Getting down to business Monday night, the Woodstock Town Council (Ronnie Kinard, Ty Corbell, Ernestine Johnson, Don Bowling, and Jerry Beams – absent) along with Mayor Jeff Dodson approved and accepted the previous meeting’s minutes, May 2019 financials, and Woodstock Ballpark related invoices from Coca-Cola and the Mosquito Authority totaling $787.
They went on to approve an ad in the West Blocton High School Football Program, the Woodstock Elementary School student agendas, and their Alabama League of Municipalities membership renewal dues. Additionally they okay’ed a purchase order of $932.99 for uniforms and supplies for a new police officer.
It was mentioned in later discussion that the Council intends to purchase four police body-cameras (wearable video cameras that record everything an officer does on their shift) that are estimated to cost $700 each, for a total of about $2,800. More research and details will be gathered by Chief Price and Mayor Dodson before presenting a plan to purchase to the Council at a future date.
Another $846 was approved to pay invoices from The Kelly Group for engineering services related to a sewer system improvement project.
The last expenses on the agenda were the largest. In preparation for the upcoming Woodstock Music Festival (October 12, 2019), the Council agreed to pay Holiday Raceway a sum of $5,370 to cover their cost of operation. Mayor Dodson said this was a discounted rate. Also approved to pay was $2,500 to Elite Productions, which will be handling the stage production. Mayor Dodson spoke briefly about the excellent vendors that have signed up and his high expectations and excitement regarding the festival, which was echoed by Council members.
Police Chief Len Price reported on department activity in the previous month, which included: 40 traffic tickets, 60 traffic warnings, 61 assists to other departments, 10 accidents, 3 misdemeanor arrests, and 5 felony arrests, with a total of 190 calls taken.
Mayor Dodson and the Town Council wished Chief Price a happy birthday, and congratulated him for his 20th year serving in the Woodstock Police Department.
The Mayor summarized a letter from Matthew Hartzell at the County Co-operative Extension Office in which Hartzell thanked the Town and Council for their support and donations to Co-op programs. Dodson also discussed the Co-op’s Master Gardener Program that has been promoted around the county for some time now. According to Town Clerk Tiffney McCulley, Woodstock had zero people sign up for the program at all, much less show interest in accepting the scholarship award from the Co-op that would make the class free. As the people taking the class through scholarship are expected to return knowledge and time to their community through volunteering and educating others, Mayor Dodson’s wife decided to accept the scholarship – since no one else did – and plans to volunteer her time. Though not present, she is reportedly excited about the class.
Speaking of classes, the Mayor reports that the Woodstock Library’s summer reading program (which included 66 children) is ending soon, and their upcoming classes are filling up very quickly for the next few month’s schedules. Classes include:
- Genealogy
- Art
- Basket Weaving
- Blogging and Social Media
The Council discussed in general terms the idea of a new library building, but agreed it is at present time too great an expense. They are, however, looking into less expensive options to acquire more space for the library.
More of an announcement, Mayor Dodson said that in the last month the Senior Center served 448 meals, plus delivered 321 home-bound meals. He added that for a town of about 2,000 people, over 700 meals served in a month is pretty good. “I’m pretty proud,” the Mayor beamed.
After the meeting, Council Member Ty Corbell noted that Fall Ball signup will begin in August. You may register online via a link from their Facebook page or website. An in-person signup day will also be announced later.
The next Woodstock Town Council meeting will be held in two weeks on August 12.
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