- Meeting called to order – President Simmons
- Invocation
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Roll Call – Bob Leyde
- Approval of Agenda
- Message from Mayor
- Reports of Department Heads
- Reports of Standing Committees
- Public Hearings: none
- Business from floor pertaining to items on the consent and regular agenda (5-minute time limit).
- Consent Agenda:
All matters listed within the Consent Agenda have been distributed to each member of the Florence City Council for reading and study, are considered to be routine, and will be enacted by one motion of the Council with no separate discussion. If separate discussion is desired, that item may be removed from the Consent Agenda and placed on the Regular Agenda by request. Please call 256-760-6400 for questions on Consent Agenda items prior to the Council meeting.
(a) Approval of minutes of the June 3, 2025, meeting.
(b) Confirm payment of bills by the City Treasurer.
(c) Resolution to authorize Robert M. Leyde, the City Clerk/Treasurer, to provide a list of qualified voters, for the upcoming municipal elections to be held on August 26, 2025, sponsored by City Council.
(d) Resolution to approve Contract Proposal for the City of Florence from Swatek, Vaughn & Bryan to provide lobbying services and strategic consulting services for the City of Florence, sponsored by Mayor Betterton.
(e) Resolution to approve authorization for the City of Florence to apply for grant funds from Northwest RC&D, in the amount of $8,400.00, to expand the self-watering hanging basket project, sponsored by David Koonce.
(f) Resolution to approve authorization to apply for grant funds in an amount up to $5,000.00, through the Keep America Beautiful Affiliation for Keep Florence Beautiful, to be used for the 2025 Greatest American Cleanup program, sponsored by David Koonce.
(g) Resolution to approve a contract with Mitchell Prestage d/b/a J & M Fence Service, to provide labor, equipment, materials, and incidentals necessary to install 275 feet of chain link fence and gate at Broadway Recreation Center and repair a damaged gate at Handy Recreation Center, in an amount not to exceed $4,600, to be paid from budgeted funds, account #260-44410, sponsored by Bill Jordan.
(h) Resolution to approve a contract with Renegade Fencing, Inc., to provide labor, equipment, materials and incidentals necessary to install an 8’ galvanized with barbwire security fence and gate, at the Center Star Substation for the Florence Utilities Electricity Department, in an amount not to exceed $21,500.00, to be paid from FY25/26 budgeted funds, account # 390.00-Structures & Improvements, sponsored by Mary McDuffa.
(i) Resolution to approve payment of Invoice #124683T, dated June 3, 2025, from Oil Equipment Company, for making emergency repairs to the fueling system located at 1251 Terrace Street, in the amount of $487.00, to be expensed to account #260-43120, sponsored by David Koonce.
(j) Resolution to approve an agreement with Engineers of the South, LLC., to provide professional engineering services for the Florence Utilities Gas and Water/Wastewater Departments on an as-needed basis, sponsored by Tad Cole.
(k) Resolution to approve a contract with PLW, I, LLC., d/b/a Shoals Overhead Door, to provide labor, equipment, materials, and incidentals necessary to install a commercial slide gate operator, solar kit and wireless keypad, at the Coffee-O’Neal Sportsplex, in an amount not to exceed $7,967.28, to be paid from budgeted funds, account #1147-44410, sponsored by Bill Jordan.
(l) Resolution to approve payment of Invoice #595537, dated May 14, 2025, from Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation, Inc., for the inspection and repair on a grinder located at the Sports Complex in the amount of $360.00, to be paid from budgeted funds, account #260-44725, sponsored by Bill Jordan.
(m) Resolution to approve an agreement between the City of Florence and Magnolia River Services, Inc., to provide professional services for the creation and implementation of PhotoPoint/FlowGIS mobile application for the City of Florence Gas Department, in the amount of $2,000.00, sponsored by Tad Cole.
(n) Resolution to approve payment of invoices, Numbers 27535, dated May 2, 2025, and 27838, dated June 4, 2025, from Williams Fire Apparatus, for emergency repairs to Tower 1 and Fire Engine 1, for a total amount of $3,311.97, to be expensed to account #261-42200, sponsored by Tim Anerton.
(o) Resolution to approve a contract with Blinds, Shades & Shutters North Alabama, LLC, to provide labor, equipment, materials, and incidentals necessary to provide and install faux wood blinds in the Broadway Recreation Center, for the Florence Parks and Recreation Department, in an amount not to exceed $2,979.99, to be paid from budgeted funds, account #947-44410, sponsored by Bill Jordan.
(p) Resolution to approve a contract with Professional 2-Way Radio, Inc., to provide labor, equipment, materials, and incidentals necessary to install four (4) 360 Degree PTZ Cameras and Wireless Connectivity, at the City Hall and along Court Street for the City of Florence, in an amount not to exceed $11,900.00, to be paid from budgeted funds and expensed to account #110-1147-48100, sponsored by Jeff Whitten.
(q) Resolution to approve the appointment of Tony Latham to the Zoning Commission, sponsored by the City Council.
(r) Resolution to advance and reimburse travel expenses to City employees, sponsored by Mayor Betterton.
12. Regular Agenda:
(a) Ordinance to comply with Act 2025-280 of the Alabama Legislature regarding municipal sales and use tax exemptions during the Alabama Sales Tax Holiday and the Alabama Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, sponsored by Musgrove.
(b) Resolution to approve an agreement between the City of Florence and Lambert Ezell Durham Architecture, LLC., to provide design services for the new City Hall/Municipal Building, sponsored by Bill Musgrove. This item did not receive a unanimous vote for immediate consideration at the 5/20/26 council meeting. All that is needed at this time is a vote for adoption.
(c) Resolution to approve a contract with Bubba’s Marine Construction, LLC., to provide labor, equipment, materials and incidentals necessary for the construction of McFarland Point Pier Project for the Florence Parks and Recreation Department in the amount of $2,962,605.00, to be paid from budgeted funds, account #196-929-44725, sponsored by Mayor Betterton and Councilman Oliver.
(d) Resolution to approve the application for an Alcohol Beverage License by COX CREEK FOOD MART, INC. doing business as WAVAHO located at 825 Cox Creek Parkway, Florence, AL for the establishment of Automobile Self-Service Station & Convenience Foods, 070-Retail Table Wine (off-Premises Only), 050-Retail Beer (Off-Premises Only), sponsored by Bob Leyde.
(e) Resolution to approve the application for an Alcohol Beverage License by STAR CONVENIENCE, INC., doing business as MAPO 930, located at 4401 Chisholm Road, Florence, AL for the establishment of Automobile Self-Service Station & Convenience Foods, 070-Retail Table Wine (Off-Premises Only), 050-Retail Beer (Off-Premises Only), sponsored by Bob Leyde.
13. General Business:
(a) Resolution to approve the Electricity Department FY 2026 Budget reflecting projected revenues of $143,653,500.00, and projected expenditures of $141,179,000.00, for fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, sponsored by Mayor Betterton, Mark Lovejoy, and Mary McDuffa.
(b) Resolution to approve the Gas and Water Departments FY 2026 Budgets with the Gas Department Budget reflecting projected revenues of $19,528,000.00, and projected expenses of $19,121,100.00, and the Water/Wastewater Department Budget reflecting projected revenues of $23,931,000.00 and projected expenses of $23,238,300.00, for fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, sponsored by Mayor Betterton, Mark Lovejoy, and Tad Cole.
(c) Upcoming Board Expirations:
- Scope 310
- Ben Maharrey, appointed 09/03/24, expires 07/21/25
- MaLeah Chaney, appointed 12/19/17, expires 07/21/25
14. Business from the public (5-minute time limit).
15. Council Members reports and/or comments (5-minute time limit).
- Council member Hendrix – District 2
Council member Griffin – District 3 - Council member Eubanks – District 4
- Council member Edwards – District 5
- Council member Oliver – District 6
- President Simmons – District 1
Mayor Andy Betterton
16. Motion to adjourn
