Athens council approves routine purchases, reimburses travel, accepts geotechnical work and designates FY2026 holidays

At its Oct. 13 regular meeting, the Athens City Council unanimously approved a consent calendar of travel reimbursements and equipment purchases, authorized geotechnical work for a substation project and designated two additional city holidays and a floating personal day for fiscal year 2026.

Council approved multiple consent items that included travel reimbursements for the mayor's office and city staff, a $62,939.92 purchase of a 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV for the police department, purchase of 18 bulletproof vests for $25,000, and two 2026 Ford Maverick crew‑cab pickup trucks for $73,480 through the State of Alabama vehicle contract. The council also declared four electric‑department vehicles surplus to be sold at public auction and approved an add‑on reimbursement of $5,902.40 to Linda Black for travel related to the Master Games in Trestle, Ala.

The council voted to accept a $16,000 proposal from Morrell Engineering for geotechnical exploration at the Bell Minus substation project, with costs to be paid from the city's 2035 warrant fund and/or the 2022 warrant fund. Councilmember Harper moved to accept the proposal; after suspension of the rules and a second, the motion passed 4-0.

The council approved reimbursement of $45 to Councilmember Dana Henry for an online public-purpose doctrine CMO course, and designated Friday, Nov. 28, 2025 (the day after Thanksgiving), and Monday, Feb. 16, 2026 (Presidents' Day), as city holidays for FY2026. The council also approved one floating personal day for employees in 2026, to be scheduled with department heads.

All roll-call votes recorded the four attending members — Councilmember Seibert, Councilmember Wailes, Councilmember Harper and Councilmember Lucas — voting yes; one member, Missus Henry, was absent.

Votes at a glance

- Consent Calendar (items A–F, add-on FF): approved 4-0. Included: travel reimbursements; 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV (not to exceed $62,939.92); 18 bulletproof vests ($25,000); two 2026 Ford Maverick crew cabs ($73,480); surplus of four electric‑department vehicles; FF reimbursement to Linda Black ($5,902.40).

- Resolution authorizing acceptance of Morrell Engineering proposal for geotechnical exploration at the Bell Minus substation project ($16,000): approved 4-0. Funding: 2035 warrant fund and/or 2022 warrant fund.

- Resolution approving reimbursement to Councilmember Dana Henry for CMO online course ($45): approved 4-0.

- Resolution designating two additional holidays and one floating personal day for FY2026 (Nov. 28, 2025; Feb. 16, 2026; floating day to be scheduled): approved 4-0.

Council took the actions after brief staff presentations and with limited discussion. Several items required suspension of the rules to act on them at the same meeting; those suspensions were approved by 4-0 roll-call votes prior to final action. The transcript does not record any budget amendments beyond the account references read into the record for the vehicle and geotechnical expenses.