Bessemer council appoints election manager, backs McCalla Road federal project, and approves storage‑building contract and nuisance abatements

The Bessemer City Council on May 5 adopted a string of resolutions, unanimously approving an election appointment, a federal‑aid road project, a construction contract, multiple public‑nuisance abatements and several small discretionary appropriations.

Election appointment: Resolution No. 377‑26 The council adopted Resolution No. 377‑26 designating City Clerk Wanda D. Taylor to perform duties required by state election law for preparing the list of qualified municipal voters while Mayor Kenneth E. Gulley is a candidate. Attorney Killings explained the statutory background and said the City Clerk will be compensated $200 per day while performing absentee‑manager duties. Councilor Sarah B. Person moved to approve; Councilors Teco Stephens and Carla F. Jackson seconded. The council voted unanimously to adopt the resolution. (Note: an agenda line in the packet references §11‑42‑36; the resolution text and subsequent discussion refer to Code of Ala. §11‑46‑36 and §11‑46‑37.)

McCalla Road federal‑aid project: Resolution No. 378‑26 The council approved a construction agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation for resurfacing and drainage improvements on CR‑337 (McCalla Road), identified as Project No. ACAA59497‑ATRP(007). The total estimated cost is listed at $2,193,871; federal ATRIP funds are stated as not to exceed $1,755,096.80, leaving a local share estimated at $438,774.20. Mayor Gulley said gas‑tax funds will be used to pay the city's portion. Councilor Teco Stephens moved approval; Councilor Cleophus King seconded; the resolution passed unanimously.

Storage‑building contract award: Resolution No. 379‑26 The council awarded the bid for a storage building at the Kenneth E. Gulley Recreation Center to Coston General Contractors, Inc., the lowest responsive bidder, for $396,000 following a recommendation from EEFS Company PC. Councilors asked whether warranties and insurance bonds would be provided; Attorney Killings said contractors are required to carry bonds and portions of the project will have warranties, and City Engineer Daniel Mayfield confirmed the roofing will match the recreation center's material. The motion to award the contract passed unanimously.

Public nuisance resolutions (Resolutions 380‑26, 381‑26, 382‑26) The council declared structures at 1920 Grandville Avenue North (Resolution No. 380‑26), 2930 Dartmouth Avenue (Resolution No. 381‑26) and 1024 17th Street North (Resolution No. 382‑26) to be public nuisances under local code and ordered owners to repair or demolish the structures within 30 days. At the Dartmouth Avenue hearing, Glenn Rogers, who said he had rented the property to family members, told the council he had paid about $6,000 in taxes and garbage fees on the parcel and plans to demolish the garage. Chief Building Inspector Lovell McElroy testified the Dartmouth Avenue property had been in its current condition "for approximately 3‑5 years." The motions carried unanimously in each case.

Appropriations from discretionary funds (Resolutions 383‑26, 384‑26, 385‑26) The council approved three small discretionary appropriations to support local events and programs: $1,000 from District 1 (Jarvis Collier) and $1,000 from District 2 (Councilor Chester W. Porter’s request, recorded in the minutes as $1,000 despite inconsistent wording in the agenda text), both to the Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce community clean‑up program, and $250 from District 6 (Carla F. Jackson) to sponsor a Maternal & Mental Health Symposium on May 16. All three measures passed unanimously.

Citizen concern about streetlights During citizen participation, resident Jesse Matthews raised a safety concern about streetlights being out near Exit 112 and said he had been told municipalities are now responsible for repairing lights within their jurisdictions. Attorney Killings responded that the lights are owned by the state and maintained under contract with Alabama Power; Mayor Gulley said some poles would need replacement before new fixtures could be installed. The two statements reflect differing accounts of responsibility and were not resolved at the meeting.

Other business and next steps Council President Jarvis Collier and other councilors announced community events and school graduation dates. Councilor Cleophus King said he had submitted lists of dilapidated properties and requested expedited scheduling of public hearings; Attorney Killings said the Building Department plans to bring one to three properties per month for hearings. The meeting adjourned after a unanimous motion.