During the Tuesday evening Piedmont City Work Session, Mayor Bill Baker brought up Ryan Shubird CPA from Jackson Thornton in Montgomery, Alabama. First, Shubird got right into the Electrical Cost of Service Study for Piedmont. He has been working on the 2023 Electric Cost of Service Study for 12 months ending in September 2023. This identifies revenue stability and sufficiency, fairness and equity, and ability for the customers understanding of simple rates. This is an in-depth study that can tell the Council what the citizens of Piedmont are paying and what the future of the electrical cost will be. It was 50 minutes later when Shubird finished up with his lengthy rate study with the Council.
After the Work Session, the Regular meeting began with Mayor Baker informing the council the operational expenses for the past two weeks were $656,886.10, which included two weeks of payroll. The bills were approved for payment.
Next on the agenda was the Council helping out with the transformers for the Resin Recycling Company in Piedmont. The Council approved to pay 50 percent of the total cost of $50,000, which is labor and materials. Corey Horton from the Piedmont Electric Department represented the Industrial Resin Company. Horton then addressed the Council about the products he needed for the Piedmont Electric Department. That order was for $17,696.75. This was also approved by Council.
Mayor Baker then informed the Council that a large clerical error had been made with the City of Piedmont and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Piedmont overcharged O’Reilly Auto Parts $38,000. The Council approved to pay off the entire debt.
Councilman Terry Kiser made a motion to have the next Council Meetings on December 3 and 10. This was approved by Council.
Police Chief Nathan Johnson gave the Police Report for October. The Piedmont Police had a total of 15 arrests on 18 Misdemeanor charges and 2 Felony charges. He also stated there were23 total Abatement cases. Fire Chief Todd Kirkland gave the Fire Report for October. There were 71 incidents.
City Clerk Carl Hinton informed the Council the Trotters want the Council to come to the resin recycling company for a visit.
Mayor Baker wished the Piedmont High School Football team good luck.
The next City of Piedmont Council Meeting will be on December 3.