Athens City Council approves $2.5M in capital allocations, job-class changes, park and construction contracts; pulls two electric bids after protest

The Athens City Council approved a broad set of resolutions, ordinances and contract authorizations at its Jan. 13 meeting, including a $2.5 million allocation from fiscal-year 2024 surplus funds for department capital needs, amendments to the city’s employee classification plan, multiple construction-management contracts for park and utility projects, and applications for state and federal grant programs.

The council voted unanimously, 5-0, to allocate $2.5 million in FY 2024 surplus funds across departments: $675,000 to police; $150,000 to fire; $175,000 to streets; $930,000 to sanitation; $100,000 to information technology; $5,000 to general administration; $55,000 to engineering; $15,000 to planning; $70,000 to building; $125,000 to cemetery, parks and recreation; and $200,000 unallocated. Councilmember Wales introduced the resolution and the roll call recorded five yes votes.

Why it matters: The allocations set aside capital for vehicles, equipment and infrastructure identified by department heads; the council’s acceptance of the FY 2024 surplus moves those dollars into department-specific capital accounts and signals which projects the city will prioritize in the coming year.

Personnel and classification changes

The council amended Ordinance No. 888 and approved associated resolutions that add two new positions to the mayor’s office — a communications and grant manager and a communications specialist — and delete the existing communications coordinator title. The council also adopted an organization chart for the mayor’s office and job descriptions for the new positions. All votes on those items were recorded 5-0 in favor.

The council separately adopted an updated organization chart and a job description adding a right-of-way inspector position within the public works department, and amended Ordinance No. 888 to add the right-of-way inspector title for public works. Those votes were also unanimous, 5-0.

Mayor Mark said the city follows a conservative budget process and that, when surplus funds remain, the administration meets with department heads to identify capital priorities. “We take bids on all of those,” the mayor said when asked how purchases such as a sanitation truck are procured.

Park, street and construction contracts and grants

The council authorized the mayor to apply for a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant through Adeccah for Swan Creek Park improvements, approving a grant application for up to $1 million with a required local match equal to the grant amount. The body also authorized an amendment to an existing services agreement with Martin & Colby Construction Company Inc. for construction management services for Swan Creek Park (not to exceed $350,000, funded from the 2024 Municipal Construction Fund) and for the Athens Utilities customer service building (not to exceed $362,000, funded from the 2024 Utilities Construction Fund). All related votes were 5-0.

Council approved bid acceptances associated with Sunrise Park construction packages (site work, general work, site electrical and landscaping) and authorized the mayor to accept the listed low bids funded from the city’s 2024 general operating warrants.

The council approved an application under the Rebuild Alabama Act grant program for a capacity-improvement project along Elm Street (including left- and right-turn lanes) with a $350,000 grant request and a $100,000 local match. The council voted 5-0 on the application.

Procurement, change orders and contract actions

The council approved a purchase of a Heil commercial front-loader garbage truck at a cost not to exceed $404,678 to be procured through the Sourcewell Purchasing Cooperative and funded from the sanitation department capital account (vote 5-0).

A final change order for the WWTP Lagoon Dredging contract was approved; the council authorized Athens Water Services to enter the change order and to transfer surplus truck scales to the contractor for $5,000, which may be set off against the contractor’s change-order amount. The resolution passed 5-0.

On procurement transparency and a pull of electric bids

During the public-comment period, Slade Guthrie of Premier Power — who identified himself as a utility contractor and the apparent low bidder on two electric-related items (agenda items labeled N and O) — said his company, though new, employs personnel with decades of experience and questioned why his lower bids would not be awarded. Guthrie said he was the low bidder by roughly $427,000 on the contract in question.

After Guthrie’s remarks and a brief staff check, Mayor Mark asked Councilmember Lucas to remove items N and O from the agenda so the city can “relook the whole situation” and either provide a rationale for awarding the low bid or reconsider the awards. Council agreed; N and O were pulled from action and will return later with additional information or a revised recommendation. Guthrie was told city electric staff would follow up.

ICE memorandum of understanding

The council approved, 5-0, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) authorizing the mayor and the police chief to enter into agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — specifically Homeland Security Investigations and an ICE reimbursement agreement. City attorney Blake explained the two separate agreements: one to reimburse local overtime and other costs for joint operations, and a second permitting local officers to participate on a joint task force with ICE while clarifying that federal authorities do not grant local officers independent federal immigration enforcement authority outside a joint operation. “When that does [occur], it enables them to be able to work with the federal agents in order to coordinate that,” Blake said; he also noted potential investigative benefits to local law enforcement.

Other routine business and hearings

The council set a public hearing for Feb. 24, 2025, on a rezoning request for roughly 3.93 acres located south of West Washington Street and east of Lucas Ferry Road (vote 5-0). The council approved participation in the TVA Community Care Fund for the electric department and approved various travel and departmental resolutions contained in the consent calendar.

Votes at a glance (selected actions)

- Resolution allocating FY 2024 surplus ($2,500,000) — passed 5-0 (allocation breakdown in text). - Purchase: Heil front-loader garbage truck — passed 5-0, cost not to exceed $404,678 (Sourcewell Cooperative). - Ordinance/Amendment: update Ordinance No. 888 (mayor’s office positions) — passed 5-0. - Resolution/Job descriptions: communications & grant manager, communications specialist — passed 5-0. - Ordinance/Amendment: add right-of-way inspector (public works) and adopt job description — passed 5-0. - Ordinance amendment: Athens alcoholic beverage ordinance near US-72/I-65 interchange — passed 5-0. - Grant application: LWCF (Swan Creek Park), up to $1,000,000 with 100% local match required — authorized 5-0. - Contract authorization: Martin & Colby construction-management services for Swan Creek Park (≤ $350,000) — authorized 5-0. - Contract authorization: Martin & Colby construction-management services for Athens Utilities customer service building (≤ $362,000) — authorized 5-0. - Sunrise Park bid packages (multiple bidders/amounts) — authorizations passed 5-0; low-bid details recorded in agenda. - Grant application: Rebuild Alabama Act (Elm Street improvements), $350,000 grant request with $100,000 local match — authorized 5-0. - Final change order: WWTP Lagoon Dredging and sale/setoff of truck scales — authorized 5-0. - MOU with ICE (HSI) and reimbursement agreement — authorized 5-0.

What council members and residents said

Slade Guthrie, owner of Premier Power, told the council he was the low bidder on two electric-related items but was told he would not receive the award because of his company’s short corporate history. “I bid every contract the same. I’m gonna give you the best price,” Guthrie said; he asked the council to reconsider or to explain how a bidder without prior contract awards would gain experience.

City Attorney Blake summarized the ICE agreements and said there are two separate elements — reimbursement for joint operations and a mechanism for local officers to serve on joint task forces with ICE when federal agents lead the operation.

What’s next

Council members said pulled items N and O will be reexamined by staff and the electric department and will return to a future meeting with additional documentation or a revised recommendation. Grant applications and contract authorizations will proceed to implementation steps overseen by the mayor’s office and the referenced departments, subject to funding and standard procurement conditions.

Ending

The council closed the meeting after hearing petitions and public comments; several residents used the public-comment period to raise neighborhood infrastructure and sewer concerns, and others voiced support for the newly created communications positions in the mayor’s office.