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Athens council approves broad consent calendar including equipment purchases, licenses and reappointments
Summary
Council approved a lengthy consent calendar by a unanimous vote that included travel and education expenses for public safety personnel, multiple equipment purchases and surplus declarations, reappointment of a school board member, and several alcohol and business licenses.
The Athens City Council unanimously approved a broad consent calendar on April 13 that bundled routine purchases, license approvals and appointments.
Among the items approved were travel and education expenses totalling $5,127 for fire department personnel and $1,357 for police personnel; a replacement furnishings purchase for fire stations; authorization to buy an Attack Pro thermal imaging camera not to exceed $5,200; and purchase of a John Deere 320 backhoe loader for $154,500 charged to the gas services FY2026 capital budget. The council also declared multiple city utility vehicles surplus and authorized them to be sold at public auction.
Other approvals included the reappointment of Shannon Hutton to the Athens City Board of Education for a five-year term through April 13, 2031; permission to reschedule the May 25, 2026 regular meeting to May 26 due to Memorial Day; IT purchases (key card system up to $11,400 and two wireless access points up to $2,800); and approval of event and retail alcohol licenses for the Boys and Girls Club special event and Maza Pizza, respectively. The council also approved up to $58,000 for furnishings for the renovated building at 304 East Hob Street, funded from the 2024 GO warrant allocation for that project.
All consent calendar items were read into the record and approved by roll call (five yes, zero nays). The council also reset a public hearing for May 11, 2026 to consider a rezoning application by Milton A. Looney for approximately 1.5 acres on Alabama Highway 251 from R11 to B1.
Why it matters: the consent calendar moves a package of operational and capital purchases, licensing and appointments into effect with a single council action, allowing staff to proceed with procurement and administrative steps.
Next steps: staff will execute purchase orders, process license paperwork and prepare the scheduled rezoning public hearing.
