Montevallo Council adopts audit, joins regional SCBA purchase and approves $3 million MDCD loan for gym and fields

The Montevallo City Council met June 8 at City Hall and approved a series of finance and public‑safety measures, including adoption of the fiscal year 2024 financial statements and audit as presented by Doeren‑Mayhew Assurance, LLC.

Council members voted unanimously to join a regional Memorandum of Understanding with the Calera and Alabaster fire departments to apply for the FY2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to purchase Self‑Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) units. The council also adopted Resolution 06082026‑3473 authorizing a local 10% match for equipment acquired through the grant; the match was estimated at $31,200 pending final award and allocation.

The MOU identifies the Calera Fire Department as the host/applicant and specifies each partner must provide a nonfederal cost share equal to 10% of the equipment value awarded to that partner. Council Member David King moved to adopt the MOU; Council Member Lelia Mitchell seconded the motion, which carried on a unanimous vote.

In personnel and retiree action, the council adopted Resolution 06082026‑772 to provide a one‑time longevity bonus to eligible retired city employees and beneficiaries under Act 2026‑608 (ARSEA/APEAL). The city clerk certified an estimated cost of $2,916; the resolution directs the city to submit the necessary paperwork to the retirement system for payment in October 2026.

On development financing, the council approved Resolution 06082026‑3862 authorizing the Montevallo Development Cooperative District (MDCD) to secure a $3,000,000 loan with Central State Bank. The loan terms cited in the resolution are a 15‑year term at a 3.60% APR. According to the project documents adopted the same night, the MDCD intends to allocate $2,000,000 toward construction of a regulation gym at Montevallo High School and $1,000,000 toward two multipurpose athletic fields and related site work. The district's Project Development Agreement pledges 90% of the proceeds from a dedicated one‑percent city sales tax to secure the loan.

Council members also approved routine operational items: acceptance of a $5,200 quote from ACE Tree Service for treatment and fertilization of trees along North Boundary Street; a $5,000 community sponsorship for the American Village America 250 celebration; and a Memorandum of Agreement with the Shelby County Board of Education governing community scheduling and use of the Montevallo High School gym. The MOA affirms that board‑sanctioned school events have scheduling priority and that the city will furnish a designee to coordinate access and on‑site supervision for City‑sponsored events.

Impact Montevallo director Sarah Hogan Shaw briefed the council on takeaways from a Safe Schools Conference the city's school resource officers and staff attended. Shaw summarized themes from survivor testimony, Secret Service and FBI threat‑assessment guidance and state school‑safety updates; she told the council the Pepperdine law professor at the conference emphasized "what you knew, and when you knew it" as a critical documentation standard for school safety responses. Shaw also listed upcoming youth events and community meetings, including Camp Journey (July 20–23 for rising sixth graders) and several Short‑Term Action Team Zoom sessions to gather community input.

All motions recorded in the minutes passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:39 p.m.

Votes at a glance: - Adopt FY2024 financial statements and audit — Motion: Council Member David King; Second: Council Member Brandelyn Nelson; Outcome: approved (6–0). - Adopt MOU for regional SCBA acquisition — Motion: Council Member David King; Second: Council Member Lelia Mitchell; Outcome: approved (6–0). - Resolution 06082026‑3473 (10% SCBA match, est. $31,200) — Motion: Council Member Brandelyn Nelson; Second: Council Member David King; Outcome: approved (6–0). - Resolution 06082026‑772 (one‑time longevity bonus under Act 2026‑608; est. $2,916) — Motion: Council Member Lelia Mitchell; Second: Council Member Kenneth Dukes; Outcome: approved (6–0). - Accept ACE Tree Service quote ($5,200) — Motion: Council Member Kenneth Dukes; Second: Council Member Alyssa Green; Outcome: approved (6–0). - MOA with Shelby County Board of Education for gym scheduling — Motion: Council Member Kenneth Dukes; Second: Council Member Lelia Mitchell; Outcome: approved (6–0). - Community sponsorship, American Village America 250 ($5,000) — Motion: Council Member Alyssa Green; Second: Council Member Lelia Mitchell; Outcome: approved (6–0). - Resolution 06082026‑3862 (authorize MDCD loan with Central State Bank, $3,000,000) — Motion: Council Member Kenneth Dukes; Second: Council Member Lelia Mitchell; Outcome: approved (6–0). - Adopt MDCD Project Development Agreement — Motion: Council Member Brandelyn Nelson; Second: Council Member Alyssa Green; Outcome: approved (6–0).

What happens next: staff will finalize grant application materials with Calera (for the AFG application), coordinate match accounting if the AFG award is made, and MDCD will proceed with loan documentation and project procurement consistent with the Project Development Agreement and pledged dedicated‑tax revenues.