CULLMAN – The Cullman City Council met on Monday evening, where the two biggest items discussed were relieving traffic congestion around the Cullman City Schools area and free legal advice.
Resolution No. 2016-119 was adopted unanimously, and gives Mayor Max A. Townson the authority to negotiate the purchase of a property for a new street to relieve traffic congestion around Cullman City Schools. The exact location of the property was not disclosed, nor were any specifics about where the future street will be placed, but all in attendance were in agreement that the traffic situation around the areas of Cullman High School, Middle School and Primary School is a problem.
“We are thankful to our city leaders for their continued support of our schools and community through the implementation of our strategic plan,” said Cullman City Schools Superintendent Dr. Susan Patterson. “By providing a new access road in the area of Cullman High, Middle, and Primary it will decrease traffic congestion as well as increase the safety for our students in an emergency situation. Having the three schools in such close proximity certainly increases the traffic during student drop-off and pick-up, and during special events. This addition will certainly have a positive impact for our schools and community as a whole.”
In other business, Townson proclaimed the month of October “Pro Bono Month” in the city of Cullman.
The proclamation reads, in part:
“Records show that one in every four of the more than 899,000 Alabamians living in poverty experience legal problems with the majority of these problems being civil problems, consumer issues (creditor harassment, utility non-payment, etc.), bankruptcy issues, health issues (Medicaid, government insurance, nursing home issues, etc.), family law issues (divorce, child support/custody and abuse, etc.), employment issues (unemployment benefits, pension, lost jobs, etc.), and housing issues (unsatisfactory repairs, foreclosure, eviction, poor living conditions, etc.); and, low-income Alabamians lack access to legal assistance for problems that are often critical to their safety and independence, forcing them to resolve complex legal problems on their own.”
According to the proclamation, there are fewer than 60 paid legal aid lawyers to serve the more than 899,000 low-income citizens in the state of Alabama, meaning that a huge unmet need for civil legal assistance remains for disadvantaged Alabamians.
Pro Bono Month 2016 aims to encourage more in the legal profession to donate their services and also educate the public about the work that has already been done in the legal aid system. The month will feature legal aid clinics throughout Alabama that will assist Alabamians who greatly need legal assistance but cannot afford to pay for that help, and will also feature service projects throughout the state of Alabama helping lawyers and law students make volunteer connections with legal aid organizations serving Alabamians.
Townson and City Attorney Roy W. Williams, Jr. announced that there will be a legal aid clinic in Cullman on Oct. 21 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Cullman Civic Center, where residents can come and get free legal counsel on civil matters.
Several requests were considered by the council:
- A request from Principal Greg Hughes of Sacred Heart School to close First Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue NE from Oct. 7-9 for the Oktoberfest Yard Sale was approved.
- A request from Tommie Sanders of Cullman Area Mental Health and Victim Services, Inc. for a special event permit to hold the annual Zombie Crawl in the parking lot across from Moe's BBQ on Oct. 29 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. was approved.
- A request from Emily Gallaway of Woodmen Life for a special event permit at 1626 Second Avenue NW on Oct. 15 from noon-5 p.m. was approved. The event will include inflatables, face painting, vendors and pumpkin decorating.
- A request from Sara McCutcheon of Cullman High School for a special event permit to hold the 2016 Homecoming Dance on Sept. 30 from 8- 11:30 p.m. was approved, provided that no noise complaints are received.
- A request from Nathaniel Hutchinson of the Cullman Moose Lodge for a special event permit to hold the 2016 Moose Lodge Turkey Shoots on Saturdays in October, November and December, plus Thanksgiving Day, was approved.
- A request from Leeanna Smith of Cullman Christian School for a special event permit to hold the school’s 2016 Christmas Festival on Dec. 10 from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. was approved.
- A request from Lori McGrath of Bosom Buddies for a special event permit to hold a 5K run near the fairgrounds on April 1, 2017 from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. was approved.
Additional resolutions were presented, including Resolution No. 2016-116, to award the bid on repainting the water tanks at Edgewood and Woodland to the lowest responsible bidder, Robinson & Sons, Inc., which was adopted.
Two more resolutions were also adopted. Resolution No. 2016-117, to approve CDG Engineers & Associates to provide design and inspection services for the Larkwood Drive NE, which was damaged by the December 2015 floods; and Resolution No. 2016-118, to provide for the continuing expenditure of necessary funds until the adoption of 2016-l 7 budget.
Resolution No. 2016-120, to award the bid for the construction of Fire Station No. 3 to the lowest responsible bidder, Eidson & Associates, subject to value engineering, was tabled.
Williams, in an addition to the agenda, proposed Resolution No. 2016- 121, to seek the attorney general’s opinion on whether the City can exceed the allowed amount on engineering services for City projects. This was adopted.
Lastly, there were numerous board appointments:
Alcohol Review Committee (ARC)
- Appointed: Darren Peeples (Fire Chief Appointee) – 3-Year Term
- Reappointed: Wesley Moore (City Clerk) – 3-Year Term
CATS 55 Board
- Reappointed: Michael Sullins – 2-Year Term
- Appointed: Jason Neal (replacing Steve Sides) – 2-Year Term
Construction Board of Adjustments
- Reappointed: David Speegle – 3-Year Term
- Reappointed: Brad Smith – 3-Year Term
- Reappointed: David Richard (Alternate) – 1-Year Term
- Reappointed: Howard Plott (Alternate) – 1-Year Term
Downtown Design Review Board
- Reappointed: Becky Bonham- 4-Year Term
- Appointed: Scott Schaefer (replacing Mary Ellen Werner) – 4-Year Term
- Appointed: Nathan Allred (replacing Mike Minard) – 4-Year Term
- Appointed: Brian Landreth (replacing Joel Leonard) – 4-Year Term
Medical Clinic Board #3 (Cullman Health Care Center)
- Reappointed: Clayton Ingram – 6-Year Term
The next meeting of the Cullman City Council will be on Monday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at Cullman City Hall. The public is welcome to attend.
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