Category: City Council meeting

Childersburg prepares for August Municipal Election with three resolutions

Read the accounts of the June 3, 2025 meeting of the Childersburg City Council &/or watch the meeting video below the story:

The Childersburg City Council approved three resolutions necessary for the operation of the August Municipal election. The first, Resolution 2025-08, appoints the City Clerk to handle the 2025 Municipal Election and Absentee Manager.

Resolution 1025-09 approves the various electronic devices to be used in the voting process. Resolution 2025-10 appoints a slate of Election Officials as follows:

Chief Inspector – Candy Mahaffey
Assistant Chief Inspector – Eugene Marbury

Ward A Assistant Clerk – Terry Kaye Cleckler
Ward A Assistant Clerk – Donna Jones

Ward B Assistant Clerk – Anita Mahaffey
Ward B Assistant Clerk – Teresa Martin

Ward C Assistant Clerk – Nina Marbury
Ward C Assistant Clerk – Mildred Whetstone

Ward D Assistant Clerk – Debbie Hamilton
Ward D Assistant Clerk – Tammy Salter

Ward E Assistant Clerk – William (Slim) Milam
Ward E Assistant Clerk – Kaye Hernandez

In other New Business, the Council approved Ordinance 1149, which approves the sale of 60 +/- acres at the Industrial Park to Cooper Steel for $360,000 for an expansion project. It also names Mayor Ken Wesson, as the Chairman of the Local Redevelopment Authority to execute the agreement and associated documents for the transaction.

Approval was given to hire Matthew Griffin as a full-time permanent Transportation Driver at a rate of $10 per hour.

The Council approved moving Council Meetings and Municipal Court to the new Judicial/Police Complex at 34011 US Highway 280 upon completion of the renovation project.

Approval was given for the Street Department to hire Rick Wallace as a part-time temporary CDL Driver and Equipment Operator at a rate of $12 per hour.

The Council approved a Senior Center request to purchase a replacement ice maker from KaTom Restaurant Supply in the amount of $1,697.50.

Payment of invoices was approved in the amount of $65,237.92.

Prior to the meeting, Mayor Ken Wesson reported that ALDOT wants to move ahead with a project to repave State Highway 235 (Coosa Pines Drive & Plat Road), while changing it from a 4-lane highway to two-lanes with a left-turn lane. The Mayor told ALDOT that the Council opposes the change. He also made certain that ALDOT representatives met with all of the industries along the road, with all of them expressing displeasure to the change as disruptive to efficient industrial traffic.

The Mayor asked the public to go to the ALDOT website to make public comments at dot.state.al.us/news/pi_schedule.html. However, the link labeled as “Resurfacing/Road Diet on AL-235” went to a comment section on a different project.

Mayor Wesson also reported calling on Congressman Mike Rogers for his assistance in addressing the issue of addresses in the new College Park development being listed under the Sylacauga Post Office for delivery and Post Office Service.

Also prior to the Council meeting new Childersburg Police Cadets, Kristian Glenn and Christian Blair, were sworn in before heading to the Anniston Northeast Law Enforcement Academy in August.

Mayor Wesson reported that he had met with a representative of the Long-Lewis automotive group in Birmingham about a proposal to create a new used car supercenter along Highway 280 in Childersburg. He told the Council that an undisclosed Childersburg location was one of two locations in the area under consideration.

The next regular meeting of the Childersburg City Council will be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.

Childersburg weathered the weekend storms – Preparation was the key

Read the accounts &/or watch the meeting video below:

Mayor Ken Wesson reported that all City departments were proactive in preparing for this past weekend’s storms, “They inspected their facilities, collecting and storing all items that might be subject to problems from the expected high winds. With over four-inches of rain in a very short period of time, we did experience a few short-term flooding issues, but we were pleased at how quickly the excess rain subsided. We were fortunate that we did not experience what our neighbors in Winterboro dealt with.”

Wesson reported that the City storm shelter housed 35 people during the evening on Saturday, March 15th, while 52 took advantage of the safe zone at the Limbaugh Community Center, “We got the all clear at 11:00 p.m. and allowed our emergency visitors to go home.”

The Childersburg City Council opened their Tuesday, March 18th regular business meeting by revisiting an item from the last meeting, when they approved ABC Beer and Wine Retail licenses for Quik Sak (32522 US Highway 280, Childersburg. This meeting, the Council also approved a Retail Liquor Class C license, added by the ABC Board.

Having completed his certification, Joseph Lide was approved for a classification change to firefighter/paramedic at an hourly pay rate of $16 per hour.

The Council approved a hole sponsorship for the scheduled April 14, 2025 golf tournament for Elks Lodge 2295 for $100, paid from Fund 23.

Payment of invoices was approved in the amount of $844,125.84, including a $400,000+ payment on the construction project for the new Police-Judicial Complex on Highway 280.

Wesson also announced receipt of approval of ADECA grant funds for the Childersburg Police Department in the amount of $23,540.

After the meeting Chief Kevin Koss said that the grant funds will be used in a variety of projects inside the new Police-Judicial Complex, “The funds are to address gun violence, and the terms will allow a wide range of uses that meet the standards. It will be difference-making.”

The next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday April 1st, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.

The Oak Grove Town Council to seek an independent assessment of Gantt’s Junction Road paving work

With conflicting assessments by the companies involved, the Oak Grove Town Council has voted to seek an independent assessment of the Gantts Junction paving project which has shown signs of premature breakdown in spots.

In making the proposal, Councilman David Harris said, “I think we need to get ahead of this, to have an outside expert make an independent assessment of exactly what we’re looking at, what’s behind the road surface breaking down in spots, and what our options might be going forward.”

The Council voted to spend up to $5,000 to make the independent assessment.

In other new business, a draft agreement with Talladega County for responsibilities and duties during the upcoming municipal election was presented for study. A vote on the agreement is expected to be on the April meeting agenda.

Mayor Tony White reported his plans to attend the Alabama League of Municipalities Convention in Huntsville, May 13 – 16. Several Town Council members were not certain of their plans at the moment. A vote was tabled on the Voting Delegate Authorization form selections, along with authorization of expenses for attendance.

Following discussion of a proposal from Rock Solid Operations, LLC for curbside pick-up of debris, the Council voted to authorize Mayor Tony White to confirm the length of the proposed agreement, which would greatly reduce the cost for providing twice per month service on the first and third Mondays of each month.

A proposal from Republic Waste to provide dumpster service for the Town of Oak Grove was tabled while the Town Clerk’s office solicits bids for service from other providers.

Childersburg prepares for the upcoming municipal election

Read the accounts &/or watch the meeting video below:

The Tuesday, March 4th Childersburg City Council meeting opened with passage of Resolution 2025-04, which authorizes the City to enter into a working agreement with Talladega County and its Board of Registrars for the 2025 Municipal Election, authorizing Mayor Ken Wesson to execute the agreement.

The Council approved an ABC license for Quik Sak Grocery, located at 32522 US Highway 280, Suite A in the city. It includes off-premise-only sales for beer and wine.

The new Childersburg Police/Judicial Complex will have a new 60-foot flagpole, installed by Alabama Flag and Banner. The cost, including flags is $18391.50, paid from Fund 65-Direct Support.

The Council also approved purchase and installation of 30 Alibi Cameras, along with a network video system from Advanced Integrated Security at a cost of $27,7999 paid from Fund 25. It will give complete security coverage of the complex interior and exterior, and will include an outdoor “safe zone” for public transactions, child custody swaps, or any other citizen activity that would benefit from the service.

During a safety inspection of the baseball/softball complex, a dangerous loose wire was discovered. Mayor Wesson authorized the emergency repair at a cost of $2,100. That same inspection identified fencing issues needing repair before the start of the upcoming season. The Council approved costs, not to exceed $11,500 from Fund 65-Direct Support.

The Council approved payment of invoices in the amount of $180,879.55.

The next regular meeting of the City Council will be Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 6:00 pm.

The Town of Oak Grove reappoints Sewer Board members

During their February 2025 regular meeting, the Oak Grove Town Council reappointed Rick Morgan and Frank Young to their Sewer Board for terms ending in 2028 and 2030 respectively.

In other new business, The Council voted to indemnify the Town Clerk and Volunteer Fire Chief against legal liability in the course of carrying out their required duties.

The purchase of an Off-Road Tracker for town use was approved at a cost of $16,174 from Sylacauga Marine & ATV.

Repair expenses were approved to install new lighting for a Street Department vehicle to meet legally-required standards. The cost of the work by Dana Safety Supply is $1,559.34.

The Oak Grove VFD reported 59 total calls in January. There were five structure fires, fifteen property fires, thirty-six EMS-only calls, and three non-fire, non-EMS calls. Aid was given to other departments on seven calls, and aid recieved on ten calls.

Six of the calls for service were inside the town limits, with the other 53 calls outside, but still within the departments assigned service area.

The Childersburg Council makes Water Board appointments

Read the accounts of the meeting &/or watch the meeting video below:

The Childersburg City Council opened it second February meeting with a pair of reappointments to the Childersburg Water-Sewer-Gas Board. Billy Atkinson, Jr. will serve through 9/30/2030. Ron Websters term extends to 1/26/2031.

With Mayor serving as the Voting Delegate during the 2025 Alabama League of Municipalites convention in Huntsville, the Council selected Tommy Ivey as 1st Alternate, and Angie Twymn will serve as 2nd Alternate.

The Council approved a pair of grounds mainenance expences. The Street Department will have four (4) new Echo weed eaters from Russell Building Supply at $359.99 through the state bid list, with a fifth going to the Parks and Recreation Department. That total is $1,799.95, paid from Fund 23.

Approval also went for a Parks and Recreation requet for a Kubota Zero Turn Mower from Lincoln Tractor, priced at $11,798.72 on the state bid list, also paid from Fund 23.

The Council approved expense for the emergency replacement of a wooden trellis at the Rainwater Museum. It will be replaced by Yarnell Construction at a cost not to exceed $5,800.

Approval was given to pay invoices in the amount of $623,628.13 with $353,000 representing the latest payment on the construction work at the new Judicial Complex on US Highway 280.

The next regular meeting will be held on March 4, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.