By Nathan Prewett
MOODY — At a regular meeting on Monday, April 12, the Moody City Council held a public hearing for the amendment of the 2013 CDBG Economic Development Project, which relates to road improvements on Kelly Creek Rd. serving Love’s Travel Stop.
Before the public hearing was held, the council heard reports from department heads, including the police and fire departments for the month of March.
In the police report, the department received 1,171 calls for service, 32 arrests, 86 warning citations, 194 total citations, 76 completed reports, 20 misdemeanor cases were closed, 30 felony cases (23 closed), 16,021 miles were driven and there were $5,936.94 in expenses for vehicle repairs.
Fire Chief Larry Horton reported three fires (all were woods grass or other), 111 emergency medical calls, 12 wrecks, 26 public services, 9 lift assists, three false alarms, and one mutual aid given. The dispatch en route time was one minute and 25 seconds while the dispatch to arrival time was six minutes and 58 seconds. There were 28 annual inspections with 11 re-inspections.
Attention turned to the amendment, which Mayor Joe Lee said was necessary to decrease the number of jobs at the travel stop from 70 to 56. St. Clair County Economic Development Council (EDC) Executive Director Don Smith spoke on the CDBG, saying that it is a program where grants are applied for through the state and go towards infrastructure.
The grants are based on new jobs being created, he said, adding that companies estimate how many jobs would be created and document that at least 50% of employees have low to moderate-income levels.
“A lot of times those projects create more,” he told the council. “It’s just the documentation that’s done with the HR managers of those private entities like McDonald’s and Subway and Love’s – they have to do this, it’s not something the city actually has any control over.”
Lee said that Moody received a $500,000 CDBG grant to redo the road in front of Love’s. No one from the public spoke for or against the amendment during the hearing.
Smith further addressed the council, saying that EDC members usually attend city council meetings after elections to speak about their history and function in the county.
Among the initiatives by the EDC is a restaurant provision from the recent stimulus package passed nationally. Smith said that small restaurant owners that experienced a decline from 2019 to 2020 can receive grants through the SBA. He also mentioned that he put Moody on the list of the Alabama Communities of Excellence or ACE, which is a community development program.
The council later approved a request from Parks and Recreation Director Mike Staggs to schedule the fireworks show for July 10 and to pay Pyro Shows of Alabama $10,000. The sole “no” vote was from Councilmember Linda Crowe, who said that she opposed the action because of the cost.
In other business, the council:
- Approved a request from Mitchell to repair a 2020 Ford F150 for $542.72,
- Approved a request from Horton to purchase uniforms for $1,200,
- Approved an additional request from Horton for uniforms from the vendor, Sew Nice, for $2,200,
- Approved a request from Horton to purchase a fire hose for $6,500, and
- Accepted the low bid to lay turf at the Kiddie Park for $150,604.
Meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at Moody City Hall on 670 Park Ave.