The Cullman City Council on Monday, Dec. 18, 2017 recognized Cullman Police Department patrol officers Hunter Potts (L) and Tyler Jackson (R) for their response to a double shooting in November. / W.C. Mann
CULLMAN – On Monday evening, the Cullman City Council held its last meeting of 2017, considering measures that could lead to more annexations, new technological services and a fire station at Cullman Regional Airport.
But first, Council Public Safety Chairman Andy Page and Cullman Assistant Police Chief Craig Montgomery came forward to recognize two Cullman Police Department patrol officers for their response to a recent emergency.
Montgomery introduced the council and audience to “two fine young officers,” Tyler Jackson and Hunter Potts, who were the first officers to respond to last month’s double shooting in the Carrol Acres subdivision on the city’s southeast side. (See www.cullmantribune.com/articles/2017/11/13/update-latest-sunday-nights-double-shooting-cullman).
After giving a detailed description of the incident in which the officers, accompanied by a Cullman County Sheriff’s Office deputy, conducted a room-by-room search of the house, not knowing if a shooter was still on the scene, Montgomery remarked, “They remained calm and cool and collected, and were very, very professional. And I’m proud of these guys.”
After the meeting, Montgomery told The Tribune, “The chief (Kenny Culpepper) and I, and the patrol captain (J.P. White), reviewed that bodycam video that Tyler Jackson was wearing, and I’ll tell you what, the citizens would be amazed and proud of these officers. I couldn’t relay it well enough with just my words, but I’ve been at the department for 25 years and, just watching, I was just so proud of them- the professionalism, the courage that they had going into that unknown situation.”
Council Tourism Chairman Clint Hollingsworth opened the floor for comments from Cullman Parks and Recreation Director Nathan Anderson and Cullman Regional Airport General Manager Ben Harrison, who were present for the meeting.
Anderson told the council about the city’s Christmas parade and tree lighting, saying, “This year was a tremendous success. The special events team, with some additional help from Susan Eller for the parade, it just turned out better than we could have ever expected. The crowd was large, and we had people from as far as Atlanta come to our Christmas parade, sang our praises, said they’d be back. We’ve had a lot of great feedback from that. It was a special night, and everything went well.”
Anderson reported that, based on examination of aerial photos, the event crowd numbered between 6,000 and 7,500.
Harrison reported that the airport is within two weeks of finishing first phase construction of its north taxiway, and that the facility’s new security fence will be completed by the end of January. See our previous story http://www.cullmansense.com/articles/2017/07/31/cullman-regional-airport-improvement-project-gets-city-council-approval.
Council business
The council approved a resolution to authorize the mayor to submit a release request to the Federal Aviation Administration for the release of 1.23 acres of land at the airport at a fair market value. Harrison reported that the parcel sits across a creek bed from the main airport property, and is “of no aeronautical use to us whatsoever.” The property is to be developed as a fire station by the Vinemont-Providence Volunteer Fire Department and, should such development not take place, the airport will retain the property.
The council approved a resolution to enter into a professional services contract with David Warren of Cullman Aerial Photography in the budgeted amount not to exceed $2,000 per month. The company, which is well-known in the community for its drone photography and video of Cullman and the surrounding areas, recently provided drone video services for the Cullman Christmas parade and tree lighting.
The council gave first readings to ordinances to annex two properties owned by the Utilities Board of the City of Cullman located on Eva Road and Swafford Drive Southwest into the city limits of Cullman. As these were first readings, no action was taken.
The council also approved:
– A request from Culpepper to purchase a 2018 Chevrolet Crew Cab 4WD Truck from Donohoo Chevrolet, LLC in the budgeted amount of $29,969.83.
-A resolution to establish the 2018 Cullman City Council Meeting Schedule on the following dates: Jan. 8 and 22, Feb. 12 and 19, Mar. 4 and 26, April 9 and 23, May 7 and 14, June 11 and 25, July 16 and 30, Aug. 13 and 27, Sept. 10 and 24, Oct. 8 and 22, Nov. 5 and 26, Dec. 10 and 17. All meetings are scheduled for Monday evenings at 7 p.m.
-A resolution to authorize Mayor Woody Jacobs to sign an agreement and mutual release with Hazama Ando Corporation and Alabama Yutaka Technologies, LLC. According to the mayor, the agreement is just to resolve an old paperwork error, and will not cost the City anything or require further action.
Jacobs announced the re-appointment of Brenda Willis to the Cullman Housing Authority, which did not require approval.
The Cullman City Council’s next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Cullman City Hall auditorium. The public is invited to attend.
Copyright 2017 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
