Cullman City Council bids farewell to Johnny Cook

Council adopts transportation plans and pay incentives for fire and police

CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman City Council on Monday said goodbye to longtime Councilman and President Pro Tem Johnny Cook. Cook, who lost his re-election bid earlier this year, will be on a mission trip out of the country when the current council holds its last official meeting on Thursday, Oct. 30. The councilman spoke fondly of the council’s accomplishments during his tenure, and of the friendships he built along the way.

Said Cook, “I just wanted to thank all the citizens of Cullman for trusting me and allowing me to serve for the time I did. It was an honor and a pleasure. I want to thank the mayor and all his council members, all the previous council members the mayor worked with. In the infamous words of Coach (Andy) Page, We always worked as a team; it was teamwork. It really wasn’t work. It was enjoyable. We disagreed often, but we left it in the back room and came out here and handled our business.

“But most of all, I want to thank my family, who are all here tonight. They stood behind me and done without me for a long time, and understood what I was doing. Thank y’all very much.”

Getting down to business, the council passed three resolutions to offer pay incentives for police and fire department staff to take opportunities for advanced training:

Cullman Police Department Criminal Investigation Unit
Certified Training Officers in the Communications Department
Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedic Medical Technicians in Cullman Fire Rescue

The council also passed three resolutions to improve streets and sidewalks around town:

Accept ALDOT TAP grant funds of $800,000 for handicap-accessible sidewalks beginning at the intersection of Third Street Southwest (U.S. Highway 278) and Third Avenue Southwest and extending south along Third Avenue Southwest to Fifth Street Southwest and then west along Fifth Street Southwest to the intersection of Fourth Avenue Southwest
Enter into agreement with ALDOT to maintain a sidewalk along 401 Third Street SW
Adopt the transportation plan for use of gas tax money pursuant to the Rebuild Alabama Act for FY2026

Additionally, the council adopted a resolution to accept Addison Way Southwest as a part of the public street system, after its construction by a private developer and confirmation that it meets City standards.

The council held first readings of a number of proposed ordinances that can be considered at the next meeting:

To surplus property owned by the City, which is not needed for public or municipal purposes
To surplus a utility easement located at 5411 Alabama Highway 157 NW (at the new Chick-fil-A)
To annex the Hope property located at 1789 County Road 1339 as R-1 Residential District
Concerning the officers and board members of the City, appointed by the mayor
Concerning the officers of the City, appointed by the city council
Concerning the election of officers of the City, appointed by the city council

The council approved other resolutions:

To re-award the bid for the Lazy River to Aqua Design Systems, Inc. in the amount of $5,576,907, cutting the cost by $200,000 by having the City perform certain tasks
To proclaim the third Wednesday in October as Chamber of Commerce Appreciation Day
To enter into a contract with Tyler Technologies for archiving and content management software
To approve a new employee matrix for Communications Dispatch
To amend position control detail to remove an investigator in the Police Department

The council also:

Set a public hearing on Nov.17, 2025, at 7 p.m. for Ordinance No. 2026-04 to rezone Gavel Down Properties located on John H. Cooper Drive SE from B-2 Business District to R-3 Residential District, which received an unfavorable recommendation from the Planning Commission
Approved a special event request from Greg Speegle of Cullman Moose Lodge for the annual Turkey Shoot every Saturday morning in November and December
Approved a request from Birdie Box, LLC located at 1929 Second Ave. SW for a restaurant alcohol license, which received a favorable recommendation from the Alcohol Review Committee

The Cullman City Council will meet next at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, in the auditorium at city hall. The public is invited to attend.