By Nathan Prewett
MOODY – At a regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 13, the Moody City Council passed its 2021-2022 budget before approving a zoning resolution related to home occupation.
The meeting began with reports from department heads for the month of August. Moody Police Chief Thomas Hunt gave his reporting, saying that there were 1,420 calls, 29 arrests, 52 warning tickets, 166 citations, 82 reports, 55 misdemeanors, 47 felonies, and 16,897 miles were driven by vehicles. $3,137.80 were spent on vehicle maintenance.
Moody Fire and Rescue Chief Larry Horton reported seven fires, 114 emergency medical calls, 11 wrecks, 16 lift assists, and 20 false alarms. The average dispatch to en route time was 58 seconds and the average dispatch to arrival time was six minutes and 16 seconds. There were 49 annual inspections and 18 re-inspections.
Later in the meeting, Councilman Lynn Taylor presented the 2021-2022 city budget. In his presentation, Taylor said that the budget was $26,776,781. Projected annual expenses were $12,000,991, including a 75 cent raise for city employees and maintenance for department vehicles.
“Very good budget, I think,” Taylor said. “I just want to take the time and thank everyone, thank Nick [Rutledge], Ms. [Linda] Crowe, the finance committee, the mayor [Joe Lee], Tracey [Patterson], and all of the department heads for putting such a good budget for the city. It means a lot when we can sit down knowing we have good people doing good jobs, and it shows in our budgets.”
Afterward, discussions turned to Ordinance M2021-09-13 regarding home occupation. A public hearing and first reading were held at the previous meeting in which City Attorney James Hill explained that the ordinance concerned those who run businesses from their homes, such as music lessons or internet services. No one spoke for or against the proposed action during that meeting.
Hill said that the city’s policy does not require home-based businesses with clients coming to the building to come before the Zoning Board of Adjustments. The amendment approved at last night’s meeting provides “certain safeguards” that includes having objections or concerns from adjacent homeowners or others to go to the board for the building inspectors to oversee.
The ordinance was passed unanimously.
In other business, the council:
- Approved Horton’s request for the annual fire donation notices to be printed and mailed for $4,812.10,
- Approved Library Director Patsy Spradley’s request to accept a federal grant award from the American Recovery Plan Act of $1,530 for the purchase of a computer. The funds will be reimbursed from the Alabama Public Library Service,
- Approved Spradley’s request to renew the library’s website hosting and maintenance fees for $1,905,
- Approved Hunt’s request to have an awning built on the back of the police department building for the golf cart for $3,765,
- Approved Hunt’s request to purchase new tires for car #354,
- Approved Mayor Joe Lee’s request to renew the Pell City Animal Facility user agreement for $10,000,
- Approved Resolution R2021-09-13 to accept the streets in Oak Valley subdivision for upkeep and maintenance,
- Approved Resolution R2021-09-13A to reduce the corporate limits and reestablish the boundaries of the city,
- Approved the purchase of two storm shelter signs for a total cost of $1,105, and
- Approved Public Works Director Mike Staggs’ request to purchase four tires for a park truck for $676.
Meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at Moody City Hall on 670 Park Ave.