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AGENDA

CITY OF FLORENCE, ALABAMA
109 SOUTH PINE STREET
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
May 20, 2025
5:00 PM

  1. Meeting called to order – President Simmons
  2. Invocation
  3. Pledge of Allegiance
  4. Roll Call – Bob Leyde
  5. Approval of Agenda
  6. Message from Mayor
  7. Reports of Department Heads
  8. Reports of Standing Committees
  9. Public Hearings: none
  10. Business from floor pertaining to items on the consent and regular agenda (5-minute time limit).
  11. 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 May 6, 2025, meeting.

(b) Confirm payment of bills by the City Treasurer.

(c) Resolution to approve a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Florence and Shoals Aquatic Club for the use of the Royal Avenue Recreation pool, sponsored by Bill Jordan.

(d) Resolution to approve a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Florence and YMCA of the Shoals for the use of the City’s facilities to provide free swimming lessons to the public, sponsored by Bill Jordan.

(e) Resolution to approve a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Florence and Knox Radio for the use of Parks and Recreation facilities to put on the 2025 Remembering the Veterans Event on May 25, 2025, sponsored by Bill Jordan.

(f) Resolution to approve a Seasonal Pass for the Florence City Pools for the 2025 pool season which runs from May 24 – July 31, the cost of the seasonal pass will be $120.00 per person, sponsored by Bill Jordan.

(g) Resolution to approve CY2024 Municipal Water Pollution Prevention (MWPP) Annual Report, sponsored by Tad Cole.

(h) Resolution to approve the application to The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) for the State Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program for the PY2025, sponsored by Melissa Bailey.

(i) Resolution to approve Amendment to the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program Sub-Recipient Funding Contract, Agreement No. HESG-23-002, between the City of Florence and Safeplace, Inc., to award an additional $4,424.42 to fiscal year 2023 grand funding, sponsored by Melissa Bailey.

(j) Resolution to approve Amendment to the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program Sub-Recipient Funding Contract Agreement No, HESG-23-002, between the City of Florence and MOM’S, Inc., to award an additional $4,424,41 to fiscal year 2023 grant funding, sponsored by Melissa Bailey.

(k) Resolution to approve a contract between the City of Florence, Alabama and Florence Parks and Recreation Department, in the amount of $41,000.00 to provide improvements at the W. C. Handy Recreation Center to improve student learning and engagement, including the purchase, installation and staff training of the Eye-Click Interactive STEM Technology System, the purchase and installation of new computer equipment, network setup, and software for digital learning in the computer lab, and the purchase and installation of outdoor tables for meals, learning, and recreation, in accordance with the approved Community Development Block Grant Program Year 2025, sponsored by Melissa Bailey.

(l) Resolution to approve payment of Invoice dated May 7, 2025, from Steven Matthews, d/b/a Matthews Tree Service, for emergency removal of four damaged trees at the Florence Cemetery grounds in the amount $5,000.00, sponsored by Frank Townsell.

(m) Resolution to approve a contract with Clay Mize, to provide the professional services for usage of tennis courts to conduct tennis clinics and camps at the City of Florence Parks & Recreation Department tennis courts, in exchange for access to the tennis courts, Mr. Mize will pay the City of Florence the agreed-upon amount of $100.00 per month, sponsored by Bill Jordan.

(n) Resolution to approve a contract with Adam Richardson, to provide training, classes, and certifications on an as-needed basis for the Florence Park and Recreation Department, to be paid from account #256-44410, sponsored by Bill Jordan.

(o) Resolution to approve a contract with SIMCO Construction, Inc., to provide labor, equipment, materials, and incidentals necessary to install metal roof edging and membrane, at the Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum, in an amount not to exceed $19,650.00, to paid from account #1053-44410, sponsored by Bill Jordan.

(p) Resolution to approve payment of Invoice #39418, dated April 25, 2025, from Ringer’s Garage Door Company, Inc., for emergency door repair at the Florence Recycle Center in the amount of $4,020.00, to be expensed to account #266-43125, sponsored by David Koonce.

(q) Resolution to approve a contract with Hoosier Machinery Solutions, Inc., to remove existing cross belt magnet and install new cross belt magnet and eddy current at the Florence Recycling Center, in an amount not to exceed $28,050.00, to be paid from budgeted funds, account #16401-43125 and from funding through the ADEM Recycling Grant #AFR25-05-281, sponsored by David Koonce.

(r) Resolution to approve payment of Invoice #4432, dated May 6, 2025, from Jargis, Inc., for emergency repair of roof pipe boots at the Kennedy Douglas Art Center in the amount of $800.00, to be paid from account #266-43600, sponsored by Brian Murphy.

(s) Resolution to approve a contract with A & J Home Improvements, LLC., to provide labor, equipment, materials, and incidentals necessary to construct a pavilion and fence at the Pop’s Tavern Museum, in an amount not to exceed $16,450.00, to be paid from account #1147-43600, sponsored by Brian Murphy.

(t) Resolution to approve a contract with Southern Cathodic Protection Company, Inc., to provide troubleshooting services and a final engineering report to the City of Florence Gas Department, in the amount of $1,550.00 per day for troubleshooting services, with the estimated scope of work not to exceed ten (10) days, and a final engineering report at a cost of $1,280.00, to be paid from budgeted funds, account #376.30-Corrosion Plant/Distribution Plant, sponsored by Tad Cole.

(u) Resolution to approve an agreement with Quadient, Inc., to provide professional services to assist in the collection of delinquent utility accounts by email for the Florence Utilities Department, with a one-time set up fee of $2,375.00, and cost for email is $.05 per email, to be paid from budgeted funds, account #903.00, sponsored by Sandie Preedom.

(v) Resolution to approve an agreement between the City of Florence and James Marine, Inc., to provide tugboat services for the Spirit of Freedom Celebration fireworks show at McFarland Park on July 4, 2025, sponsored by Mayor Betterton.

(w) Resolution to approve the appointment of Leslie McCrory to the Lauderdale County Regional Library Board, sponsored by the City Council.

(x) Resolution to approve the appointment of Christopher J. Gorbatoff to the Riverbend Mental Health Board of Directors, sponsored by the City Council.

(y) Resolution to approve the appointment of Jacob Hardy to the Tree Commission, sponsored by the City Council.

(z) Resolution to advance and reimburse travel expenses to City employees, sponsored by Mayor Betterton.

12. Regular Agenda

(a) Resolution to approve Alcohol Beverage License by RANCHO MEXICAN GRILL, INC., doing business as RANCHO MEXICAN GRILL, located at 322 North Court Street, Florence, AL, for the operation of a Full Menu Restaurant with On-Premises Liquor, Beer & Wine, 020 – Restaurant Retail Liquor, sponsored by Bob Leyde.

(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.

13. General Business: 

    • Historical Board
      • Michele Gray, appointed 04/20/21, expires 04/20/25
      • Scott Lovelace, appointed 04/20/21, expires 04/20/25
    • Beautification Board
      • Brenda Tease, appointed 10/20/15, Resignation 
    • Zoning Board
      • Morris Cracraft, appointed 08/06/19, expires 05/17/25

14. Business from the public (5-minute time limit).

15. Council Members reports and/or comments (5-minute time limit).

    • Council member Edwards – District 5
    • Council member Oliver – District 6
    • Council member Hendrix – District 2
      Council member Griffin – District 3
    • Council member Eubanks – District 4
    • President Simmons – District 1
      Mayor Andy Betterton

16. Motion to adjourn