For all the buildup on social media about this city council meeting held tonight, Tuesday, 05-06, it really came down to two words. And they were not “I DO.” They were closer to “I DON’T.”
There was much discussion on the different political Facebook pages about the building and planning commission meeting where it was decided there would be a resolution added to this meeting’s agenda for new plans for a city hall building to be drawn up by Lambert, Ezell and Durham architects. This was decided to be a 3 story and 73,000 sq ft. The meeting itself as recorded by David Carson for his Facebook Page: Florence, AL Open Meeting Project seemed like a big production. The mayor and the 3 committee members along with several of the department heads were in attendance. It was a thorough discussion but the “jist” of the meeting was that the committee was going to decide on the plans for a city hall building. NOW! Jimmy Oliver and Jackie Hendrix wanted it on the agenda to be voted on at the next meeting and Kaytrina Simmons did not. She stated that while she was not against a new city hall building, she thought the council should have more time than from Friday to Tuesday afternoon to go over the proposal. She was outvoted. So, a quickly prepared “amended” agenda was added to the city Facebook page to replace the agenda that had already been posted including item (e) on the regular agenda.
There was just one little problem. This “observer” learned a long time ago to always make sure to read the resolution that corresponds to the city agenda item and not rely on the agenda item alone as to what was being voted on. A word misplaced, added or omitted can give a whole new meaning to the “vote” This was the case with agenda item (e)
This is the first sentence of the resolution: BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF FLORENCE ALABAMA, that the city will move forward with the design and construction of a new city hall to be located at the intersection of Tennessee and Pine St on the site of the old city parking deck.
Let’s play “Where’s Waldo” SEE THE TWO LITTLE WORDS? David Carson did when it came time for remarks from the public concerning agenda items and immediately pointed out that the resolution had “AND CONSTRUCTION” in the resolution. This vote was not simply for the architect to draw up new plans it was approving the CONSTRUCTION of the building. To construct the building there would need to be spent (at least) the $48+ million dollar bond money that had already been approved. It sure did look like “gaslighting”. For all the smart “lawyering” and educated eyes that were in the room for the building and planning committee meeting it all boiled down to one person reading the agenda and pointing out the obvious.
I do not know if he joyously did it or not, but Jimmy Oliver did propose that an amendment to the amended agenda item be presented without the word “AND CONSTRUCTION” Two little word can carry a lot of weight. The resolution passed.
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