Work Session City Hall Fayette, Alabama February 18,2021  The City Council oft the City of Fayette held a work session at 5:00 o'clock, p.m. on February 18, Upon roll call the following were found to be present: Mayor Rod Northam, Councilmembers Virettia L. Whiteside, Eddy Campbell," Tommy Williams and. Jerry Nichols. Also present were City Clerk Dawn Clapp, City Attorney Dale Lawrence and Fire Chief Shannon Taylor. Councilmember Aliska  2021, in the Council Chambers oft the City Hall.  Hughes-Monroe was absent for the first part oft the meeting.  Thec opening prayer was given by Councilmember Eddy Campbell.  Mayor Rod Northam announced a quorum was present and the meeting was open for the Mrs. Ronni Rena Brasher, the Fayette County Extension Coordinator, spoke to the Council concerning the Local Foods/Local Places program. She stated the Extension Service provides some support for the local Farmer's Market. She also stated there is a problem with citizens on the south side The Local Foods/Local Places program is aj joint program between the EPA and USDA. This program strives to provide economic opportunities for local farmers and businesses and also access to healthy local food fort those who are disadvantaged and have food insecurity problems. The local Steering Committee is composed of Mrs. Ronni Rena Brasher, Mr. Jeff Crowley, Mr. Danny White, Mr. Ross Salters, Fire Chief Shannon Taylor, Mr. Willie Ivey and Mr. Zach Freeman. Mrs. Brasher reported the Steering Committee had already received an assistance grant with a dollar value of $21,000.00. She said they hoped to complement the Rails to Trails project. The USDA can provide technical support to the local committee on what type of facility was needed and provide help with the design. The Committee asked the Council to consider submitting the request for technical assistance. Mrs. Brasher said the City ist the entity that would need to apply. The request does not commit It was discussed about whether a' "pop-up" farmers market should be planned to see how well it There were questions about how the proposed facility would be managed, whether by the City or Mr. Luke Porter spoke to the Council concerning the Rails to Trials Project. He reviewed with the Council his different estimates. He recommended a 1-% inch layer of asphalt for the trail. He 1. Estimate for Rails to Trails from Martin Luther King Drive to State Highway 171 with lighting 2. Estimate for Rails to Trails from Martin Luther King Drive to State Highway 171 with lighting 3. Estimate for Rails to Trails from Martin Luther King Drive to Temple Avenue with lighting and 4. Estimate for Rails to Trails from Martin Luther King Drive to Temple Avenue with lighting and Estimate for Rails to Trails from Temple Avenue to State Highway 96 with lighting and 10 foot Councilmember Campbell stated he did not see how the trail could be 12 foot wide because the rail bedi is only 10 foot wide. He also expressed concern about how tol bury the wiring for the lights. Mr. Porter felt from Highway 171 tol Martin Luther King Drive, the trail could be 12 foot wide. Mr. Bill McCollum, who retired from a railroad company, said the City needed to be careful when excavating the rail bed. He: stated once iti is disturbed, then erosion cans start occurring.  transaction of business.  IOCALEODXIOALFACES  oft town having access toa a grocery store.  the City to anything.  drew customers tot the area and how many farmers participated.  al board.  RAILSTOTRAILS PROJECT  estimated each light would cost $3,500.00. The estimates are as follows:  and 12 foot trail - $444,846.00 and 101 foott trail - $407,831.60 121 foot trail - $350,837.60 10f foot trail - $330,018.86 trail and no asphalt - $680,128.40    [Councilmember Aliskal Hughes-Monroe came into the meeting att this point.]  Councilmember Campbell recommended only having a 10 foot trail. Councilmember Whiteside agreed. Councilmember Nichols stated he wanted thet trail to go as far as the funds would allow. Mr. Porter suggested paving the trail from State Highway 171 to Martin Luther King Drive and then doing some of the prep work for the trail from Martin Luther King Drive to Highway 96. The Council discussed how emergencies would be handled on the trail particularly between Martin Luther The consensus oft the Council was the project would. go from State Highway 171 tol Martin Luther Mr. Rick McCabe reviewed with the Council the steps for refinancing the City'sbond. He stated the City is paying ani interest rate of3.35% now and the new rate may be around 1.5%. He stated before March 15, 2021, the Council would need to make a decision on which option they would pursue. The The first option would be toj justr refinance the current bond att the lower interest rate which would reduce the amount oft the City's annual bond payment. Under this option, the bond payment would drop approximately $22,000.00 per year resulting inas savings of $370,000.00 over 175 years. The second option would be to refinance the current bond at the lower interest rate but keep the City's bond payment amount the same as the current bond payment. Under this option, the bond payments and maturity date would remain the same as the current bond and the City would receive The third option would be to refinance the current bond at the lower interest rate and extend the bond payments for an additional five years while keeping the new bond payment the same as the current bond payment. Under this option, the bond payment would remain the same as the current bond payment but the maturity date would be extended 5: years and the City would receive $1,000,000.00 at closing. Mr. McCabe stated the quicker the Council decides on which option to pursue, the quicker the interest rate on the bond would be locked in. The Council expressed concern about what the extra $1,000,000.00 would be spent on. Mr. McCabe suggested one use was to leverage it to obtain more grants. Councilmembers Hughes-Monroe and Whiteside both stated that the Council needed to have a  King Drive and Highway 96.  King Drive and would bea 101 foot wide paved trail with lighting.  BONDI REFINANCE  three options are as follows:  $350,000.00 ato closing.  plan concerning where the additional funds were to be spent.  ADJOURNMENT  There being noi further business to come before the Council, upon the motion to adjourn being made by Councilmember Nichols and seconded by Councilmember Whiteside, it was unanimously approved.  Mayor  Attest:  City Clerk