CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman City Council at its Monday meeting approved the annual Cullman County Wranglers Jeepers Creepers Trunk or Treat event for Saturday, Oct. 29. This Halloween event is different from many others in that it benefits Cullman Caring for Kids by asking attendees to bring canned goods to be donated to the nonprofit foodbank. The Trunk or Treat will be held at Depot Park from 5-8 p.m.
Speaking of last week’s Cullman Oktoberfest, Councilman Clint Hollingsworth said, “Oktoberfest went very well. The weather was ideal and (we had) large crowds. It was a good Thursday, Friday and Saturday to be in Cullman. I’m really glad everybody showed up and we’ll do it all again next year!”
The council also welcomed the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce’s newest team member, Director of Membership and Marketing Katie Dansby.
The following items were approved:
- A special event permit request from Robert Starcross to hold an individual protest with signs around 626 Olive St. SW, Oct. 14-15, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. each day. As this address is a private property, the permit was approved for the city sidewalk around the property only.
- A special event permit request from Anita Smith to hold a “Cullman Stands Up” rally against negative influences on social media on Saturday, Oct. 22, in Depot Park from 6-10 p.m.
- A special event permit request from Stephanie Wood to hold a “Halloween Night” trick or treating event requiring the closing of Fifth Avenue between Fifth Street Southeast and Sixth Street Southeast Oct. 31 from 4-10 p.m.
- Resolution No. 2023-01 to proclaim Oct. 19, 2022 “Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce” Day. The resolution was adopted with Dansby, the Chamber’s director of membership and marketing, in attendance.
- Accept a $300,000 grant from Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs for recreational trails at the Palomino RV Resort and to commit matching funds of $168,336
- Submit a grant application for Community Development Block Grant funds for infrastructure improvements at the Cobblestone Hotel and Wissota Chophouse property located at 1835 Main Ave. SW
- Ordinance No. 2023-01 to annex two properties owned by the City of Cullman located on Fairway Drive into the city limits of Cullman as AG-1 Agricultural District, which received a favorable recommendation from the City of Cullman Planning Commission
Public comments
Boyd Lankford of Joppa, speaking for the second council meeting in a row and misidentified as “Boyd Langford” in previous council reporting, opened his public comments with a dedication to “the patron saint of the unborn Ruth Bader Ginsburg” before speaking of the City of Ardmore’s “barring anything of sexual nature from events.” Lankford spoke of hypothetical strip clubs and wet T-shirt contests before imploring the council and mayor “to ban events of sexual nature on public property.”
Richard Browning, a resident of Bolte Road, spoke of the City of Huntsville’s policy of publishing law enforcement overtime rates for special events. He said, “I would like to ask if that that could be something that happens at the Cullman Police Department to help event coordinators do their budgeting.”
Lance Conn, of the north side of the city, the last public commenter, expressed gratitude for the council and thanked the Cullman Police Department officers who worked the Cullman Comes Out event, held last Saturday, for their professionalism. Conn said to the council, “Thank you for enduring whatever you had to endure so that the Cullman residents who identify as part of or as allies of (the) LGBTQIA+ community could experience the same rights and responsibilities as everyone else.”
The Cullman City Council meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Meetings are held at Cullman City Hall and are live streamed at www.facebook.com/CullmanTribune and videos of previous meetings can be found at www.facebook.com/CullmanCity.
Copyright 2022 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
