CITYHALL 9615Old Hwy. 43 P.O. Box 490 Creola, AL 36525-0490  MAYOR'S OFFICE Phone 251-675-8142 Fax 251-930-1877  CITY OF CREOLA Since 1978  MAYOR Donaldl Nelson CITYCLERK Mary Brown  CITY COUNCIL Kendal Hadaway Cody Chambless Wendy Lynch Harold Parmer Mark Howell MAGISTRATES Linda Hoiles Christie Bryant  Minutes of the City of Creola Council Meeting  Thursday, May 26, 2022 Creola City Hall Meeting 6:00 P.M.  The Council oft the City of Creola, Alabama, met in the Creola City Hall at 5:30 p.m. A workshop was held before the Council Meeting at 5:30 pm. Present at the meeting was Kendal Hadaway, Harold Parmer, Cody Chambless, Mark Howell, and Mayor Nelson. Items that were discussed was the Magistrate 1I position, Tasers, Road Paving Estimates, Police Camera, Pressure Wash City Buildings, Estimate for Power to Gazebo, Satsuma Merger Letter, MC School Board Meeting, 4th ofJ July update, Right of Way deeds - South Creola - recorded.  The meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m.  The regular council meeting was called to order by Mayor Don Nelson at 6:00 p.m. We were led in prayer by James Brown. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Nelson. Roll call was taken by City Clerk Marcy Brown. Present at the meeting was Mayor Nelson, Kendal Hadaway, Harold Parmer, Mark Howell, and Cody Chambless. Council Member Wendy Lynch was absent. Item #5 -Approval of the Minutes - The minutes of the April 28, 2022, regular meeting minutes were reviewed. Mr. Chambless made a motion to accept the minutes, as written. Mr.  Also present was City Attorney, Danny Mims.  Parmer seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion was carried.  Item #6- Financials/Bill List-  Mayor Nelson gave an update on the finances and bank balances. Mr. Howell made a motion to approve the financials of 05/26/22 as presented. Mr. Hadaway seconded the motion. All in favor  and the motion was carried.    Mr. Chambless made a motion to approve the bill list dated 05/26/2022 as presented. Mr. Howell  seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion was carried.  Item #7-1 Departmental Reports -  Police Dept. - Chief Hammond stated that the city clerk, Marcy Brown, has applied for a police department grant for $62,000 through Homeland Security. There is no match required. This will Quotes were received from CTS ($19,841.34) and STC ($19,790.00) for the purchase and installation of police camera system in the police department. After discussing both options, Mr. Hadaway read a statement from the Code of Ala. 41-16-51 (a)(15) - Contractual services and purchases of products related to, or having an impact upon, security plans, procedures, assessments, measures, or systems, or the security or safety of persons, structures facilities, or infrastructures. Mr. Hadaway then made a motion to approve the camera system from STC at a cost of $19,790 which includes 23 surveillance camera, battery backup, 11 infrared outdoor bullet cameras, and ability to add more to the system. Mr. Howell seconded the motion. All in Mr. Chambless made a motion to have CTS reprogram the panel for entry to the police department at a cost of$1000.00. Mr. Howell seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion  be for equipment to aid in an act ofterrorism.  favor and the motion was carried.  was carried.  Sail Center -I No Report given.  Park Dept. - Josh Skidmore was cancelling the disc golftournament.  Fire Dept. = Chief Moye stated that the fire department was working on getting quotes from Public Works Department - Mr. Wayne is getting the flags up along highway 43 for Memorial Day. Mayor Nelson said that he had spoken with Ms. Ludgood about installing a signal light at Jackson Road and Highway 43. Potholes were being patched and trash being picked up.  Deep South on a fire truck.  Building Inspection Department-Nothing new to report.  Zoning Board - No report given. Item #8 - New Business-  a. Magistrate Position II- After discussion on the magistrate position, Mr. Howell made a motion to create a Magistrate II position and allow Linda Hoiles to apply for it. Mr. Parmer b. Tasers - The council is wanting to gather more information on the purchase ofTasers.  seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion was carried.  2    C. Road Paving Estimates Mayor Nelson Stated that Bay Area did excellent work and gave the best offer, but they were behind due to some major projects being worked on. Other estimates have been obtained and we are calling Bay Area to see where they are in doing the d. Pressure Wash City Hall - Mr. Hadaway made a motion to approve GCSS to clean the old fire department building at a cost of $500. Mr. Howell seconded the motion. All in favor e. Power Estimate for Gazebo- - J. Pike Electric gave an estimate for running power to  work for us before pursuing other quotes.  and the motion was carried.  the Gazebo. Council is contemplating on what they will do next.  Item #9 Mayors Comments  Mayor Nelson reminded everyone that we have not been contacted by Satsuma about a merger and until then we have no plans. A meeting is planned with Mayor Peoples from Mount Vernon with the Mobile County School board about the school situation. Plans are being made for the 4th of July celebration. We will have free hot dogs, drinks, and chips. We have a business coming to sell snow cones. The right of way deeds for South Creola have been recorded. Safe Spann has been contacted for the upcoming bridge inspection due. A second appeal with FEMA has been  filed and we are waiting on the finding.  Citizen Comments  Citizens addressed the mayor and council about the playground and the rumors about Satsuma. Mayor informed the citizens that we have installed new playground equipment with grant funds from Gulf Coast R C& D. Due to the vandalism in the past, no basketball courts were being Mayor Nelson said the housing project for the dirt pit area has been addressed once again. The Mayor Nelson said that he has not been officially approached by Satsuma. Mike Cassidy did come by the city hall to speak about it. Mayor Nelson said that he has received some phone calls from citizens wishing to go into Satsuma and others Saraland. He had gotten crucified in the attempted Saraland merger. People started false rumors. He is still looking for the land they claimed he got. Mayor said that he was elected to be the mayor of Creola and he's going to be Mayor Nelson read the Call News article that ready "Satsuma Leaders Seek Merger Talks." Mayor said that "Personally, Ifeel that I'm getting pushed into something here from that end and not hearing much feedback. T'lI be honest with you; I've talked to about one hundred people from Creola and their response was that they're not really onboard with this thing. I'mj just being as honest with you as I can. Italked with one person who was straddling the fence and they asked ifk he would come back and talk with them later and share with them what he knows." Mayor said that he was going to ask the council members what their opinion was sO that he would have direction on what they want him to do. As the mayor, he is the head of the city and  discussed.  zoning board is addressing this issue.  the mayor ofCreola.  3    when he leaves out of city hall, he is still the mayor doing his official duty as mayor 24 hours a day, seven days a week and the council becomes citizens again. As mayor, I want the council to Mr. Chambless said that he'd like to see the letter first before saying anything. Mayor said that we are only hearing rumors about a letter, we still do not have an official letter. An individual from the audience said that she was at the Satsuma Council meeting where the letter was Mr. Hadaway said that he wanted to see a letter first and would like to see what Satsuma is proposing. He is not of the opinion that the mayor should draft a letter to Satsuma. Mr. Chambless thinks that we need to wait on a letter or them to contact us, he doesn't feel like we are seeking them. Ifit comes down to the end, he'd like to see the citizens vote on it. Mr. Parmer said that at this point the staff in our city is upset over this. They don't! know what to do. Do they look for another job or make that big purchase? He doesn't have much to say about its since all he is hearing is rumors. When he talked to the three Satsuma Council members, they weren't keen on it, and they thought that Creola was approaching them. As far as he was concerned, he's neutral on this. He wasn't put in this position to do away with the city by no means. He has had very few approach him about this topic that was for it. All has been against it, and he'sl had maybe five that was in favor forit. So, at this point he is remaining neutral on it. As far as sending a letter, he doesn't see a need to. They only thing is that it keeps our Mayor said that undoubtedly the school is a big issue. A meeting is scheduled for June 16, 2022, with the school board superintendent. Mayor Peoples (Mount Vernon mayor) and Mayor Nelson spoke at the convention held in Tuscaloosa and they are wanting to work together to help our children. They second thing is that he' 'd like to see a board created with a council rep and citizens on it to prepare a presentation to go talk to the Mobile County School Board about the viability ofgrowing a school on Salco Road where the current school is located. When Satsuma formed a city school, Mayor said that he begged and pleaded with them to take care of our Creola children. Mayor asked the citizens if they'd like to see the North Mobile County K - gth school grow, and a citizen asked if it would still be county. Mayor asked what's wrong with Mobile Mr. Howell said that he took a beating. just like the mayor did over the Saraland merger. Because at that time the school was it for me. The day we voted the school came up here and posted signs that said the City of Creola kids can go to school for free if the merger didn't go through. After that it changed to if you kept all A's and B's, you don't pay any tuition. Mr. Howell's grandson went one year for free, after that he had to pay, even though he kept all A's and B's. Saraland is going up Celeste Road and sneaking up the Canal behind our backs. They jump Radcliff Road and go up to the school board land and cut us off. Instead of coming and talking to us, when we asked them (Satsuma) about merging, they said that they didn't wasn'tus. There'sal history there that the citizens don't know. Ms. Lynch went and asked for the financials, and they refused to hand it over. Mr. Howell had heard the mayor of Satsuma talk badly about our citizens. They are  give me their thoughts.  discussed, and council agreed about sending a letter to Creola.  employees on edge.  County, he and the council members went to a county school.  4    land locked and that's the only reason they want to merge. We hold Satsuma's future. The only thing Satsuma brings to the table is the school, nothing more. We have the same services they have except the high school. We have access to two exits off I-6. When Bubba Phillips was asked about putting in the high-density development at the dirt pit, he said they would be in favor Mayor Nelson seemed to think that the school was the biggest issue for our citizens. He is going toc collaborate with Mayor Peoples and the school board on growing the current school that goes through the gth grade. Mayor Nelson said that the reason Creola incorporated in 1978 was to Mr. Hadaway made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Chambless seconded the motion. The  of development.  keep Satsuma from taking us.  meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Dov N  Don Nelson Mayor marc Marcy Brown City Clerk  fal  5