TALLADEGA — The City Council, particularly councilmen Lance Grissett and Donnie Miller, commended the work done in the first few weeks by the city’s first revenue officer in almost eight years.According to a memo produced by City Manager Michael Stampfler, the new revenue officer’s first day on the job was Oct. 20. During that less than three week period, she has already identified 57 businesses whose licenses were past due and has collected $5,748.02 in delinquent licenses and fees. “Procedures have also been put in place to verify the gross receipts of businesses renewing their licenses,” Stampfler wrote. “In addition, research has begun on delinquent sales tax accounts and efforts will be made to bring these accounts up to date.”
“Just over a year ago, when I first came on this council, I was flabbergasted that we had no process of checking licenses,” Grissett said. “Councilman Miller was not even in the computer, they had him moved to Lincoln. So I am elated and thankful and appreciative that this position has been filled and that it is funded in the budget.”
”We were basically 20 years behind the times,” Miller agreed. “It’s all about accountability.”
”The revenue officer is already collecting significant revenues, and I believe there will be some very large payments in the future that will pay for this position and others down the road.”
Stampfler, Grissett and Miller all made at least passing reference to remarks made earlier in the meeting by Betty Veach, a resident of the police jurisdiction who was on Monday’s agenda to discuss a water rate increase for city water customers living outside the city limits.
When Miller went to continue his remarks, Council President Dr. Horace Patterson stopped him, saying, “We don’t need to be discussing any statements from ex-employees that are not brave enough to come before us themselves,” he said. “We cast a vision for this city that was positive.”
Councilman Jimmy Davis added that he was “also appalled by the lack of accountability after I was first elected. We were losing money. Now we can be intelligent of the situation.”
Veach was before the council to complain the 25 percent surcharge on county residents was unfair, particularly since she and her family members had paid for the water line to their property and two fire hydrants from estate funds.
“I want to stay in the county. I want to be able to raise chickens and cows and pigs if the economy fails and I have to support my family that way. If you talk to all the HAM radio operators in this county, you’ll find more and more of them are finding out and calling us.”
In spite of her claim to have paid for the line extension, water and sewer personnel said the line extension in question was actually paid for by the board.
Veach then went into a laundry list of questions regarding 1 cent city sales tax, Stampfler’s support staff and the water department’s capital improvement fund that were written in essence, by former mayor and talk show host Larry Barton. She also made reference to statements made by former city manager Sue Horn on Barton’s program.
“We are not going to go there tonight,” Patterson said. “You’re here to discuss water. Do not quote Mrs. Horn, because Mrs. Horn is not the city manager.”
”But what about the $1 million in the account set aside (for capital improvements),” she asked.
“You apparently know more about that than I do,” Patterson replied.
Veach also complained that minutes are no longer available online.
Also Monday, the council:
• Tabled discussion of a rezoning request that would allow for the construction of apartments for elderly and disabled people in Councilman Eddie Tucker’s ward. Tucker complained there are too many high density apartment “projects” in his ward already.
• Voted to honor to beer and wine license transfers from Williamson Oil to Mapco, Inc.
• Gave Stampfler the authority to apply for and sign the Brownfield Assessment Grant.
• Approved invoices and expenditures for the Water and Sewer Department 4-1, with Tucker dissenting.
• Head Stampfler report there were no recent pressure complaints in the Shocco Springs area.
•Approved water bill inserts announcing hydrant testing and changes in the garbage fee.
• Heard Fort Lashley Auto Sales owner Thomas Beavers was due to be reimbursed for $85.
• Heard a presentation from an adult representing the group of high school students raising money for a trip to Europe. He was told to submit a detailed written request.
• Approved $9,604 in invoices from the remodeling of the Ritz Theater. The money was not budgeted.
• Agreed to support a grant application to continue renovations of the Bemiston Community Center. No city funds will be involved.
• Heard Tucker announce that a Stop the Violence March and Rally will be held Nov. 22.
• Heard Mayor Brian York remind those assembled that today is Veteran’s Day, and encouraged remembrance of all who had served.
• Discussed the curfew for people under 18, which is 10 p.m. on weeknights and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Discussed, but took no action, on a request from the city Board of Education about the costs of splitting an officer at the high school. Stampfler said grant money might also be available.
• Discussed a possible gun buyback program.
• Discussed a possible change in the health insurance benefits for retired city employees.
• Went into executive session to discuss purchasing a piece of property. No action was taken.
