Randy Garrison

Hartselle Enquirer

During last Tuesday’s council meeting approval of an ordinance giving Mayor Bill Smelser authorization to submit an application for an Alabama Community Block Grant (CDBG) was approved for FY2016. This grant is available from HUD and flows to the state. Hartselle is eligible for a $450,000 grant. The grant must be applied for by July 1 and results will be known by September 1.

The grant will be used to upgrade water and sewer in the Rhodes St. neighborhood. This will also include resurfacing the road after the work is done. The area has to be in a lower income area to be eligible for the grant. Andy St., Edgewood, Brookline and Midway streets are also included in the area to receive the upgrades. The grant will be used to buy materials and Hartselle Utilities will do the installation to provide $321,551 to provide an in-kind match. Terry Acuff, a grant consultant with Community Consultants, shared the information about the grant. The vote was held after the council announced a public hearing.

In other action, the council approved introducing annexation and re-zoning of property on the corner of Main St. West and Warren Rd. The First Pentecostal Church owns the property.

The council approved:

Adoption of current electronic vote counting systems

Approved a resolution for a moratorium on annexation for the 2016 municipal election-this is done to prevent people being denied the right to vote in newly annexed property prior to the election

Approved a resolution for acceptance of the Transportation Alternative Program grant, which will provide $379,150.40, which will be used to rehabilitate and construct sidewalks along Hickory and Railroad Streets in downtown Hartselle. The costs of the project are estimated at $473,938 with the city providing $94,788.

Approved resolution to approve a contract with Ed Sims for 2016 municipal election voting machine assistance

Approved a resolution requesting level funding from the Morgan County Commission in the amount of $9,000 for the library

Approved a resolution requesting level funding from the Morgan County Commission for the airport in the amount of $16,000

Approved a contract with Garver, LLC for engineering and design services for the TAP Grant-this will be paid for with local dollars

Approved vacating a frontage road along Hwy. 31 SW in front of property owned by Ronnie Woodward.

Approved a change order for the Sparkman Park Trail Project to include adding Alternative #1 to the project for $23,000. The alternative was not approved earlier but the contractor has agreed to add the work to the project at a reduced rate

Approved a special event permit for the Morgan County Cattlemen’s Association to hold a steak sandwich sale in the city owned parking lot on West Main St.

Approved budget transfers for Park & Recreation enabling the department to purchase a pool vacuum, freezer for the Aquatic Center and a new air conditioning unit for the Aquatic Center

Approved a budget request for the library to enable them to spend a donation from the Current Review Club for bookcases

Approved items to be declared surplus for the library

In closing remarks, Mayor Smelser thanked the Hartselle police and fire departments for putting their lives on the line in the line of duty.