By Madeline Burbank 

The Montevallo City Council voted to pass the 2022-2023 fiscal budget at their Sept. 26 meeting after its second reading. This saw minor changes from the first reading including a 3 percent salary increase and health insurance for city employees in the budget. 

At this meeting, the council also voted to accept a proposal from CMIT Solutions to install new surveillance cameras along with a new digital video recorder system at Shoal Creek Park. The cameras will cover the parking lots and function along with the already existing cameras using a system similar to one recently installed at the Montevallo library. 

This agreement will cost $7,186.71 which was cheaper than a similar proposal made by Alabama Power Company. It was made in the wake of repeated break-ins at the Mahler House located in the park. The existing system also has frequent signal cutouts making the existing cameras unreliable. 

The council also voted approved CMIT Solutions, an IT management company based out of Birmingham, to manage and service the city’s IT systems, security and websites. The contract will last for a three year period beginning Oct. 1. 

Before this decision, three different contractors managed different parts of the IT system. This split between three contractors for the IT management used to cost approximately $6,000, which according to City Clerk Steve Gilbert is similar to the cost with just CMIT Solutions. 

The council additionally voted to establish a credit card account with Home Depot for departmental purchases under accounts payable. It will have a purchase limit of $2,500 with the stated reason for the request being that “with the ways things are stocked some stores have it and some stores don’t” according to Steve Gilbert. A credit card account with Home Depot allows the city to easier make tax exempt purchases more easily. 

Vendor license fees have been waived by the council for the Fire Prevention Parade, National Night Out and Art Stalk. Each of these events will happen during October. 

Beyond voting matters, Martha Eisenberg expressed discontent with a foundation that was placed in Shoal Creek Park without the approval of the City Council. She requested that the council look further into the matter. 

Additionally, there have been issues with people bringing vehicles inside the park and having events without registering with the city. Orr Park has had similar issues with people driving across the bridge and parking their vehicles within the park. 

Bollards, poles that prevent vehicle passage, have been ordered and will be placed in both locations. 

Bobby C.P. Pierson mentioned during the addressal period that Tinglewood or the Art Walk, which are held at Orr Park, may have some difficulties bringing goods in with this change. Mayor Rusty Nix stated they would give a special release in those cases, however. 

The next Montevallo City Council meeting will be held on Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. It will be held at the Montevallo City Hall and will be live streamed on the city’s Facebook page.