On the agenda: Anniston Minutes — data center (Aug 18)

Anniston, Alabama August 18, 2026 The City Council of the City of Anniston, Alabama, met in Regular Session in the Council Chambers at the Anniston City Hall in the City of Anniston, Alabama, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at approximately 5:30 o’clock p.m. Julie Moss, Council Member, prayed the Invocation. Julie Moss, Council Member, led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Mayor Smith-Roston called the meeting to order. On call of the roll, the following Council Members were found to be present: Council Members Downing, Tolson, Harrington, Moss, and Smith-Roston; absent: none. A quorum was present and the meeting opened for the transaction of business. Matthew Caballero, Interim City Manager, was present. Bruce Downey, City Attorney, was present. Council Member Tolson made a motion to w aive the reading of and approve the minutes of the August 4, 2026, regular meeting. The motion was seconded by Council Member Downing and on call of the roll the following vote was recorded: ayes: Council Members D owning, Tolson, Harrington, Moss , and Smith- Roston ; nays: none . The motion carried and the minutes of the August 4, 2026, regular meeting were approved. Mayor Smith-Roston made a motion to amend the agenda by adding appointments of La’Sha Robinson and Jared Ross to t he McC lellan Development Authority Board, a resolution establishing a temporary moratorium on the permitting, development, and licensing of data centers to the consent agenda; and an executive session. The motion was seconded by Council Member Harrington and on call of the roll the following vote was recorded: ayes: Council Members Downing, Tolson, Harrington, Moss , and Smith- Roston ; nays: none. The motion carried and the agenda was amended. Council Member Moss made a motion to approve the amended agenda. The motion was seconded by Council Member Downing and on call of the roll the following vote was recorded: ayes: Council Members Downing, Tolson, Harrington, Moss , and Smith- Roston ; nays: none. The motion carried and the amended agenda was approved. Jessica Leonard, Finance Director, presented the FY 2027 City Manager’s Proposed Budget. Mayor Smith-Roston opened a public hearing to receive public comment on the FY 2027 City Manager’s Proposed Budget. John Squires , 2 01 Druid Hills Road , stated that he had three concerns regarding the budget. First, he expressed safety concerns about the sidewalks, particularly in Randolph Park. He suggested that the Council consider constructing a sidewalk using donated bricks from members of the community. Second, he discussed traffic-calming measures, stating that speed bumps appear to be the most effective deterrent to speeding within the city. Third, he asked whether the City had paid the outstanding balance owed to 121 Disposal and inquired whether the contract term was for one year or three years. An unidentified female speaker stated that 21st Street needs to be paved. She stated that the roadway has potholes and that, despite living in the area for more than ten years, the City has continued to patch the street rather than permanently repair it. She also expressed concerns regarding discarded tires and mosquito activity in the area, stating that residents are unable to comfortably spend time outdoors and that mosquito spraying has not occurred this year. The speaker's name could not be discerned from the meeting recording. An unidentified female speaker, whose address appeared to be 616 East 27th Street, asked whether funding was available to address abandoned homes. She stated that a house located at 618 East 27th Street has been vacant for several years and that the owner has abandoned the property without maintaining it. The speaker also requested the installation of a speed bump near 27th Street, citing concerns about vehicles traveling at speeds of approximately 40 to 50 miles per hour in an area where children are present. She further requested that the City invest in cleaning up 27th Street to improve the appearance of the neighborhood. The speaker's name could not be discerned from the meeting recording. Brenjetta White, 30 South Walnut Avenue, asked the Council to postpone consideration of the FY 2027 Budget to allow the public additional time to review the proposed budget and receive a more detailed breakdown of its contents. Mayor Smith- Roston closed the public hearing to receive public comment on the FY 2027 City Manager’s Proposed Budget. Council Member Downing made a motion to approve the consent agenda: (a) Resolution authorizing the adoption and approval of the Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Action Plan under the Community Development Block Grant ( CDBG ) Program and Home Investment Partnerships Act Program (26-R-94) (b) Resolution declaring a reported condition to be a public nuisance (26-R-95) (c) Resolution amending the FY 2026 Budget to recognize grant and donation funds for Main Street Anniston and the Anniston Museums and Gardens (26-R-96) (d) Resolution establishing a temporary moratorium on the permitting, development, and licensing of data centers (26-R-97) (e ) Motion to appoint La’Sha Robinso n and Jared Ross to the McC lellan Development Authority Board The motion was seconded by Council Member Tolson and on call of the roll the following vote was recorded: ayes: Council Members Downing, Tolson, Harrington, Moss , and Smith- Roston ; nays: none. The motion carried and the consent agenda was approved. Quintin Burrow addressed the Council regarding speeding concerns on Fort McClellan. He stated that excessive speeding has become a public safety issue and expressed concern about limited enforcement in the area. He urged the City to take action to address the problem. John Squires a ddressed the Council regarding the residency qualifications of a council member. He cited City and State Code provisions, questioned whether residency requirements were met at the time of the election, and requested that the Council address the matter and provide transparency before proceeding with other city business . Jim Stirling addressed the Council and expressed support for the City's decision to withdraw from the 287(g) agreement with ICE. He stated that he believed the decision would help protect constitutional rights and preserve local resources. Mr. Stirling also referenced Anniston's history of civil rights advocacy and encouraged the City to continue serving as a model for other municipalities. He thanked the Mayor and Council for their leadership. Council Member Downing thanked the citizens in attendance for their civic engagement and participation in City affairs. He also thanked City staff, the Finance Department, and the City Manager for their work in preparing the budget. He reminded the public that Museum Day would be held on Saturday, with free admission and family-friendly activities at the museum complex. He concluded by encouraging residents to stay safe during the hot weather. Council Member Tolson thanked the citizens in attendance for their participation and engagement. She thanked the Finance Director and City Manager for their work on the budget. She also expressed appreciation to the Public Works Department, Fire Department, and Police Department for their service and responsiveness. She stated that she remains committed to learning and attending meetings to better serve the community. Council Member Harrington addressed concerns regarding speeding and public safety, stating that the safety of residents should remain a priority. He discussed traffic enforcement, the use of citations as a deterrent, and the need to study traffic conditions before implementing traffic-calming measures. He also suggested providing information on traffic fines to increase public awareness. Additionally, he thanked the Finance Director and Finance Department for their work on the budget and expressed his belief that City resources should be used efficiently to address community needs, including beautification, cleanup efforts, and housing concerns. Council Member Moss thanked the City Manager, department directors, and staff for their work in preparing the budget and responding to questions during the budget process. She also expressed appreciation to the Calhoun County Chamber and the America 250 Committee for their efforts in celebrating America's 250th anniversary and highlighted the recent mural unveiling on Noble Street. She encouraged residents to visit the mural and concluded by reminding the public to take precautions during the extreme heat and check on their neighbors and pets. Mayor Smith-Roston addressed several matters raised during public comments. She clarified that the City has no outstanding balance with 121 Disposal and provided an update on the proposed road paving bond initiative. She also discussed ongoing efforts to address blighted properties through demolition and redevelopment projects, as well as the Council's interest in strengthening property maintenance enforcement. She acknowledged concerns regarding speeding and public safety and stated that appropriate traffic-calming measures would continue to be evaluated. She thanked residents for their participation and comments. Mayor Smith-Roston made a motion to enter executive session to discuss the consideration the governmental body is willing to offer or accept when considering the purchase, sale, exchange, lease, or market value of real property and to discuss preliminary negotiations involving matters of trade or commerce in which the governmental body is in competition with private individuals or entities or other governmental bodies in Alabama or in other states or foreign nations. Mayor Smith-Roston stated for the record that the discussions would have a detrimental effect upon the city's competitive position or upon the location, retention, expansion, or upgrading of a business entity if disclosed outside of an executive session. She further stated that the Council would not return to deliberate or vote on any matters discussed in that executive session. The motion was seconded by Council Member Tolson and on call of the roll the following vote was recorded: ayes: Council Members Downing, Tolson, Harrington, Moss, and Smith-Roston; nays: none. The regular meeting was adjourned and the Council entered executive session at approximately 6:19 o'clock p.m.