CITY OFCREOLA P.0. BOX490 CREOLA, AL. 36525-0490 Phone: 251-675-8142 FAX: 251-679-8203  William Criswell Lee Anne Greene Harold Martin Avis Walker Tonya Moss Kendal Hadaway  Mayor Carolyn Sue Cain City Clerk  Placel  Place2 Linda Hoiles Court Clerk  Place3 Doug Kirkland Chief of Police  Place 4  Place5 Jeff Reeves Fire Chief  Minutes of the City of Creola City Council Meeting Thursday, September 28, 2017 Creola City Hall 6 PM 9615 Old Hwy. 43, Creola, AL  Mayor Criswell called the meeting to order and asked everyone to turn off all cell phones.  Councilman Ralph "Avis" Walker gave the Invocation.  Pledge of Allegiance Hadaway. Councilwoman Greene Councilman Martin Councilman Walker Councilwoman Moss Councilman Hadaway Mayor Criswell City Attorney - Mr. Mims City Clerk - Carolyn Sue Cain  Upon the Call of] Roll, the following were found tol be present with the exception of Councilman  ABSENT  Councilman Walker made ai motion to accept the minutes of September 14, 2017. Seconded by  Councilwoman Moss, all favored, none opposed. Motion carried.  CITIZENS ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL  James Ivey -presented legal documentation to council showing he had deeded his road to The City of Creola and the minutes where the previous council approved it. He came asking the City to take care oft the maintenance forl his road. He asked that the City put gravel on his road.  1    RESOLUTIONS, ORDINANCES AND OTHER BUSINESS  Councilwoman Greene made a motion to give a $25.00 tip to each of the three servers from Tyner's Catering for the Municipality dinner. We had 156 people attending. This was a record number attending the Creola Municipality Dinner. The servers did an awesome job. Councilwoman Moss seconded, all favored, none opposed. Motion carried. We will send check Councilwoman Greene made a motion to order 100 additional cups with the city logo for $427.54. We ordered 125 for the Municipality Dinner but didn't have enough as we had a record number of 156 attending. Councilwoman Moss seconded, all favored, none opposed, Motion Mayor Criswell stated that Creola is the only Municipality without a Public Works Department. We have now established a Public Works Department; it was introduced at the last meeting. Councilwoman Greene read Ordinance No. 2017-007 in detail, listing 12 items, being ordained by the City of Creola and made a motion to pass the ordinance to create a PW Department. The  to Mr. Steve Tyner and he will see that the three servers receive their gratuity.  carried.  motion was seconded by Councilwoman Moss, Roll call for vote:  Councilwoman Greene Councilman Martin Councilman Walker Councilwoman Moss Councilman Hadaway Mayor Criswell Vote approved by Roll Call.  YES YES YES YES ABSENT YES  The Hurricane Preparedness Plan is complete. We introduced it and have submitted it to Mobile County EMA. Councilwoman Greene made a motion to table until Bro John White returns to next meeting. Councilman Martin seconded. All favored, none opposed. Motion carried. Mayor Criswell stated that we are paying on aj past due bill with Mobile EMA that has not been paid in several years. We are back in good standing with Mobile EMA and they are working with us. Councilwoman Greene stated that we will work on a mail survey for the. Axis annexation. Councilman Martin made a motion to send an invitation for the AxisySalcolLeMoyne residents to join us. A mail out would be very beneficial. We need tol know who isi interested and who has questions. This would serve as an invitation and not lead them to think we are trying to push them into something they might not want. City Attorney Daniel Mims will draft a letter. We will work on an address list. Some residents have al P.O. Box in Axis but don't live in Axis and some Axis residents have a Creola P.O. Box. We will work on this and bring back to next council meeting.  2    Councilwoman Greene gave an update on1 the soccer field:  (1) Sam Sanders will pour and finish the concrete slab for the picnic table at park. The (2) We ordered the cover: for the tables from Trotter Marine, paying 10% down payment (4) The 4x4 sign for the soccer field is ready and will bei installed next week. It will be Councilwoman Greene reported that the Excise tax check will be coming soon. Adam Bourne is checking on it. He has turned it over to Tyler Pritchett with the Revenue Commissioners Office. This is the 3-cent distribution tax. When we receive it, we will  concrete slab will be 18x20. for the cover.  (3) We will order picnic tables in about three weeks.  placed in the middle of the small fence at Major Holt's request.  open a new account for the Excise tax. PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE  Councilwoman Greene reported there were no applications. Al Public Hearing was. held on the Jadnet/Elenburg: property on Tolbert Rd. and everything was fine. The next Planning and Zoning meeting will be held October 17, 2017 6pm. No new applications, as ofnow.  PARKS AND RECREATION  Councilwoman Moss received a call from Janice Godwin with GulfCoast R C& D concerning the $25,000.00 grant for the Little League Park. They are researching it and will get back with  us. Mrs. Godwin talked real favorable concerning the grant.  UTILITIES AND SENIOR CITIZENS  Everything is fine. Ms. Nayer Mahdi came out and visited the Senior Center. She checked out the bathrooms and the possibility of a new stove for the Center. The funds are not there now but she  will check and can possibly get funds in the next physical year.  ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS list of the members from the city clerk.  The Board isi in place and Councilman Martin will schedule ai meeting when he gets the contact  3    FINANCE  Councilwoman Greene made a motion to accept the financial report, giving a copy to the Council. (details listed below.) Copies available to all citizens. Revenues: September 1- - September 28, 2017: totaled: $100,823.78 minus $15,000.00 down payment on backhoe: = $85,823.78  Court Bond Account Court Fund Special Court Fund Fire Department General Fund Money Market Police Department S.A.I.L. Center Account 7-cent Special Gas Tax Account 4-cent(5-cent) Gas Tax Account  $3,659.66 40,922.35 12,366.90 5,912.10 146,770.31 13,522.38 7,463.47 1,250.52 8,052.76 19.761.55 $259,682.00  Total: (in bank)  Seconded by Councilman Moss, all favored, none opposed. Motion carried.  POLICE. ANDI FIRE POLICE  Councilman Martin stated that the Mayor and Council have been very supportive with the remodeling of the police building. He spoke with. Jim Teague, a former police officer with City of Creola. He stated the PD was built ini the early 1980's, has operated 24/7; 365 days a year with lots of wear and tear and needed lots ofTLC. We have painted the building, made lots of repairs, put in new water heater, and a new 911 radio console. The "Friends of Creola Police Department" landscaped the grounds in front of the Police Building. We still have work in progress, getting Councilman Martin stated that as of September 28, 20171 the balance: in the Police Fund is: $7,463.47, will give ai more detailed report from bank statement at the: next meeting.  some new: furniture, but everything is looking good.  Councilman Martin stated that we have a new. Dispatch Coordinator, Ms. May Brooks. She comes with 30 years' experience in radio dispatch from Mobile County Sheriff's Department and Saraland PD. She will train and work to prepare our new hires for certification. She is helping to update records, as well. This will make us eligible to apply for grants when this is completed. A young man with some experience from a nearby municipality and a retired police officer with 20 years' experience from a nearby city, as well. This is a good blend, good police officers to cover the area. This will give us a minimum of2 people on each shift. We will be ready to cover  Councilman Martin reported that we have 2 new police officers:  the new area when we annex Axis.  4    Councilman Martin mentioned that we had approved at the last meeting to compensate Chief Kirkland as Bailiff. Attorney Mims will research to use the proper method to get Chief  Kirkland's back pay as it wasn't included in his contract.  FIRE  Councilman Hadaway and Fire Chief] Reeves were: not present at the meeting. Councilwoman  Greene will cover the Fire Department report in her finance report.  STREETS  Councilman Walker stated that the trucks have torn up the road coming out of the trucking company in front of Creola Assembly of God Church. Chief Kirkland stated that Melinda, the supervisor, has agreed to pay half to fix the lot out in front oft the trucking company. We will get bids to fix it. We have 1 bid. We need to put up barriers SO cars won't run into thel hole. Councilman Walker gave a report on Ducey Rd. Don Nelson stated that a grant was approved to fix Ducey Rd. when he was in office but didn't know what happened with it. Mayor Criswell stated that he spoke with Brian Neel Schaffer and the initial design submitted to ADEM was rejected by the Corp of Engineers. They have redesigned it and it came back today. There was a 95% approval of the drawings. It will be submitted back to the County today or tomorrow. Putting in a second bid for paving. There is ai meeting with the County next Thursday. They will help us with the drainage on Hurst Dr., as well. Councilman Walker reported that we put slag on Ducey Rd. two Saturdays ago. Mayor Criswell stated we have repaired our relationship with the County and the grader operator. When Mayor Criswell visited Camp#3 to inquire about getting a grader and operator. He was told no one was available. After talking with them, he learned the truth. The City of Creola owed for four trips that had been made to grade Ducey Rd. but was never paid for the work they did. We are paying the grader operator when he finishes the job and we are in a good working relationship with the County now. We call them-the operator contacts us-we cut a check and it is held by Councilman Walker or Councilman Martin until the job is complete. The operator is handed his check when he finishes the job. They are happy with our plan. We have two operators that are available now and hopefully a third one will be available  soon.  PUBLIC WORK DEPARTMENT  Mayor Criswell stated that the AMIC adjuster came and visited City Hall and the Old City Hall and Police Department. He wanted to cancel the insurance on the old City Hall Building since there had been no maintenance in a number of years. We had 9 leaks in the PD. We have repaired those leaks, replaced gutter" new downspouts, re-worked inside the PD-had lots of water damage, replaced ceiling tiles, had stains on the walls, repainted walls, put down .new baseboards. The PD is on the insurance but the old City Hall has been pulled. Hopefully, we can  re-work the old City Hall for the Public Works Building.  5    Mayor Criswell reported that we have purchased a new piece of equipment. A backhoe with some experience. The backhoe has a standing bucket and a ditching bucket. We paid $15,000.00 down (using the 7cent tax) and we will. finance the balance of $20,000.00 with Regions Bank. Mayor Criswell commented that this is our first step with the PW Department and hopefully we will have everything in good shape by Spring. We will improve the equipment as we go along. Mayor Criswell stated that we. have a One- year warranty with Beard Equipment on the backhoe. The warranty covers everything. We have opened an account with Beard with a $10,000.00 line of credit. They will do on-site maintenance and repairs as needed. The Mayor explained that a new backhoe would cost $64,000.00 and this one was $35,000.00. Additional coverage on the backhoe would be and extra $5,400.00/year. A new one comes with a 3-year warranty. This is a very versatile piece of equipment w/ a standard bucket and a ditching bucket. It is 1 year-18 months old, A: 311JJohn Deere. This is the same size as most other municipalities have.  COMMUNITY GROUP None ADDITIONALNOTES None MAYOR'S. DISCUSSION None  ADJOURNMENT  MOTION BY: CouncllwomanMoss SECONDED BY: Councilman Walker Meeting adjourned @ 6:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn Sue Cain City Clerk c.m.9.28.2017  6