By Nathan Prewett, For The Tribune
MOODY – During a regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 25, the Moody City Council approved three resolutions related to first responders dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, including a resolution to create a program to help with staff shortages.
A resolution was approved to discontinue all temporary pay increases that were affective Sept. 30, 2021, and to ratify all of the actions taken by the city until “said date,” according to the agenda.
City Attorney James Hill explained that when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred last year, the city began a temporary pay increase program for first responders. The pay increases have been incorporated into the 2022 budget, which makes them no longer temporary.
He said that this would “clear up the record and make sure that it’s clear that we’re paying these in a timely fashion” and asked that the older resolution be discontinued.
Later the council approved a “first responders force maintenance program,” which would use money from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to hire officers to help deal with the ongoing COVID situation.
Hill spoke again and said that first responders in Moody have been short-staffed due to several officers that have contracted the virus. Part of the funds that the city received will help with this.
“What we’ve come to discover in this city is that the coronavirus has run through our first responders as they are engaging with the public on a regular basis with great vehemence,” he said.
The funds will be used to hire three additional police officers, as well as three additional fire officers. The resolution was passed as R2021-10-25.
Another resolution was passed to provide federal funds to purchase the necessary equipment for first responders to deal with COVID cases. Equipment would include Personal Protective Equipment or PPE and other emergency medical items. This resolution was passed as R2021-10-25A.
Additionally, the council approved 15 items on the agenda, with one being a request from Doris Stanley Memorial Library Director Patsy Spradley to accept a $3,000 grant from the Coosa Valley Resource Conservation and Development for the planting of trees.
The grant allows for the purchase of 14 pin oak trees to be planted at the entrance of Civic Center Drive and behind the library itself. The city will pay for the expenses but will be reimbursed.
In other business the council:
- Approved a request from Public Works Director Steve Mitchell to purchase three loads of stone for road repair,
- Approved a request from Mitchell to repair the hydraulic cylinders on a bucket truck and a John Deere backhoe not to exceed $1,500,
- Approved the relocation of a waterline near the Leeds Water Works for the Kelly Creek Road South improvement project. The total cost is $24,099.41 to be shared between Moody and St. Clair County.
- Approved a request from Police Chief Thomas Hunt for a quarterly payment for LETS access at the cost of $450,
- Approved a request from Hunt to rent a golf cart for Oktoberfest for $500,
- Approved a request from Hunt to repair Unit 348 for $582.89,
- Approved a request from Hunt to repair Unit 334 for $285.28,
- Appointed Paula Kraft to the City of Moody Planning Commission,
- Granted an alcohol license to Parkway Liquor located 2408 Moody Parkway,
- Granted an alcohol license to C Store On Parkway located at 2480 Moody Parkway, and
- Proclaimed January 23-29 National School Choice Week.
Meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at Moody City Hall on 670 Park Ave.