31] Aye.

[2:31] First.

[2:32] Aye.

[2:35] Resolution 262117 is approve of the vote 4-0.

[2:39] Resolution number 26218 for proposal for engineering design services for intersection improvements and modus road and fairground road for the three-nuts group.

[2:46] Yeah, this is a a comm is going to look at the intersection of fairgrounds and

[2:51] motifs and see about around about in that location removing the traffic

[2:55] civil and hope to improve the troll traffic through that area.

[2:59] Three nights.

[3:00] Three nights.

[3:00] Excuse me.

[3:01] Yes.

[3:03] And also Centron in motifs as well.

[3:06] Yeah.

[3:06] The as a part of that part project we're going to look at the Centron and

[3:10] Clarice over and extending this turn line for motifs are on the belt line onto

[3:15] I'm going to move this road.

[3:19] Got it.

[3:20] I'm going to motion this second.

[3:22] So moved.

[3:22] I'm going to motion my Miss Whershler.

[3:24] Second my Mr. Bullard.

[3:25] Any discussion?

[3:28] I would just say, like last week, this is a pretty tough area, congestion-wise, I know I get

[3:34] complaint in this.

[3:35] It's not even close to my district, but I'm sure many people up here do as well, so glad

[3:39] to see some movement and some things to consider in the future.

[3:44] All right.

[3:45] Any other discussion?

[3:46] Roll call.

[3:47] Aye.

[3:49] Aye.

[3:49] First.

[3:50] Aye.

[3:52] Resolution 26218 is the proof of the vote of 4-0.

[3:56] Resolution number 26219, award bid for fourth avenue parking garage, the Pierce Construction, authorize mayor to execute agreement.

[4:02] Good evening, council.

[4:03] This is the award to bid to Pierce Construction and the amount of $17,290,378.

[4:09] I

[4:12] have a motion by Mr. Atkins.

[4:14] Second.

[4:14] Second by Ms. Wersler.

[4:15] Any discussion?

[4:17] I would just, I would like to thank Joe Fuqua and NPS team and Pierce as well, for working with the city to get the cost down a little bit, found some good savings on this to get it down to about 17.3, so I appreciate everybody's work on that.

[4:32] And it really didn't change the statics of the debt that much.

[4:36] You're still going to be a nice looking debt.

[4:38] Yep.

[4:39] All right, any other discussion?

[4:41] Roll call.

[4:43] Aye.

[4:44] Aye.

[4:45] Fuller.

[4:46] All right.

[4:47] Resolution number 26219 is approved of the vote of 4-0.

[4:51] Resolution number 26220, award-bid number 26-020 for athletic field construction to urane irrigation

[4:58] services being the lone respondent.

[5:00] Jeremy Cheryl Procurement, this is an annual contract that gives us itemized pricing for these field repairs, irrigation repairs and so on.

[5:10] We still have an option to solicit bids for special projects, should they come along, but this locks us into itemized pricing for when it's needed.

[5:20] And again, ProRain was the alone respondent, but we've got a long standing partnership with them and are confident for an approval here.

[5:28] We have a motion by Ms. Wersler, second by Mr.

[5:32] Ackens, any discussion?

[5:35] Roll call.

[5:36] Aye.

[5:39] Aye.

[5:41] Resolution number 262-20 is the proof of the vote of 4-0.

[5:45] Resolution number 262-21 award bid number 26-0-4 for

[5:50] sanitation ejector trailer to K&L holdings.

[5:53] This is the purchase request for an ejector trailer for

[5:57] for environmental services, we open bids on July 8th, four responses, and K&L holdings is recommended as a lowest responsible bidder.

[6:07] So moved.

[6:09] We have a motion by Ms. Worshler, second by Mr. Bollard, any discussion?

[6:14] Roll call.

[6:15] Aye.

[6:16] Aye.

[6:17] Aye.

[6:18] Aye.

[6:19] Bollard.

[6:19] Aye.

[6:20] Resolution number 26-221 is the proof of the vote of 4-0.

[6:24] Pro resolution number 2622 to clear surplus and authorize disposal of vehicles and equipment no longer needed about various city departments.

[6:32] We're just requesting to surplus this.

[6:36] Some move.

[6:37] We have a motion by Mr. Atkins, second by Mr. Wershler, any discussion?

[6:42] Roll call.

[6:43] Aye.

[6:45] Aye.

[6:45] First, sir.

[6:46] Aye.

[6:48] Resolution number 2622 is approved of the vote of 4 to 0.

[6:52] resolution number 26-223, approve the termination of the contract for building an earth at Wilson Morgan Recreation Center.

[6:59] Good evening mayor and council, Don Dukman here, Parks and Recreation.

[7:01] We are asking for the termination of the contract, the work is done with this group and we're moving forward.

[7:08] So moved.

[7:09] Motion by Ms. Wersler, second by Mr. Bullard in your discussion.

[7:13] I would just say I think there's been a little bit of confusion.

[7:16] This is not, we are ending the contract because the project is wrapping up.

[7:21] This is not, a lot of people see the term termination and think differently, but

[7:25] this is simply their portion of the work that's looting, so we are closing out that contract.

[7:31] But just wanted to clarify, any other discussion?

[7:35] Roll call.

[7:37] Aye.

[7:40] All right, Resolution number 26223 is approved of the vote of 4-0.

[7:45] Resolution number 26224 approved MOU between Decatur Police Department and

[7:50] Calhoun Community College.

[7:52] Herman, do you want to?

[7:54] Yeah, that's basically, it's just clarifying the various duties that our police department and

[8:01] Calhoun's law enforcement just gives us some clarification and deal.

[8:04] So it's just a better job of coordinating what the different efforts are.

[8:10] That's all it does.

[8:11] It's a continuation of a contract, but this just clarifies it a little even more.

[8:16] Okay.

[8:16] So moved.

[8:17] Motion by Ms. Wersler.

[8:18] Second.

[8:19] Second by Mr. Bullard.

[8:20] Any discussion?

[8:22] Roll call.

[8:23] Aye.

[8:24] Aye.

[8:25] Aye.

[8:25] Wersler.

[8:26] Aye.

[8:27] Wollard.

[8:27] Aye.

[8:28] Resolution number 26-224 is approved of the vote of 4-0.

[8:32] resolution number 26-225, authorize independent contractor agreement for police internal affairs.

[8:38] This was reported, introduced last week.

[8:42] The chief cannot be here, he's at a chief's conference.

[8:44] If there are questions, be glad to.

[8:47] I'm trying to answer those, and we can get him on the phone, but this is an extension of the contract.

[8:52] It's the exact same contract that we had the previous year, including the same fee.

[8:56] and it's an extension for one year.

[8:58] Correct.

[8:59] Yes.

[9:01] So moved.

[9:02] We have a motion by Ms. Wersler.

[9:05] Second.

[9:06] Second about Mr. Bullard, any discussion?

[9:10] Roll call.

[9:11] Aye.

[9:12] Aye.

[9:12] Second.

[9:13] Wersler.

[9:13] Aye.

[9:15] Resolution number 26-225 is the proof of the vote of 4-0.

[9:20] Resolution number 26-226, the proof of additional head count and information systems.

[9:25] Good evening.

[9:26] Mayor and council and Lori Spitzer with the Human Resources Department.

[9:31] We are requesting an increase to the departmental headcount and funding for information systems for a system support tech.

[9:39] In pay grade 14, which would be a minimum $40,900 up to $65,400, for a dedicated IS technical support.

[9:50] Some of the most of my Mr. Atkins, second by Ms. Wersler in your discussion.

[9:55] Let me just say we're not actually adding a hand because we're going to not release another

[10:02] position.

[10:03] It's a higher level than this.

[10:08] All right.

[10:10] Thank you, Mayor.

[10:10] Any questions?

[10:13] Roll call.

[10:14] Hi.

[10:15] Hi.

[10:18] The resolution number 26226 is approved of the vote of 4-0.

[10:23] Resolution number 26227 approved River Clay found arts, festival, usage and lease agreement.

[10:29] That's a continuation of an agreement to use city hall premises.

[10:34] And the actual event is October 23rd through the 25th of this year.

[10:40] So moved.

[10:40] I have a motion by Ms. Wersler, second by Mr. Atkins, any discussion?

[10:46] They'll come back later to get the application for alcohol.

[10:50] But they have to have this in order to do that.

[10:54] Thank you, Herman.

[10:56] Anything else?

[10:57] Rokal?

[10:59] Aye.

[11:00] Aye.

[11:03] Resolution number 26-227 is approved for the vote of 4-0.

[11:10] Ordinance's first reading, ordinance number 264654, approved sale of Woodland Streets Out these two, Donald and Debra Peace, under the dawn program.

[11:20] Yes, the peace is approached the city about the possibility of purchasing this lot, suggestion to their property.

[11:29] It is under, this property is under high voltage transmission lines from TVA.

[11:35] So there's a very wide easement, there's not a whole lot that could be done with it

[11:42] other than, you know, they could use it for parking or they could, I guess they could

[11:48] use it just,

[11:51] if they wanted a garden or something, but it's, you know, so we value, what we're

[11:57] recommending is $4,500, it's the value, they would be required to pay $500, they would

[12:04] enter into an agreement, that's what the DOM program is, that they would have to agree

[12:10] to maintain the property. With it being this, we give them a $500 credit each year, so

[12:17] there'd be eight years that they would have to agree to maintain and not transfer this

[12:22] property for that period of time.

[12:26] And it has to be a piece of property that's adjacent to one.

[12:29] It's adjacent in order for it to be the down problem,

[12:31] they have to be on adjacent property owner.

[12:34] And Ms. Walser, I did not get,

[12:36] I forgot to ask what down stood for.

[12:40] All right, and Allen is asking for immediate consideration.

[12:42] So we will need a motion in a second,

[12:44] and then an unanimous vote for immediate consideration,

[12:47] and then we'll need another motion in a second

[12:49] for the ordinance.

[12:51] Is there a reason for the immediate consideration?

[12:54] Well, this will take quite a bit of time to get processed.

[12:58] He's also already paid, he's already paid for the lot, so it would just expedite some

[13:05] gets as opposed to presenting, waiting two weeks, it would allow us to go ahead and start

[13:12] getting the deeds together and the agreements, plus he's already paid us for the lot, so

[13:17] we're, I mean we're, so he's already paid us, that's why we're asking for a meeting consideration.

[13:27] That's a quicker that gets it off our books that were we don't recommend it.

[13:32] That's a good point.

[13:33] So moved.

[13:34] All right.

[13:35] Emotion for media consideration.

[13:37] Ms. Worshler is second for Mr. Bullard.

[13:39] Any discussion on the media consideration?

[13:42] Roll call.

[13:43] Aye.

[13:45] Aye.

[13:45] Worshler?

[13:46] Aye.

[13:46] Bullard?

[13:47] Aye.

[13:48] All right.

[13:48] The media consideration has approved the vote of 4-0.

[13:50] We will now need an emotion in a second on the ordinance.

[13:53] Some move.

[13:54] Emotion by Mr. Atkins.

[13:55] Second.

[13:56] Second.

[13:56] Second by Mr. Bullard.

[13:57] Any discussion?

[14:01] I would just say I appreciate this program.

[14:02] I think it's a great opportunity for citizens and certainly helps the city as well.

[14:08] All right.

[14:09] Roll call.

[14:10] Aye.

[14:11] Aye.

[14:12] Where's fire?

[14:12] Aye.

[14:13] Bullard.

[14:14] All right.

[14:15] Ordnance number 26.

[14:16] 46.

[14:17] 56.

[14:17] 54.

[14:17] Over the vote of 4 to 0.

[14:20] Next is ordnance number 26.

[14:21] 46.

[14:22] 55.

[14:23] Approved fire code amendment.

[14:25] And

[14:27] that's just introducing it, basically there's a provision that you have to have

[14:34] to exit if you have a certain number of residential units in a particular subdivision.

[14:40] But as an FYI, the planning commission or the zoning order requires those two exits.

[14:49] So that's, this will at least, we became aware of this and this will allow a better opportunity

[14:56] for development to come to the cater.

[15:00] Thank you, Herman. So moved. We won't vote. Let's just introduce and get tonight's first meeting. Oh, you're good. Ordinance is ordinance number 264651. Approved sale of 4A 7th Avenue, Southwest to John T. Moore. Yes, this is. We presented this to last council meeting is just to sell this property to Mr. Miss Moore. Some moves. All right. If I motion by Mr. Atkins. Second. Second. Second by Mr. Bullard. Any discussion?

[15:30] roll call.

[15:31] Aye.

[15:35] Ordinance number 264651 is a thank you vote of 4-0.

[15:40] Ordinance number 264652, approved annexation request 38626 for deer roads out east of

[15:47] Lot 3.

[15:48] This is an approval for annexation located at the northwest intersection of deer and up

[15:54] a river road.

[15:55] It has been pre-zoned on RS7 and is 15 acres.

[15:58] I

[16:02] have a motion by Mr. Atkins, second by Ms. Wershler, any discussion?

[16:08] Roll call?

[16:09] abstain?

[16:11] Aye.

[16:12] Aye.

[16:15] Ordinance number 264652 is approved of the vote of 3-0 with one abstention.

[16:20] Ordinance number 264653 approved annexation request 38726 for property south of 32-3-deer

[16:27] road, south east lot four.

[16:29] Again, this is an approval for annexation requests of South of 3203 deer road at the intersection of deer road and upper river road for 9.51 acres that was pre-zone RS7.

[16:43] If I motion on Ms. Wersler, second by Mr. Bullard, any discussion?

[16:48] Roll call.

[16:49] I'm staying.

[16:53] All right, ordnance number 26, 46, 53 is approved of the vote of 3 to 0 with one abstention.

[17:01] Order the committees, this is a mayoral appointment of Beth Briscoe to the Decatur Housing Authority with term expiring August 5th, 2031.

[17:09] This will be Ms. Briscoe's first full term, and they vote needed on that.

[17:14] Is there anything from departments,

[17:18] Mayor?

[17:18] there.

[17:19] I'd like to mention last Thursday night, the Qatar Youth Services put on their 30th back

[17:25] to school jam, and it was a great success.

[17:29] All the council members were there.

[17:32] People from many different departments came and helped out, the young professionals were

[17:38] a big help, and there were thousands of people there, and I just want to give D.Y.S. Kudos

[17:43] for a great job, and everybody that helped them out.

[17:46] We appreciate it.

[17:48] A great event indeed. Anything from council?

[17:51] The next council work session will be held on August 10th, 2026 at 5 p.m.

[17:56] The next regular council meeting will be held on August 17th, 2026 at 10 a.m.

[18:01] There's nothing else but a standard adjourn.

August 3, 2026 - City Council Meeting.mp4

Transcript