CITYOFCREOLA P.0.BOX490 CREOLA, AL36525-0490 Phone: 251-675-8142 FAX: 251-679-8203  William Criswell Lee Anne Greene Harold Martin Avis Walker Tonya Moss KendalE Hadaway  Mayor Carolyn Sue Cain City Clerk  City Council  Linda Hoiles Court Clerk  Doug Kirkland ChiefofPolice  Jeff] Reeves Fire Chief  Minutes of the City of Creola City Council Meeting  Held at Creola City Hall on May 11, 2017 6:00 p.m.  Mayor Criswell called the meeting to order. Rev.. John White gave the Invocation. Pledge of Allegiance Councilwoman Greene Councilman Martin Councilman Walker Councilwoman Moss Councilman Hadaway Mayor Criswell City Attorney -Mr. Danny Mims City Clerk-Carolyn Sue Cain  Upon the call of roll, the following were found to be present.  Motion made by Councilwoman Greene to accept minutes as written. Councilwoman Moss  seconded, all favored, none opposed, motion carried. CITIZENS ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL  Mayor Criswell asked for the list of citizens to address the Council.  1. Joan Stringfellow- Ms. Stringfellow stated that she did not see SARPC listed on the budget. Councilwoman Greene said she would check on it and report back at the next Ms. Stringfellow asked why Mobile EMA is not listed on budget. Councilwoman Greene stated that we have a $30,000. bill from Mobile EMA owed since 2010. They are working Ms. Stringfellow said: she spoke with Mr. Vince Calametti with ADOT and we do not have to pay to have the bridge on Hwy. 43 inspected. She said, "Call him... you don't pay it." Mayor Criswell stated that it was on the list for the State of Alabama to bei inspected but we will check oni it and hopefully we won't have to pay for that bridge.  meeting.  with us on this bill and we will pay them $461.52 a month.  1    Ms. Stringfellow asked, "What is this coffee on the budget?" Councilwoman Greene asked, "Leroy Hill?" She said, "Yes". Ms. Stringfellow informed us that we could not buy coffee, that's against the law. Several citizens in the audience commented "That was petty. Councilman Walker asked former councilman Heathcoe ift they did not buy coffee from Leroy Hill during the last administration. He said" Yeah, I had a cup every morning." * Mayor Criswell explained to Ms. Stringfellow thati is a service. Leroy Hill 2. Rev.. John White - The Ladies Ministry Leader of Creola Assembly have talked with the Middle School Principal and Guidance Counselor on Salco Rd. They found the biggest need for the school right nowi is school supplies. Bro. John wants to start a school supply drive and asked if the school supplies could be dropped off at City Hall. The council thought this was a great idea and all agreed to let City Hall be the drop off. Councilwoman Greene will get with Linda Walker from Gulf Coast Opry. She will help as the Opry made al lot of donations last year. City Hall will be the drop off during business hours and the Police Dept. will serve at the drop off after hours.  furnishes the machine and we buy the coffee.  RESOLUTIONS, ORDINANCES AND OTHER BUSINESS  Councilwoman Greene stated that the City has had Blue Cross/Blue Shield(BCBSAL) but the premiums and copays are way too high and unaffordable by employees. We are switching to BCBS-Government Plan and for family coverage we will save $206.84 per month. For single coverage, it will be an $11.98 savings per month. The coverage will be much better and this plan will be usable. Mayor Criswell explained..The City was under a Standard Plan, not Municipal Insurance, with a $4400. Deductible for family coverage. With the new plan, the deductible is only $200. The City was throwing away money on something that was not usable by employees. Court Magistrate Linda Hoiles made an in-depth investigation into a better plan and came up with a plan that was workable. Councilwoman Greene and Councilwoman Moss assisted. Councilwoman Greene stated that she had talked with several municipalities that had this BCBSAL Government Plan and they were happy with it. Mayor Criswell stated that this will be at tremendous savings per year for both the City and the employees. Councilwoman Greene made a motion to go with BCBS-Government Plan effective. July 1, 2017. Councilman Hadaway Councilwoman Greene introduced the property of Mr.. James Lambeth at last meeting. It was posted for 15 days. She made a motion to accept his propertyi into the City. Councilwoman Councilwoman Greene introduced to amend the Agenda to add Ordinance #17-001. Councilwoman Moss seconded. The Mayor asked for a roll call for vote:  seconded, all favored, none opposed, motion carried.  Moss seconded, alli favored, none opposed, motion carried.  Mayor Criswell Councilwoman Greene Councilman Martin Councilman Walker Councilwoman Moss  YES YES YES YES YES  2    Councilman Hardaway  YES  With the roll call being unanimous, Ordinance #17-001 carried. Mayor asked for a roll call for vote. Mayor Criswell  Greene then moved toi introduce Ordinance #17-001 delivery of gas effective 8-1-2017. The  YES  Councilwoman Greene Councilman Martin Councilman Walker Councilwoman Moss Councilman Hardaway  YES YES YES YES YES  With the roll call being unanimous, motion carried.  This will be a distribution oft fuel-extraction of fuel from ground ini the gas field. This is from distributors not gas stations and we have not received any tax money from this. The City of Butler, ALI has at field similar to ours. They received $750,000.00. We lost all revenue from the oil field and this is our way to capture this money. Attorney Mims explained that some oft the money would go in General Fund and some in a different account designated for acquisition of property, parks, street lights, etc. There is a 3-cent tax within the City limits and 1% cent taxi in the police jurisdiction. Councilman Walker seconded., alli favored, none opposed, motion  carried.  We will post this ini three places and publish ini the Call News.  Councilwoman Greene moved to suspension of rules for immediate consideration of Ordinance #17-001. Councilwoman Moss seconded. Mayor Criswell moved to question-called for vote on  passage of Ordinance #17-001. Mayor Criswell Councilwoman Greene Councilman Martin Councilman Walker Councilwoman Moss Councilman Hardaway  YES YES YES YES YES YES  With the roll call being unanimous, the passage of Ordinance #17-001 was approved. Councilwoman Moss stated that she is working on a grant with SARPC for a van for the seniors. She read the Ordinance for the Grant Section 5310 and made a motion for the council's approval for this grant. Councilwoman Moss read the Resolution ini its entirety for Section 5310 oft the Federal Transit Act Amendments of 1996. the Councilman Walker seconded, all favored,  none opposed, motion carried. PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE  In Rev. Chambers absence, Councilwoman Greene, secretary, gave a report. The Planning and Zoning Board will meet Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at the Creola SAIL Center. There will be a public workshop at 5PM and all are welcome. We don'thave any applications but will meet anyway at 6pm to look at the final comprehensive plan. There were no changes and Nicole from SARPC will bring the new plan. This will be presented to the Council in. June. This will be the last  3    meeting at the SAIL Center. Beginning June, 2017, the meetings will move back to Creola City  Hall. None  ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS PARKS AND RECREATION  Councilwoman Moss stated that she had a price of $596. + S/H to purchase chains for the swings at the park and Councilwoman Greene had a price of a little over $500. With No S/H. We have a total of 8 swings. Councilwoman Greene's quote is from Play Set Parts. She will get with Bobby Smith next week to make sure she is ordering what they need. School is almost out and we need these swings up and working by the time school is out. Councilwoman Moss made a motion to purchase from Play Set Parts, Councilman Walker seconded, all favored, none opposed, motion carried. Mayor Criswell mentioned about seeing on the news that a father returned home and found his daughter with one of those swing chains, that was improperly done, around her neck and we certainly don'tv want something like this to happen.  UTILITIES AND SENIOR CITIZENS  Councilwoman Moss stated, Everything is fine with the Seniors".  Councilwoman Moss reported that Dana's car that she delivers the senior meals in, is in dire need oft two front tires. They are bald. Chief Kirkland is getting prices for the tires. Councilwoman Greene made a motion to purchase two tires for Dana'scar, Councilwoman  Moss seconded. all favored, none opposed, motion carried.  FINANCE  Councilwoman Greene gave the financial report, giving a copy tot the Council. Also copies available to citizens attending the meeting wishing to have one. All revenues for January, February, March and April are listed. Will bring May revenues next month. Also, a Find Report  for April and May were available. Fire Department General Fund Police Department SAIL Center 7-cent Gas Tax Acct. 4-cent Gas Tax Acct. Money Market Total:  $  317.26 114,454.27 7,910.77 1,608.15 10,419.92 8,696.27 16,392.32 $ 159,798.96  $  Councilwoman Greene made a motion to accept the financial report. Seconded by Councilman  Walker, all favored, none opposed, motion carried.  4    POLICE AND FIRE  Councilman Hadaway made a motion to purchase 21 tires, mount & balance, for the ladder truck for the Fire Dept. from GCR Tire Co. which is on the State Bid List for $1,016.20. Councilwoman  Greene seconded. The Mayor asked for a Roll call for vote:  Mayor Criswell Councilwoman Greene Councilman Martin Councilman Walker Councilwoman Moss Councilman Hardaway  YES YES YES YES YES YES  With the roll call being unanimous, the purchase of two tires for the ladder truck was approved. Chief] Kirkland and Councilman Martin are: reviewing applications forj police officers (F/T and P/T) and Jailer/Dispatcher (fT and P/T), as well. Councilman Martin commended Chief Kirkland on a great jobl hei is doing. He is fine tuning the police department. He is not sitting behind the desk, he is out working on police cars and working the street. Chief Kirkland introduced the new Team Leader for the Reserve Program. Hel has appointed Rev. John White. ChiefKirkland stated "Bro White will be a great asset with no cost to the Councilman Martin reported that he is pleased with the removal of shrubs around City Hall and Police Bldg. This was. long overdue. The shrubs were home for wasp nests. Councilman Walker brought his backhoe and with Bobby, Wayne and Trustees help, everything is looking good. Melissa Bailey with North Mobile Garden Club will help with re-planting. We will be seeking volunteers to help spruce things up. Melissa will bring it up at their next meeting. Mayor Criswell stated that Animal Control picked up 31 dogs and not one citizen came: forward to ask, "What did you do with my dog?" Some were adopted out and some were in bad health. Councilman Martin and Councilman Walker helped Animal Control. We have a leash law in the  City."  City and we: need to make sure every dog has a vaccination tag on.  STREETS  Councilman Walker stated that we. had al lot of limbs down on the streets after the storm we. had Sunday night. Mayor Criswell commented that we. had six trees on the streets., Dead Lake Rd., Radcliff] Rd., Ellison Ave., Marina Rd., Old Hwy 43 and belind City Hall. The PD guys were out and the Fire Dept. guys, as well. We had one power line down. Everyone pitched in and helped cut the trees out oft the right-of-way. Officer Turberville and Officer Byrd helped along with. Jeff Reeves and his crew with ChiefKirkland and his crew. The guys work from 10pm -lam and all streets were re-opened by 1 am. Mayor Criswell stated that this brings to mind that we: need a Hurricane Preparedness Program inj place to clean streets, protect the people, give medical attention and Senior Citizens to get help ift they need it. ChiefKirkland, Fire ChiefReeves, Councilman Martin, Councilman Hadaway, Councilman Walker along with Bobby and Wayne and Rev. John White w/ the Creola/Axis Ministerial Assn. Bro. John's church has capabilities for housing after the storm, for folks needing showers, food, etc. With this team, we will havea Wel have hired Wayne Miller as aj part-time employee to help Bobby Smith. Wayne will work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week. Wayne is ai really good worker, can run anything  Hurricane Preparedness Program in place by June 15th.  5    and we appreciate him. One man cannot do what Bobby does, and with the help of Wayne and the trustee, we. have accomplished a lot. They power-washed the buildings, as well. Chief Kirkland stated that he had appointed a team leader fort the Reserve Team. He introduced Rev. John White and said he will be a big help to our City at no charge.  COMMUNITY GROUP None ADDITIONAL NOTES  Councilwoman Moss commented that this week is Municipal Clerks' Week" and that The Mayor and Council honored the City Hall Staff with lunch on Wednesday. She read a "Thank You Note from the City Hall Staff. Councilwoman Moss stated that the Mayor and Council paid  for the lunches. It did not come out of City funds.  MAYOR'S. DISCUSSION  Mayor Criswell stated that Ms. Cain has been schooling herself. All ofus have been filling out the Ethics reports for the State of Alabama, including Ms. Cain. Ifyoul look at the end ofthe counter, there are two certificates on the wall (1) She completed the Ethics Law" Training on line and received a certificate for it. (2) Ms. Cain attended a computer workshop, completed the work with the Mobile County Personnel Board. She received a certificate from MCPB. Our employees are continuing with in-house training and the Mobile County Personnel Board, as Mayor Criswell commented that the Call News did a good: report on our Meeting with the. Axis residents last month. Councilwoman Greene stated that we: made the front page. Mayor Criswell stated that wel have residents of Axis calling wanting to be aj part of Creola. Councilman Walker and Councilwoman Moss went to 180 houses knocking on doors before the meeting at. Axis. Mayor Criswell said we are providing Police and Fire now but we: need the ad valorem tax from them. Mayor Criswell also commented that this is a 9 month - 1 year type program. We want to do what they want. Mr. & Mrs. Reeves, on Wilson Blvd. signed last week  well.  Councilwoman Moss and Ms. Annette Walker went to get their signatures.  ADJOURNMENT MOTION BY: Councilman Martin SECONDFD BY: Councilman Walker Meeting adjourned @ 6:35p.m. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn Sue Cain interim City Clerk c.m. 5.11.2017  6