Jamie Browder

Jbrowder@newsaegis.com

 

The city council approved a three-part resolution that would manage and oversee bonds for the new hospital property. 

One of the partners in the development is the commercial development authority, which is a preexisting city board which meets when there is need for access to financing. 

Prior to the meeting the CDA only had three active members, two of which were sitting on the board on expired terms. The council approved the reappointment and appointment of two members, former Pell City Mayor Bill Hereford and Planning and Zoning Chairman Camaran Williams.  

After reestablishing the CDA, it was approved that the city could establish a second public entity called the Cooperative District, which would work more closely with the development of the old hospital property. This would involve the issuing of bonds and ensuring progression on the project. 

Since approved, the city will go to the CDA, which will be reconstituted and ask for their permission for the new district to be formed and ask them to appoint a board member to run and operate the cooperative. The two actions are tied by the redevelopment and then board member appointment for the new development. 

City Council President Jud Alverson and Muenger have been appointed by the city. The city is being asked to approve the authority to allow the district to form, and the second is to appoint Muenger and Alverson as the board members selected by the city.

The practical application of this new developed board, who will have the authority to impose user fees on the sales, serves to take the responsibility of fees and bonds from the city and places on this newly formed district. This also means no debt will fall to the city in this project.

“Ultimately, the Cooperative District is going to be formed for the primary purpose of generating additional money through bond issue. Once that bond issue is paid off, the Cooperative District will continue to enforce and manage the user fee that is assessed in the development agreement,” said John Rae, city attorney. 

In other business the city council approved:

• The appointment of Ivi McDaniel as the voting delegate for the Annual Convention of the Alabama League of Municipalities. 

• The update of the athletic director job description.

• The reclassification of the custodian/maintenance worker job description for city hall.

• The Exit 156 sewer improvement project 

• The appointment of a new chief of police.