Johnann and Stuart Moore answer questions from the council
CULLMAN – The Cullman City Council met Monday evening, having rescheduled its regular meeting time from last week. Mayor Woody Jacobs and all council members except Garlan Gudger were present. Most of the business was simple and straightforward, with the exception of a request concerning the use of First Avenue Northeast through the Warehouse District.
Johnann and Stuart Moore of Book and Barrel Outfitters, representing the merchants of the Cullman Warehouse District, asked for a special event permit to convert First Avenue Northeast to a pedestrian park from Flavors Bakery to Rumors Deli, every Saturday from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. through the end of 2017. The merchants agreed to give priority to scheduled special events like the Strawberry Festival and Oktoberfest, and to use means of closing off the street which will allow rapid access to emergency vehicles.
One big snag with the plan, as voiced by Councilman Clint Hollingsworth, was the refusal of two Warehouse District merchants to sign off on the plan. The owners of Whoopsy Daisy opposed the plan, as did those of Handbags & Gladrags.
Hollingsworth said, “Personally, I think it’s great. It’s a pedestrian-friendly environment where people can walk around with kids, and not worry about cars coming. I wish the other two store owners would have signed off on it, though; that would have made me feel a little more comfortable about giving it the green light to go ahead.”
A compromise measure, first set forth by City Attorney Roy Williams, will create the pedestrian park on Saturdays for a one-month trial, starting Saturday, April 1. The modified plan was presented as a motion, and passed unanimously. The street will be closed each Saturday in April from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. Afterward, the plan will be reviewed. Police Chief Kenny Culpepper and Fire Chief Edward Reinhardt were asked to be prepared to offer their opinions on the plan at that time.
The council also received and approved requests to schedule the following special community events:
- Art in the Park in Old City Park/Heritage Park on April 15 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
- Strawberry Festival in the special events area (Depot Park, Festhalle) and surrounding streets on May 5, from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. and on May 6, from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Suicide Awareness Walk in Depot Park on Sept. 9, from 3-6 p.m., sponsored by Karma in Cullman
In other council business, the following requests and resolutions were passed unanimously. From the agenda:
REQUESTS
1. Request from Reinhardt to purchase, from HGAC state contract No. 14-3819, turnout gear from Sunbelt Fire in the budgeted amount of $22,256.
2. Request from Sewer Superintendent Chris Freeman to purchase, from the current city bid R-01759, three equipment trailers from Econoline Trailers, Inc. in the budgeted amount of $40,215.
RESOLUTIONS
1. To apply for grant funds from TVA Invest Prep Program to construct an entrance sign with landscaping on the new 80-acre industrial tract on Alabama Highway 69.
2. To extend the hot mix, cold mix and lay hot mix bids until May 23, 2018.
3. To award the bid for a 2015 4WD Chevrolet Suburban to the lowest responsible bidder, Mitch Smith Chevrolet, Inc., in the budgeted amount of $47,000.
4. To award the bid for various types of rock to the lowest responsible bidder, Madison Materials, Inc. for the period of one year.
5. To award the bid for various types of concrete to the lowest responsible bidder, Kirkpatrick Concrete, Inc. for the period of one year.
A sixth resolution, “To appropriate funds to Camp Meadowbrook, a 501c3 organization, for educational purposes and to promote tourism in Cullman, Alabama,” was tabled by the council until the next meeting, when all members should be present.
The Cullman City Council meets at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday evenings of each month in the auditorium at City Hall. The public is invited to attend.
Copyright 2017 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
