Officer Zach Latham receives his five-year service pin from Councilman Andy Page. / W.C. Mann
CULLMAN – At a busy meeting Monday evening, the Cullman City Council moved to promote local industry, recreation, and personnel of the Cullman Police Department (CPD).
Royal Technologies tax abatement
The council approved a tax abatement of “all state and local noneducational ad valorem taxes, all construction related transaction taxes, except those construction related transaction taxes levied for educational purposes or for capital improvements for education, and/or all mortgage and recording taxes” for a period of 10 years for Royal Technologies (RT). The east Cullman manufacturer, had previously received abatements, and was requesting an extension related to their facility expansion currently underway.
RT, in business since 1987, is based in Hudsonville, Michigan, with 1,200 employees working at facilities in that city, Cullman and Mission, Texas. The company specializes in plastic and urethane foam molding for the automotive and furniture industries, as well as other commercial ventures. Within Alabama, RT’s Cullman facility supplies components to the Hyundai automotive plant in Montgomery, Remington Firearms in Huntsville and REHAU in Cullman.
RT has committed $4,121,462 to a 165,000-square-foot facility expansion that it said would create up to 50 new jobs at the Cullman plant.
Police recognitions
Councilman Andy Page, chairman of the Public Safety Committee, was joined by Cullman Police Chief Kenny Culpepper and Assistant Chief Craig Montgomery to commend four of the department’s officers:
- Officer Zachary “Zach” Latham received his five-year service pin. Montgomery said of him, “Zach always has a smile on his face, he’s always in a good mood, always positive, and he’s always optimistic. So, it’s been a quick five years, but we very much appreciate having him here at the department.”
- Dispatcher Sheena Sartin was commended for proactive efforts that led to the swift return of a missing Childhaven student within hours of her being reported missing. Said Montgomery, “She always does a great job, and she’s very conscientious.”
- Sgt. Adam Clark was recognized for his initiative in reaching out to the community in various ways. Montgomery said, “He is always engaged with anything going on in the department, within the city, outside the department. He’s been involved with community cookouts–he’s a heck of a cook, too–Shop-with-a Cop, Coffee-with-a-Cop, Trunk-or-Treat. He is always engaged.”
- Officer Joey Duncan was commended for his quick reaction to a dangerous situation, in which he came to the aid of fellow officer Brandon Patterson. An intoxicated suspect attempted to draw a pistol on Patterson during a pat-down in the local Denney’s early one morning, but Duncan reacted, subduing the suspect and securing his firearm before he could draw. Montgomery said, “He had just (a) split second to react to this situation. Think about if that person had retrieved that weapon and started shooting rounds in Denney’s. So he did an excellent job. His quick thinking, his quick action resulted in the safety, not only to the individual, but the other customers in Denney’s, and to his fellow officers.”
Recreation area development
The council approved a measure to create trails around the city lake on Wolf Creek along Eva Road south of Alabama Highway 157. The City will receive grant money for the project; the adopted resolution committed Cullman to matching grant funds for the project.
Tax authority
The meeting closed with the council approving a resolution authorizing City Attorney Roy Williams to “get the state attorney general’s opinion,” according to Council President Pro Tem Jenny Folsom, though the resolution did not specify the subject of the opinion being sought.
After the meeting, Williams told The Tribune that the matter was a question about “taxing authority” related to the proposed county gasoline and fuel tax bill which may be introduced in the State Legislature during this session. He expressed concern that certain statutes might be in conflict.
The Cullman City Council meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, at 7 p.m. in the Cullman City Hall auditorium, with work session at 6:30. The public is invited to attend.
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