[WATCH] Sylacauga City Council votes on compensatory time payout for city employees

SYLACAUGA, Ala. – At the Sylacauga City Council meeting, the council voted 3-2 in favor of approving Resolution No. 128-2024, which will payout all accruals of compensatory time for city workers at the rate it was earned by Sept. 30, 2024 as well as to no longer authorize future compensatory time-off.

City Council President Tiffany Nix along with Council members Lee Perryman and Nate Brewer voted for the change, while Laura Barlow Heath and Ashton Fowler voted against the new comp time payout method.

Interviews began at 4:00 p.m. in the Faye Hosey Chambers for the Library Board (three applicants) and the Sylacauga Police Chief (two applicants).

In other New Business, the city council authorized and approved Ordinance No. 2275-24, to rescind Ordinance No. 1594-81, which originally introduced fluoride into the City of Sylacauga’s water system.

A litany of Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budget resolutions were passed which did the following:

-Adopted the FY25 General Fund Operating Budget, totaling $23,976,936.95. (Overall total $24,915,936.95; excluding Sylacauga Little League $20,000.00 and Sylacauga Board of Education $919,000.00).
-Authorized Mayor Jim Heigl by to sign the FY25 Sylacauga Board of Education Funding Agreement and Services, totaling $919,000.00.
-Authorized the Mayor to sign the FY25 Sylacauga Airport Authority Funding Agreement, totaling $70,900.00. ($38,850.00 appropriation; $32,050.00 reimbursable).
-Authorized the Mayor to sign the FY25 South Talladega County ARC Funding and Services Agreement, totaling $37,500.00.
-Authorized the Mayor to sign the FY25 Sylacauga Beautification Funding Agreement, totaling $7,500.00. (To be reimbursed.)
-Authorized the Mayor to sign the FY25 Commercial Development Authority Funding and Services Agreement, totaling $65,000.00. ($30,000.00 appropriation; $35,000.00 part-time Director).
-Authorized the Mayor to sign the FY25 Chamber of Commerce Funding and Services Agreement, totaling $52,000.00.
-Authorized the Mayor to sign the FY25 Feral Dogs of Avondale Funding Agreement, totaling $6,000.00.
-Authorized the Mayor to sign the FY25 Industrial Development Board Funding Agreement and Services, totaling $56,875.00.
-Authorized the Mayor to sign the FY25 Drug Task Force Funding Agreement, totaling $82,940.00.
-Adopted the FY25 Special Funds Budget. (Bond and Interest Reserve Fund $2,065,610.94; City Hall Building Maintenance $115,431.44; Capital Improvement Reserve Fund $1,587,110.32.)
-Authorized the Mayor to sign the FY25 Isabel Anderson Comer Museum and Arts Center Funding and Services Agreement, totaling $70,000.00. ($50,000.00, salary subsidy for 3 employees; $10,000.00 reimbursable for utilities, generator and $10,000.00 appropriation.)
-Authorized the Mayor to sign the FY25 Coosa Valley Rescue Squad Funding Agreement and Services, totaling $43,000.00. ($3,000.00 gas, utilities, generators; $40,000.00 reimbursable).
-Authorized the Mayor to sign the FY25 Historical Commission Funding Agreement, totaling $3,750.00.
-Authorized the Mayor by to sign the FY25 Memorandum of Agreement with Talladega Health Department, totaling $18,000.00. (Funds outlined in FY25 General Fund Operating Budget approved September 17th, 2023, 010-585-46012-000).
-Authorized the Mayor to sign the FY25 Talladega Clay Randolph and Coosa Child Care Corporation Funding Agreement in the amount of $3,000.00.
-Authorized the funding for the FY25 Talladega County – Juvenile Court Fund, totaling of $45,714.00.

Moving on from primarily FY25 budget matters, the council rescinded Resolution No. 20-2023, de-authorizing the use of a facsimile signature for Mayor Heigl on financial transactions of the City of Sylacauga.

As well, the council approved Michael Rice, Engineering, Environmental and Forestry Services Company, P.C, to apply for the Highway Safety Improvement Project (HSIP) Grant through Alabama Department of Transportation for Old Birmingham Hwy and James Payton Blvd. (Estimated total cost is $649,636.00; 10 percent city match totaling $64,964.00.)

Approval was granted for a 050 – Retail Beer (Off Premises Only) License application from Kelly M Dilts, CFO, Zachary John Brining, CEO; and Emily Christine Taylor, LLC Manager of Dollar General Store 2332, located at 1 N Broadway Ave.

Additionally, approval was given for a 020 – Restaurant Retail Liquor License application from Shufen Xie, Owner of Krazy Crabs Juicy Seafood, located at 1371 W Fort Williams St.

Jessica Marie Hall was hired for the position of Magistrate at a rate of MCA-1 step-2, ($18.61), effective Sept. 9, 2024.

John Wesson and Scott Roberson were reappointed to the Parks and Recreation Board to five-year terms expiring October 2029.

The city council ratified and approved City Hall – Code for engineering consultation services, totaling $500.00.

They approved the use of contingency funds for the Isabel Comer Museum reroof and waterproofing (Project #23-119), for Lathan and Assoc. additional engineering fee of $2,200 for special site visit and report on work not in original scope of work.

Special Event licenses were approved for the following:

-Sylacauga City Schools to host Special Event: Sylacauga High School Homecoming Community Pep Rally at Legion Stadium on Sept. 26, 2024.
-King’s Stables, Kelly Payton to host Special Event: Horses and Hounds of Halloween Parade on Oct. 19, 2024.
-Lisa Kiser to host Special Event: Sylacauga Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11, 2024.

The council approved the revised education policy.

An agreement was permitted to be entered into by the Mayor for services with Locality Media, Inc. dba First Due a Delaware Corporation for the Fire Department to purchase a new reporting software totaling $9,900.00 in FY24. (One-time fee: $1,500.00, subscription fee $8,400.00. Initial term is 12 months: contract will come back to the City Council prior to automatic renewal date commencing on the effective date Sept. 17, 2024.)

The Police Department was granted permission to replace a Honeywell DR120 Dehumidifier for the storage room from Culver Heating and Air, totaling $4,000.00.

Melody Salter was approved to be hired as a consultant to advise and assist with administrative and financial related items as necessary, effective Oct. 1, 2024 at a rate of $50.00 per hour for up to 90 days. (Funding from unused salaries.)

The council approved Fiscal Year 2024 Accounts Payable invoices totaling $297,363.44.