Hamilton City Council approves routine budget, personnel and membership items

At its December meeting, the Hamilton City Council approved a slate of routine administrative measures including a holiday schedule for 2026, a $1,000 transfer back into the police department—s drug fund, a $25,000 annual membership to the Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance, purchase of a sanitation trailer paid from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) interest, an increase in the mayor—s discretionary spending limit from $500 to $5,000, and the hiring of Caleb Hultze as a meter reader at $17.67 per hour.

The council voted to adopt the 2026 holiday-closing schedule after a motion and second were recorded; the meeting record shows "Shane made a motion" and "Sherry made a second," and the motion carried with no opposition announced. The presiding official reiterated special schedule items including that all city buildings will close for a mandatory safety meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 17, and that adjusted garbage pickup dates will apply during the Christmas and New Year—s weeks.

Council members also approved a $1,000 transfer from the CEDH general fund back into the Hamilton Police Department—s drug fund. The mayor explained that the police chief had withdrawn $1,000 to support a recent Shop with a Cop program; the transcript records that Walmart had previously issued a $3,750 grant, of which $1,000 was designated for the program. The motion record shows "Motion by Scott." No roll-call tally with individual votes was recorded in the transcript.

On economic development, the council authorized a $25,000 annual membership with the Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance to promote local development. The transcript records some council skepticism: one member said they "want to see some results" and suggested revisiting the membership if it does not deliver measurable outcomes. The motion to approve was made by Scott and the record later notes a second from Frankie; the membership passed.

The council approved buying an 8-by-16-foot dovetail utility trailer from Load and Go Traders of Hamilton for $2,925 to be used by the sanitation department to haul two lawnmowers. The mayor said the purchase would be paid from the city—s ARPA interest account; the record shows the account had an estimated balance of $4,419.31 before the purchase and would have an estimated $1,494.31 remaining after the transaction. The council recorded a motion and second and approved the purchase.

Also approved was an increase in the mayor—s discretionary spending authority from $500 to $5,000. The mayor said the change is intended to allow the city to handle urgent repairs (for example, heat-pump fixes) without calling a special meeting and that all expenditures would still appear on the council—s accounts-payable reports.

Personnel actions included approval to hire Caleb Hultze for the Hamilton Water Department meter-reader position and separately to set his pay at $17.67 per hour. The transcript notes "Caleb is a grama 1 operator." Motions and seconds were recorded for the hire and for the wage, and both items were approved.

The meeting concluded after the presiding official repeated earlier announcements (including a Jan. 6 special work session at 4:30 p.m. to discuss a new track and a Jan. 8 zoning board of adjustment meeting at 6 p.m.) and the council moved to adjourn. The next regular council meeting was set for Jan. 5.

All actions appearing in the meeting record were approved as described; the transcript does not include a verbatim roll-call tally with named yes/no votes for each motion.