DECEMBER 17, 2007
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
1705 MAIN STREET
DAPHNE, AL
6:30 P.M.

COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Bailey Yelding; Cathy Barnette; John Lake arrived at 6:51 p.m.; Greg Burnam; Ron Scott; August Palumbo.

Also present: Mayor Small; David Cohen, City Clerk; Rebecca Hayes, Assistant City Clerk; Jay Ross, City Attorney, Bill Eady, Planning Department Director; Kim Briley, Finance Director; James White, Fire Chief; David McKelroy, Recreation Director; Tonja Young, Library Director; Sharon Cureton, Human Resource Director; Richard Merchant, Building Official; David Carpenter, Police Chief; Melvin McCarley, Interim Public Works Director; Members of Safety Committee - Jane Robbins; Pat Houston; Helen Burdette; LaTina Harrison; Julia Adams; Lisa White; Debbie White; Sherree Hilburn; John Williams; Chip Martin; Firemen – Eric Hayes; Jason Hickey; Adam Byrd; Grant Gruwell; Brian Payne; Jason LeSource; Tommy Bozeman; Police Dpt. - Capt. Scott Taylor; Capt. Danny Bell; Lt. Kenny Hempfleng; Lt. Ric Yelding; Corp. Donald Bettner; SRO Mike Williams; Mr. Ron Allen, Library Board; Judge Doyle; Starke Irvine, DRA; Willie Robison, BZA;

Absent: Sandra Morse, Civic Center Director.

MOU with Baldwin County and City of Daphne / I-10 Service Road

Consensus of the Council was that they needed to come up with a plan to formally pay for the project. they agreed that the road needs to be done, but they need to know how they are going to pay for it. Council agreed that they need to start saving for it now. Councilman Scott reminded Council that they do have the $400,000 from the lodging tax, but the ordinance will have to be changed because it states specific ways it has to be used.

Councilman Yelding stated that he wants the Council to keep in mind the parts of the city that still need to be sewered.

MOTION BY Councilman Scott to approve the Memorandum of Understanding between Baldwin County and the City of Daphne regarding the I-10 Service Road at the County Road 13 Interchange. Seconded by Councilman Lake.

Council discussed when the $1 million dollars would be due to be paid. Mr. Allen Cox stated that the county is going to expend their $4 million first before the other money is due.

Mr. Ross stated that the MOU should reflect that, and be brought back to Council for approval.

Councilman Scott withdrew his motion. Councilman Lake withdrew his second.

Mr. Cox stated that he was nominated to go to Montgomery before the legislature to hammer out the final deal in Montgomery, and they go back to work in January, and if he does not have something in writing to take to Montgomery in the next ten days to two weeks the Highway Department will take it off the agenda until next year, which will put it off for another year, and in that time politics can change. He asked Council to pass something that says subject to Council approving the final document, so at least he can show that Daphne is interested.

Mr. Ross stated that Council could pass a non-binding motion in support of the project conditioned upon the City Attorney and Mayor negotiating exact terms for final approval with Council that would show the expression of support, but would not lock the city into paying any dollars until you have a firm agreement.

MOTION BY Councilman Yelding to express the city’s support in favor of the project conditioned upon the City Attorney, the Mayor and the county getting together to establish a formal MOU and return it back for final approval from the Council at the next Council meeting date or soon thereafter as practicable.

Seconded by Councilman Scott.

AYE Yelding, Barnette, Lake, Scott, Burnam

NAY Palumbo

MOTION CARRIED