City school system on display at Cullman City Council meeting

CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman City Council on Monday evening gave plenty of attention to Cullman City Schools, presenting its annual check to support the system’s capital improvements and recognizing student athlete achievements. Council President Jenny Folsom presented $600,000 to Superintendent Kyle Kallhoff as an installment in the City’s 10-year commitment to helping the system.

After the check presentation, council members took turns calling up student athletes from Cullman High School, presenting certificates of recognition and Christkindlmarkt coupons to members of the:

• Boys’ cross country team, which was a 2024 state runner-up
• Cheerleading squad, which was a 2024 Varsity Game Day state runner-up
• Volleyball team, which made it into the 2024 6A state volleyball tournament

New firefighters introduced

Cullman Fire Chief Darren Peeples took time to introduce the council and audience to the department’s four newest recruits, who just completed 440 hours of training at the Alabama Fire Academy: Javier Torres, Jade Blocker, Kaine Yates and Nick Wood. Peeples noted that Yates was recognized as the most physically fit firefighter in the academy class. The recruits completed certifications for Firefighter 1 and 2, HAZMAT awareness and operations, rope rescue awareness and operations and rapid intervention.

Council business

 The council approved resolutions to:

• Approve the Cullman City Council Meeting schedule for Calendar Year 2025
• Update the Field Training Officers policy for the Cullman Police Department, reducing the number of officers by one
• Update the Traffic Homicide Investigators policy for the Cullman Police Department, adding one officer
• Enter into a professional services agreement with CDG Engineers & Associates, Inc. for CEI services on the Fourth Avenue Southwest Downtown Streetscape project
• Approve change orders for the Omniplex Civic Center, lowering the cost by over $460,000, as the City will take over certain previously contracted services

The council suspended the regular procedural rules to approve the first reading of an ordinance approving a new water supply agreement with the Utilities Board of the City of Cullman. The new agreement will save the city $662,000. The savings may not result in more than “a few cents” discount on customers’ bills, but according to City Clerk Wes Moore, can prevent some future costs being passed on to customers.

The council also approved a special event request from Brad Brooks of Backstage Productions for a New Year’s Eve Celebration at Traditions Bank on Dec. 31, 2024, contingent on police and fire department approval.

The Cullman City Council meets on the second and fourth Monday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Cullman City Hall auditorium. The public is invited to attend.

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