MINUTES OF THE CITY OF HULL MAYOR AND COUNCIL

February 22, 2024

The meeting was called to order by Mayor John Barber at 7:00 p.m. at Hull Fire Department. Those in attendance in addition to the Mayor were the Clerk, and council members Shawn Bozeman, Cindy Bozeman, and Mike McElroy. Council member Kathy Connell was in the hospital and unable to attend the meeting. Also present were Allison Smith with the Madison County Journal and Tim Wyatt, Mayor of the City of Colbert.

A moment of silent prayer followed the pledge of allegiance.

The minutes of the January meeting were unanimously approved after a motion by Mike McElroy and a second by Cindy Bozeman.

The financial reports were approved unanimously after a motion by Mike McElroy and a second by Shawn Bozeman.

Under old business Mayor Barber reported that AAA still had only 21 people sign up for garbage pick-up. There had been two ads run in the Madison County Journal and the City had received several inquiries but after some discussion a motion was made by Cindy Bozeman, seconded by Mike McElroy and unanimously approved that flyers be distributed house to house advising residents of the requirement that they are now required to contract with AAA exclusively for garbage pick-up. The Clerk will draft a flyer and send to Mayor Barber for review.

The Clerk reported that all the paperwork had been submitted to the Department of Revenue with respect to the City's receipt of LOST funds and we just waiting now to see when distribution would begin but hopefully the funds would start coming in in March.

Mayor Barber advised that he had received a letter from the store owner requesting the City remove the mural from the side of the building at the Chevron; that the land owner had given permission; and that the paint had been donated by Madison County Ace Hardware. There was some discussion as to whether or not the City should wait to move forward until a new City Attorney was in place and could advise the City before moving forward. Mike McElroy made a motion that we table this until the March meeting to give the new City Attorney an opportunity to advise council. The motion was seconded by Cindy Bozeman. Council members Cindy Bozeman and Mike McElroy voted in favor of the motion and council member Shawn Bozeman voted against the motion. The matter will be on the March Agenda.

Mayor Barber updated council on the progress on the improvements to City Hall. In that regard Mayor Barber advised that when the Kitchen area was being painted they found some repair work that needed to be done and needed approval for an additional $300.00 for the repairs. Motion was made by Mike McElroy and seconded by Cindy Bozeman and unanimously approved to authorize the additional work.

The Clerk advised that she had received an itemized invoice from the Peachtree Wesley Group, Mr. Keith Terrell, for work done in 2022 prior to November in connection with the loan application for the new City Hall. The council voted unanimously authorizing the Clerk to pay this invoice after a motion by Mike McElroy and a second by Cindy Bozeman. The Clerk further advised that she had spoken with Mr. Terrell about his firm preparing the audits for 2022 and 2023 and he had agreed to do same for approximately $8,600.00 total for both years. Motion was made by Mike McElroy, seconded by Cindy Bozeman and unanimously approved to proceed with the Wesley Peachtree Group as the auditor for City moving forward.

Mayor Barber gave an update with respect to the web site that Ian had been provided copies of city documents to begin adding to the web site and would continue adding as additional information was provided to him.

Under new business Mayor Barber reported that he had spoken with Chris Roach, Head of Code Enforcement and presented for consideration by council an Intergovernmental Agreement for Administration and Enforcement of State Minimum Codes for Construction Between Madison County and City of Hull and a Solid Waste, Scrap Tire and Trash Ordinance of Madison County. If accepted by the City these items would then be presented to the Board of Commissioners for Approval and Adoption. Motion was made by Cindy Bozeman, seconded by Mike McElroy and unanimously approved to accept both documents pending approval by the Board of Commissioners.

Mayor Barber also presented a Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement that all counties and cities were being asked to consider and adopt. Motion was made by Mike McElroy, seconded by Shawn Bozeman and unanimously approved to enter into this Agreement. The Mayor, and council members, Shawn Bozeman, Cindy Bozeman and Mike McElroy will all be listed as authorized to request aid or render aid on behalf of the City of Hull.

Mayor Barber then advised that he had spoken with Chandler Austin who had provided lawn maintenance for the City last year and he had agreed to continue for another year at the same rate of$1,500.00 per month beginning March I, 2024 and running through November 30, 2024. Motion was made by Mike McElroy, seconded by Shawn Bozeman and unanimously approved to enter into a Lawn Maintenance Agreement with Chandler Austin, Perfect Cut Lawn Maintenance as stated herein. The Clerk will prepare the contract and provide to Mayor Barber for signatures.

Mayor Barber advised council that there would be a final hearing on the comprehensive plan at 6:30 prior to the March meeting, March 28, 2024.

The last item of business under new business is the appointment of a new City attorney. The Clerk had previously provided Mayor and Council with resumes from three attorneys who had expressed interest in the appointment. The Clerk was asked by council if she had personal knowledge of any of the attorneys and she advised that she was familiar with Mr. Love having worked with him for many years through her full-time employment. Mayor Barber was able to provide some information on Mr. Samuels who is the cmTent city attorney for Danielsville and several other cities. After further discussion a motion was made by Mike McElroy, seconded by Cindy Bozeman and unanimously approved to appoint James D. (Danny) Love as the City's new counsel. The Clerk will contact Mr. Love to advise him of same.

There being no further business at this time the meeting was adjourned after a motion by Shawn Bozeman and a second by Mike McElroy.