5:30 Pm City Council Chambers, Municipal Building Huntsville
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HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Regular Meeting - July 8, 2021 - 5:30 p.m. City Council Chambers, Municipal Building Huntsville, Alabama Members Present: Dr. Jennie Robinson, President Mr. John Meredith Mr. Bill Kling Mr. Devyn Keith (Not present for entire meeting) Ms. Frances Akridge Mayor: Mr. Tommy Battle City Administrator: Mr. John Hamilton City Attorney: Mr. Trey Riley The meeting was called to order by President Robinson at the time and place noted above. (Councilman Keith is not present in the Council Chambers.) President Robinson asked that the record reflect that Councilman Keith would be arriving late to the meeting, but there was a quorum present. Dr. Toussaint Williams, Pastor with Oakwood University Church, led the invocation; Councilman Kling led the Pledge of Allegiance. President Robinson stated that the next item on the agenda was Approval of Minutes. The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Council on June 24, 2021, were approved as submitted. -2- President Robinson stated that the next item on the agenda was Resolutions and Special Recognitions. President Robinson recognized Mayor Battle. Mayor Battle asked Chief McMurray to come forward for the presentation of life-saving medals. Chief McMurray asked Officer Tyler West and Officer Kendall Wagahoff to come forward, along with Sgt. Yuliya Zaremba. Chief McMurray stated that Sgt. Zaremba had put these officers in for this recognition. Chief McMurray stated that on April 20, 2021, Officer Wagahoff had been dispatched to a possible overdose on Indiana Street. He stated that the caller had advised the 911 dispatcher that a man had overdosed on heroin and collapsed, and that Officer Wagahoff had discovered the victim unresponsive and not breathing. He stated that Officer Wagahoff had immediately started chest compressions and had continued with this for several minutes, until HEMSI personnel arrived on the scene, and the paramedics had administered Narcan to revive the subject, and the subject had become conscious and was transported to the hospital, and he was alive at this time. Chief McMurray stated that Officer Wagahoff's quick response to the actions needed at the scene had contributed to preserving the life of this individual, and at this time Officer Wagahoff would be receiving the life-saving medal to formally recognize a job well done. Chief McMurray stated that actually Officer Wagahoff would be receiving two life-saving awards at this time. He stated that the second incident had occurred with his squadmate, Officer Tyler West. He stated that on April 8, 2021, these two officers had responded to a possible overdose call on Newson Road. He stated that a man had -3- called 911 and advised that two of his roommates were unresponsive. He continued that upon the officers arriving on the scene, they had found one man unresponsive on the couch and had quickly moved him to the floor, and Officer West had started chest compressions while Officer Wagahoff administered Narcan. Chief McMurray stated that not all of their officers had Narcan in their kits, but Officer Wagahoff was one of their field training officers. He stated that Narcan could be administered by their supervisors and field training officers, and they had them spread throughout the department so they could administer it, carefully, if needed. He stated that the man had regained consciousness, and he was transported to the hospital. He stated that the other man, unfortunately, had been pronounced dead at the scene. Chief McMurray stated that the officers' quick response and action at this scene had contributed to the preserving of life, and they were not only thankful for what these two officers had done, but he wanted to formally thank HEMSI for training their officers, as they were a vital part of what they did at the Huntsville Police Academy. He stated that the training they received in life-saving measures was like nothing he had ever received when he was coming through the academy. He stated that these were advanced life-saving procedures. He stated that the Mayor and the Council allowed them to purchase the Narcan and to get the trauma kits, and that that, along with the training through the paramedics that HEMSI provided for them, was life-saving, and it was paying benefits. Chief McMurray thanked Officer Wagahoff and Officer West for their outstanding service, and Mayor Battle presented the life-saving medals to the officers. Mayor Battle stated that one of the biggest honors they could have was by saving someone's life, and he thanked the officers for what they had done. President Robinson thanked the officers for their service and also thanked their -4- families, noting that they were aware of the sacrifices they made as well. Councilman Kling read and introduced a resolution recognizing Joy McKee for her outstanding contributions and beautification efforts for the city of Huntsville, as follows: (RESOLUTION NO. 21-592) Councilman Kling moved for approval of the foregoing resolution, which motion was duly seconded by President Robinson. President Robinson called for a roll-call vote on Resolution No. 21-592, and the following vote resulted: AYES: Kling, Meredith, Akridge, Robinson NAYS: None ABSENT: Keith President Robinson recognized Councilman Kling for the presentation. Councilman Kling stated that it was his honor to recognize an outstanding department head and employee and who he was certain would be a future Beautification Board member, Joy McKee, for what she had done in 22 years of outstanding service to the community. He stated that she had done so much in helping the neighborhoods, noting that she had put him to work on numerous neighborhood cleanups. He stated that she had also established Operation Green Team, which was used to promote youth education programs, recycling awareness, and anti-litter campaigns. He stated that she had a great can-do attitude, and that many of the programs she had helped to create were designed to raise environmental awareness, including a phone-in hotline that allowed citizens to report littering as it happened. Councilman Kling stated that Ms. McKee had worked to create many new outdoor recreation spaces, that she had partnered with Toyota Manufacturing to -5- create a new kayak/canoe launch site in the Flint River, to improve citizens' access to that 40-mile recreational gem, and she had added the Dallas Fanning Nature Preserve to the City's resources. He stated that she was the true essence of a servant leader, and she often encouraged employees to think and reach beyond complacency. Councilman Kling stated to Ms. McKee that it was his privilege at this time to present the resolution to her. Ms. McKee thanked the Council for the recognition, and she stated that it had been her honor and privilege to work with each of them. She stated that the Mayor had actually proclaimed a Joy McKee Day. She stated that she had worked with so many great people, and they were still calling her, and she did not mind that because she wanted to be a help to the community. Ms. McKee stated that it was only because of the employees that she had gotten to be where she was at this time, and she thanked them. Mayor Battle stated that when he had first come into office 13 years prior, Ms. McKee was head of Landscape, and she just had so much energy that they needed something to keep her busy, so they had also given her Cemetery, and then, of course, she had Green Team. He stated that as Ms. McKee was leaving, they had had to replace her with three people. Mayor Battle stated that Ms. McKee was someone who had really taken on the work of the city and loved the city. He stated that if people wanted to see someone who would track someone down if they littered on the streets, it was Ms. McKee, that she had chased people by car, by foot, et cetera, and she had made sure the city stayed beautiful. Mayor Battle thanked Ms. McKee for all she had done for the city. President Robinson stated to Ms. McKee that they would miss her, and they were grateful for her service. -6- Councilman Kling read and introduced a resolution honoring Keith Atchley for his many years of service to the City of Huntsville through his accomplishments in Community Development, as follows: (RESOLUTION NO. 21-593) Councilman Kling moved for approval of the foregoing resolution, which motion was duly seconded by President Robinson. President Robinson called for a roll-call vote on Resolution No. 21-593, and the following vote resulted: AYES: Kling, Meredith, Akridge, Robinson NAYS: None ABSENT: Keith President Robinson recognized Councilman Kling. (Councilman Keith is now present in the Council Chambers.) Councilman Kling stated that Mr. Atchley was another person who had done great things for the city. He stated that everyone on the Council was very concerned about neighborhoods and making sure they had the best neighborhoods in their respective districts, as well as in the city as a whole, and Mr. Atchley was ground zero for this. He stated that he had served in many capacities, and he was ground zero as far as anything related to Code enforcement, and he would also make sure that things got to the appropriate person to be handled. He stated that because of Mr. Atchley, neighborhoods throughout the community were much better off. He stated that he had been great about helping to revitalize the city, that so many great things had taken place in neighborhoods because of Mr. Atchley's enforcement, that many great things had taken place in central neighborhoods throughout the city. Councilman Kling stated that it was bittersweet to be able to present this resolution to Mr.