[0:00] I was like
[0:10] every
[0:22] phone
call
[0:27] Mike Swford have our invitation for us.
Let's pray. Dear Lord, thank you for
[0:35] another opportunity to be here. Thank
you for all the work that is done in our
[0:38] city to make it the place that we love
and care about. Thank you for your
[0:42] guidance and your blessings. Continue to
guide our actions and make them what
[0:48] they need to be. We ask all this in
Jesus name. Amen. Amen.
[0:52] Mayor
>> I pledge algiance to the flag of the
[0:57] United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation
[1:03] under God, indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.
[1:08] Mina do a roll call
[1:13] here. Baker
>> here
[1:17] » Alexander
>> here
[1:20] » here.
>> Mayor Evans
[1:21] » here. City turn
>> here.
[1:25] All right. Like for everybody look over
the minutes and call for a motion to
[1:30] approve the minutes for work held on
December 9th.
[1:36] Second have a motion and second. All in
favor say I. I. Yes. There's none.
[1:43] Passes. Uh call for a motion uh for
approval of the minutes of the regular
[1:48] meeting held on December 9th, 2025.
[1:53] Second. We have a motion and second. All
in favor say I.
[1:57] » I. Opposed.
Passes.
[2:01] All right. We don't have any unfinished
business. It's hard to believe. Um, so
[2:05] we'll move on to new business. Um, item
number seven, ordinance 1645, amending
[2:10] the code concerning excavations within
public right away.
[2:19] So, ordinance 1645.
Um so whenever I um started here I I
[2:27] noticed within the rideway with some of
the utility cuts um uh mainly there's a
[2:34] certain way to do utility cuts that help
the longevity of a road also helps with
[2:39] the final patch that's produced. Mainly
you want square edge as possible. uh
[2:45] pre-cutting all type of cuts and going
um from doing the entire road with uh
[2:52] each lane. So a cut in the middle, you
would want to go from curb to curb, a
[2:57] coat, a cut in one lane, go from center
line to edge to curb. Um so I created a
[3:05] uh specification
um that's listed in here as a city of
[3:10] Hartzel Street cut repair guidelines and
specifications.
[3:15] Um, this ordinance references those
specifications.
[3:19] Um, it also replaces all of the existing
wording that's in this that's in this
[3:26] section with with the wording that's
listed here. mainly we're um trying to
[3:32] educate um everyone on u the we
reference the Alabama the ALDOT
[3:40] standards for uh utility cuts as well as
our specifications
[3:46] um informing the public that we have a
required permit to be issued to be able
[3:51] to cut within city streets
[3:57] responsibility of um whenever it is
whenever you do cut, making sure that
[4:02] they know they're responsible for
replacement back to city spec um within
[4:08] the specifications that's listed.
Um I've outlined the requirements for
[4:15] back filling before the actual uh
permanent patch is put down. Um again,
[4:21] this this is just for introduction
tonight. So
[4:25] » I have a question on enforcement. Yes.
>> Who inspects those after they've been
[4:31] done?
>> That would be me.
[4:32] » That' be you. And then what what happens
if we don't accept the patch that's been
[4:39] put down?
>> So, typically this uh most of the time
[4:43] these would be involved with the
utilities themselves.
[4:46] » Um it would be a phone call from me
telling them that it's not acceptable.
[4:53] We've already started this on a few
patches. they've already been uh these
[5:00] uh the street cut repair guidelines have
been sent over to them and they're
[5:04] implementing this um going forward. Um
as far as our ability to enforce um
[5:15] might lead that up to someone else
answer, but right now it's me going on
[5:20] site and telling them it's not
acceptable. Um, and um, I can let
[5:27] someone else speak to our ability to
actually enforce that.
[5:30] » Come down to me talking to their
attorney, show them the wisdom of
[5:33] compliance.
>> So, it's not I mean, we're not going to
[5:38] write hearts utility,
but certainly there are ways to force
[5:43] them to comply. I'm sure they will,
>> right? I'm sure they will. want to know
[5:46] from
>> if there were a day that didn't have
[5:49] such a generous relationship with them.
Is there are there means to enforce
[5:53] » absolutely compliance?
>> Court.
[5:55] » Court.
>> Court. That's always fun.
[5:57] » All right.
>> This applies to everybody, not just
[6:00] utilities.
>> Well, obviously
[6:02] AT&T, you got Joy, they got everybody
several.
[6:06] » And currently, we didn't have any
specifications for our permit. So,
[6:10] whenever we issue a permit, I'll be uh
giving out these specifications that
[6:15] they know whenever they're doing their
bidding that they know the patch is
[6:19] going to have to be a little bigger than
it has been in the past so we can have a
[6:23] more uh permanent uh patch in the long
run. So,
[6:28] so this is for introduction
and we will
[6:34] introduction on that. All right. So
you've heard explanation from Ben and
[6:38] then we like to make a motion for
introduction.
[6:43] » Second have a motion in a second. Any
discussion or questions?
[6:47] » I'd like to thank Ben for this.
>> Yeah.
[6:51] » Can I just say I give Ben kudos to this?
So this bugged me for a long time and
[6:56] right after he came he um you could tell
it kind of got on his nerves too. So he
[7:00] all work on his other he appreciate it
coming up and driving up and down Rock
[7:04] Street every day.
>> Yeah.
[7:07] Well, um, we had a really good ordinance
in place, uh, indicator that the city
[7:11] indicator put together that we enforced
at utilities and I reached out to them
[7:17] with some recommendations and was able
to put ours together. So,
[7:21] » this month's meeting
>> awesome. Yeah, some for some of the
[7:25] patch looks like they're playing Jenga
or something. I'm not sure. Yeah, this
[7:29] is great.
>> All right, have a motion and a second.
[7:33] All in favor? Uh I missed there is none
been sir.
[7:39] » Thank you.
>> All right. Item number eight resolution
[7:42] 25-1216
moratorum on enforcement
[7:47] on portions of the existing sign
ordinance. Yes. This was just put a
[7:51] temporary call or moratorum on
enforcement of the sign count maximums
[7:57] for temporary signs pending amendment of
that section. Uh basically we just want
[8:02] to take a look at uh the existing
wording with regards to uh count of
[8:08] general temporary signs versus political
referending signs that type thing until
[8:12] we get that in place for the whole law
enforcement of that that one clause.
[8:18] Okay. for explanation. Anyone like to
make a motion?
[8:26] » Second
[8:30] have a motion and second. Any discussion
or questions?
[8:34] All in favor say I.
>> I against there is none. Motion passes.
[8:40] Uh I think we're going to
we need to table this or just not
[8:46] introduce it myself.
not just skipping
[8:53] number nine. All right, number 10.
Consider appointment to the mental
[8:57] health board.
And uh basically I guess Rita, if I
[9:01] remember correctly, I just open the
floor to nominations.
[9:04] So if anyone has someone they would like
to nominate, please do so now.
[9:28] We have Miss Laura English and Miss
Teresa Haynes to interview tonight.
[9:37] » I nominate Laura English.
>> Second.
[9:40] » Have a motion and a second.
Uh any discussion or questions?
[9:47] All in favor say I.
>> I opposed. There's none.
[9:53] English has been appointed to the mental
health board. All right.
[9:59] Announcements. The city of Hartzell is
accepting applications for positions on
[10:04] the following boards. cemetery to work
five expired positions,
[10:08] two full five-year terms, and three with
four years remaining. Uh, a board of
[10:14] zoning adjustment on one unexpired
three-year term through March 1st of
[10:19] 2028.
Uh, parks and recreation board, three
[10:23] unexpired terms. Applications are
available at the city clerk's office and
[10:27] city hall or on the city's website.
Applications must be turned in to the
[10:32] city clerk's office or emailed by
Friday, January 2nd at 400 p.m.
[10:38] All right. No have comments from mayor.
All right. Um
[10:46] Okay. Thank you all for being here
tonight. The couple of announcements.
[10:53] The last day for the pool pass sale is
tomorrow. So, if you are interested in
[10:58] getting a full pass for this season for
Christmas presents, make sure you stop
[11:02] by parking right by tomorrow. Um, that's
a firm deadline. Um, also, rumor has it
[11:09] that Santa is making a visit to Hartsell
and tomorrow he will be visiting schools
[11:14] uh on Sunday. He will be
um visiting our communities
[11:22] sometime after church. And if you want
to track Santa, you can go to our
[11:26] website um or to our Facebook page and
be able to track him through your
[11:31] through an app on your phone. Um the
city office is closed for for the
[11:36] holidays from December the 24th through
the 26th. Um the city dump will be open
[11:43] on the 26th. Um and of course our
essential services will be available. Um
[11:49] business license season is upon us. that
will be after the first of the year.
[11:54] Renewals start after the first of the
year. So, if you have a business license
[11:57] that needs to be renewed, um those you
will be notified, we're hoping through
[12:02] email, but also through a regular
mailer, but uh if you don't for some
[12:07] reason receive that, make sure you get
your renewal taken care of. Um Chief Fox
[12:12] just returned from checking on our new
ladder truck and we're all excited about
[12:17] the progress on that and uh hope to take
delivery on that before the at least by
[12:22] the first of the year. Um, I want to say
thank you to the Quantis Club for the
[12:27] parade. It was the largest parade
they've ever had. I believe over 120
[12:31] floats and it was a beautiful night and
a great event for our community. Also, I
[12:36] say thank you to the Civil Air Patrol
and to Ken Barner for the Reese Across
[12:41] America event that he hosted this
weekend. Um they laid over 600 reads
[12:46] both at the city cemetery as well as uh
the Hartzel Memorial Gardens which I
[12:51] believe is actually in the county. But
uh it was a really terrific turnout and
[12:56] something I hope that they will continue
to do. They their aspirations are to see
[13:01] it grow and continue to keep this up
from year to year. It was a great event.
[13:06] » Awesome. Thank you.
Oh, awesome. Love it for me. Bad this
[13:14] year.
>> Um, everyone have a merry Christmas and
[13:17] thank you,
>> Mike. Uh, she didn't come back. I asked
[13:21] her to come back to talk about throwing
candy at parade. I did see candy thrown,
[13:26] but parade was was very good. But I do
commend the pawns book club. And then
[13:30] just merry Christmas and happy new year.
Won't be back doing this until January.
[13:33] So
>> she did tell me she went floating and
[13:36] said don't
>> you should have seen those kids with
[13:40] empty pillowcases
>> standing there with eyes
[13:49] » Merry Christmas.
[13:57] » I'll say the same. Merry Christmas. Um I
know we have comments from the audience.
[14:01] If you want to speak, please come and
say your name and address and you have
[14:05] three minutes.
>> Hello, Jason Gell. I'm sure all of you
[14:10] remember me. I wish I was up there with
you, but it didn't turn out that way.
[14:14] Now, we heard a rumor that you were
considering discussing the issue that
[14:17] was the centerpiece of my campaign. So,
I just want to say I hope that rumor is
[14:21] true and that you're considering
discussing it too soon. Uh, chickens in
[14:27] case you forgot.
That's all I have to say.
[14:41] Clayton Smith at 1801 Council Road. I
just want to come talk to y'all about uh
[14:46] the ordinance on foul. Uh I believe it's
been an issue. Um me and my wife, we've
[14:53] had chickens for seven years and we
didn't know about the ordinance. We ran
[14:58] into some issues. We've been told to get
rid of them. She loves these things.
[15:02] They're her pets. Um I'm not proposing
let's have a chicken farm in our
[15:06] backyard, but four chickens come. Uh so
if if possible, can we change this one,
[15:13] please? Thank you.
>> Thank you.
[15:23] » All right. Well,
do I call for a motion to adjourn the
[15:28] meeting or can I just adjourn? Call for
a motion. Call for a motion to adjourn
[15:33] this meeting. Motion second. Let's go.