City Hall Fayette, Alabama April28,2020  AI regular meeting oft the City Council oft the City of Fayette met at 5:00 o'clock, p.m. on April 28, Upon roll call the following were found to be present: Mayor Ray Nelson, Councilmembers Linda McCraw, Eddy Campbell, Jason Cowart, Cedric Wilson and Jerry Nichols. Also present were City  2020, int the Council Chambers oft the City) Hall.  Attorney Dale Lawrence, City Clerk Dawn Clapp and) Police Chief Danny Jenkins.  The opening prayer was given by Mr. Rick McCabe.  Mayor Ray Nelson announced a quorum was present and the meeting was open for the Councilmember Wilson moved the minutes oft the regular meeting and due process hearing held on April 14, 2020, be approved. Upon the motion being seconded by Councilmember Nichols, it was  transaction of business.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES  unanimously approved.  REPORT FROMI FCHS PRINCIPAL  Dr.. Jeremy Madden, principal of Fayette County High School, reported to the Council that FCHS ranked 231d out of3761 high schools in Alabama as determined by the U.S. News and World Report. Dr. Madden thanked the Council for their support. He stated FCHS was one oft the top 2,0001 high schools in  America. He said FCHSI has as 93% graduation rate.  COVID-I9UPDATE  Mayor Nelson addressed the Council concerning the Covid-19 virus pandemic. He stated there are now 1,000,000 cases in the United States and as of today, there have been 57,000 deaths. He reported Mayor Nelson stated there will be a Covid-19 testing clinic on Tuesday, May 5th at the Fayette County Health Department from 10:00 a.m. until noon. To be tested, individuals must be 10 years old or older and meet these criteria: The patient is symptomatic with atar minimum (measured or subjective):  Fayette County has five confirmed cases and no deaths.  Fever OR cough OR shortness of breath, AND Immunocompromised orl have co-morbidities, or Associated with long-term healthcare facility, or Symptoms are moderate, severe or worsening  Age 65 years or older, or Healthcare worker, or  EVENT PERMIT  Mayor Nelson presented to the Council a request for a permit for a Community Vacation Bible School at the Community Center on May 30, 2020. Councilmember McCraw moved the permit be granted provided the event was allowed by the governmental orders inj place at the time and also provided the event complied with all public health requirements. Upon the motion being seconded by  Councilmember Nichols, the same was unanimously approved.  EVENT PERMIT  Mayor Nelson presented to the Council a request fora a permit for Tunes on Temple to be held on the Courthouse lawn on. June 5, 2020, July 10, 2020, and August 7, 2020. Councilmember Nichols moved the permit be granted provided the event was allowed by the governmental orders inj place at the time and also provided the event complied with all public health requirements. Upon the motion being seconded by  Councilmember Cowart, the same was unanimously approved.  EVENT PERMIT  Mayor Nelson presented to the Council a request for a permit for the Frog Level Festival to be held on October 2-3, 2020, in the downtown area. Councilmember Nichols moved the permit be granted provided the event was allowed by the governmental orders inj place at the time and also provided the    event complied with all public health requirements. Upon the motion being seconded by Councilmember  Cowart, thes same was unanimously approved.  AIRPORTGRANT  Ms. Natalie Hobbs of Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, the City's airport consultant, reported there were grant funds available for the design oft the rehabilitation of the apron att the airport. The design report would give options for its rehabilitation or reconstruction. The grant for the design phase is $20,000.00 Mr. Kipl Madison, the airport manager, said he hoped the City could just repair or rehabilitate the apron (the area where the planes are parked) without having to change its configuration or location. Mr. Steve Fowler spoke to the Council about his concerns for the airport. He felt repairing or rehabilitating the apron for $2 million with hopes ofi increasing the airport traffic does notj justify the cost. He stated if people are not turning away from the airport because of the apron then there will be no increase oftraffic ift the apron is repaired. He suggested the money be used for the construction of more hangars. Mr.) Fowler said his casual observation was the apron paving project could wait. Mr. Madison said int the Airport Improvement Plan, there is space allotted for new hangars. The FAA funds can be used for the construction of hangars. Mr. Madison said he was of the opinion the Ms. Hobbs said if the hangars are built, then the City would not be able to access the FAA discretionary funds for repairing the apron for three years. She said ift the City uses the FAA funds for revenue producing projects (fueling system, hangars, etc.) then the City cannot access discretionary funding for three years. She said some cities when considering revenue producing projects at their airport would obtain a grant from ALDOT instead oft the FAA. This way a city could still seek discretionary funds from the FAA. A grant through ALDOT, would require the City to provide matching funds of5 50%  and there would bei nor match required from the City.  aproni isi inj poor shape.  with the State paying the other half.  The Council did not take any action.  FUELPRICES  Councilmember, Jason Cowart spoke concerning the fuel prices in Fayette. He said one of the questions he is asked the most is why fuel prices are higher inl Fayette than anywhere else. He said most oft the local gas stations are now at $1.75. He said he was in Gordo and gasoline was $1.35 per gallon. He reported the average price per gallon in Alabama is $1.57. He stated it was $1.49 in Belk. Councilmember Cowart said the City does not regulate the gasoline companies or those who sell it. He Councilmember Jerry Nichols said this has been a long standing problem. He said he has been asked many times why the price of gasoline is higher in Fayette than surrounding areas. He would just Mr. Rickl Mayers of! Mid-States Petroleum spoke to the Council. His company isac distributor and does not operate the gas stations. His company leases gas stations across the State. He explained to the Council why the prices are set the way they are. He stated in 2007, he began supplying gas toa station in Fayette. Hes stated 6 of the 12 gas stations since 20001 have closed down. Mr. Mayers said gas ist typically higher in small towns because the cost to build the station is the same as iti is in a much larger city. The difference is the small town stations have less volume. He stated his company sells branded gasoline (Chevron, Texaco, Shell, etc.) which is more expensive than unbranded gasoline (Murphy). He said There are no distributors located in Fayette. There are three distributors that bring gas into Fayette Mid-States, A & M from Tuscaloosa and Murphy. Mr. Mayers said there were currently some Mayor Nelson asked Mr. Mayers why gas in Berry was cheaper than Fayette. Mr. Mayers said typically the unbranded: sellers drivet the price because the branded sellers set their prices a couple of cents higher than unbranded. He said the unbranded sellers are already ablet to get their gasoline at a lower rate.  was just asking for some relieff for the citizens.  like tol know why the prices in Fayette are set ast they are.  Murphy's wholesale price is typically 126 less than thel branded.  good margins but 50% less volume.  He said typically the branded stations dor not drop below the unbranded stations.    POLICEDEPARIMENTPAYSCALE  Mayor Nelson spoke to the Council concerning the Police Department Pay Scale. He stated the pay scale was adopted in 2016 and was a ten step pay scale over a five year period. Under the scale, each  police officer receives a 1.5% raise inj pay every six months, ifa approved by the Chief.  AIR EVACCONTRACT  Mayor Nelson presented the Air Evac municipal site membership contract to the Council for their consideration. The municipal site membership covers any individual who resides within the City and employees oft the City. The cost of the municipal site membership is $18,970.00. Councilmember Nichols moved the Council renew the City' municipal site membership contract with Air Evac. Upon the motion  beings seconded by Councilmember Wilson, the same was unanimously approved.  SPEED BUMPS  Mayor Nelson stated the cost oft the speed bumps requested for 9th Street NW and 2nd Avenue NW is $700.00. After a general discussion, Councilmember Nichols moved that speed bumps be placed on gth Street NW and 2nd Avenue NW. Upon the motion being seconded by Councilmember Wilson, the same  was unanimously approved.  PROJECTUPDATE  Mr. Luke Porter updated the Council ont the City's projects. The update was as follows:  1. 25h Street and gth Avenue repaving project: 3. Paving of MLK Drive and 10th Street  Waiting on pavement markers tol be put down Working on punch list items  2. Industrial Park Pumping Station and Sewerl Line Repair Project  This project shoulds start next week and paving should begin. June 1*. APPROVALOFI FMANCALSTATEMENT  Councilmember Cowart moved the City's financial statement be approved. Upon the motion Councilmember Cowart moved the Park & Recreation financial statement be approved. Upon the Councilmember Nichols moved the Municipal Court financial statement be approved. Upon the City Clerk Dawn Clapp stated the City had received $250,000.00 from the State for the paving There being no further business to come before the Council, upon the motion to adjourn being made by Councilmember Wilson and seconded by Councilmember Nichols, it was unanimously approved.  being seconded by Councilmember McCraw, the same was unanimously approved.  APPROVALOFI PARK & RECREATION EINANCIALSTATEMENT APPROVALOF MUNICIPALCOURTI FINANCIALSTATEMENT  motion being seconded by Councilmember Wilson, the same was unanimously approved.  motion being seconded by Councilmember Campbell, the same was unanimously approved.  REPORTOF CITYCLERK  project for Martin Luther King Drive and 10th Street.  ADJOURNMENT  Mayor  Attest:  City Clerk