[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6393511,"mediaKeyId","2106837-5635a87e6e522a290b62c85232202c51","parentId",2106837,"title","Council adopts procurement threshold updates to align with FTA guidance","audioSeconds",53,"startMs",3832000,"endMs",3885000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2106837-5635a87e6e522a290b62c85232202c51&start=3832&end=3885","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2106837-5635a87e6e522a290b62c85232202c51/thumbnail_3832000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6393511/Huntsville/Madison-County/Alabama/Council-adopts-procurement-threshold-updates-to-align-with-FTA-guidance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393511-955bc246d2121a6306393342fbc3947a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173653&Signature=n5obU3CDT7Ot8~t~YRjb1Pr1YFMy2qqzVw1nhTvE8zJa7Dc8lRoOWlpJTCsYC1WCMcEIcs8La1Lye~bTJqyB67P0YWTRm61M4NM5PkCWgT-fs5wJhOd86gyqwLjz2Su80-tixxki49-hjvnyolPoUI8~IFaSjq8ks2ctuPITu7H8h9cAOs1SF~lazu1UVpYC7bVu4csf54mQv~-tLuyeWemvtcMAJZnhH9ga4sa5Jo4hqM5iAtSnPNL1GUIDZxjrKrG64gWXZpTosnD~6XvG8b7P3dRRD6SZhzv7IC1u8saf6QLjpcALSNuyr4RX-SPnq3Cgv36m3jASR5Dz~haC4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Huntsville city, AL","date","2025-01-09T00:00:00Z","article","HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Huntsville City Council on Jan. 9 approved an ordinance amending procurement rules to raise purchase thresholds and update other standards, Finance Director Penny Smith said.

Smith told the council the amendments update definitions and thresholds to align with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) standards and internal policy needs. Specifically, she said the city’s small‑dollar procurement threshold was raised from $2,000 to $10,000; she also said an FTA small‑dollar threshold increased from $150,000 to $250,000. The amendment adds definitions for unnecessary or duplicative items and updates provisions for bid security and performance security.

Councilmember Dr. Robinson asked for a broader review of other thresholds — for example, the reporting threshold for small donations — to reduce administrative workload. Smith said the ordinance brings the city into compliance with the updated federal guidance and raises internal thresholds accordingly. The ordinance passed by voice vote as part of the meeting’s regular business.

The council instructed finance staff to publish the revised thresholds and update procurement policy documentation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Huntsville City Council Meeting – January 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved amendments to the city procurement code that raise small purchase thresholds and update other procurement standards to match FTA guidance, city finance staff said.","taxTitle","Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama","taxId",2540,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393517,"Mayor's pick for DEI director confirmed; councilmember proposes renaming office to 'Multicultural Affairs'",1662,2316000,3978000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2106837-5635a87e6e522a290b62c85232202c51&start=2316&end=3978","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2106837-5635a87e6e522a290b62c85232202c51/thumbnail_2316000.jpg","/articles/6393517/Huntsville/Madison-County/Alabama/Mayors-pick-for-DEI-director-confirmed-councilmember-proposes-renaming-office-to-Multicultural-Affairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393517-4432946e867be64e97bf042bd9a5b7c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173653&Signature=OCXRzUQI5CQFg~9Zv7Ms9Kq-ctGUumizQLswNNKdhOaiyptd8JutjfO05KVs4jESLPYLbQ1q33qhAkFeKFO9vzPG2NuFvZmQ-iruYRjhSu6mrzDy6ODfZCiIkQh3x~fIZr2Rv0vF9gR0LAytKWxR604RSPwU573Ojvu2VFI0TBFGQDnpt6i~BB1q~6dE0369qOBRlF4vxMqQmb2mTfDtjwvPu2No3sXwCWs1YTP782zCzUweqOWgdGAg~rbWB7snKdCN-x-K2qQlHnsXLgdD9knFR8s140qikGN5kokxJ~-IjL3piL3bv-q42hlKER2h8z-3eXzY~zBvdolkx2Sgdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Huntsville City Council on Jan. 9 confirmed the mayoral appointment of Dr. Randy Barber as director of the city’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion office.

Mayor Battle introduced Dr. Barber and summarized his academic and professional background, noting Barber’s Ph.D. in psychology, teaching experience at Alabama A&M University and work with local education and community organizations. The mayor said the managerial qualifications and community ties were factors in the appointment, and council members approved the appointment as part of a consolidated block of new‑business items.

Dr. Barber was present during the meeting and the mayor asked the council to concur with the appointment. Councilmember Marissa (Dr.) Robinson praised Barber’s local experience and said the appointment provided an opportunity to reconsider the department’s name and mission. Robinson said she would introduce a resolution at a future meeting to rename the office to “Multicultural Affairs,” arguing the change would better reflect community outreach and inclusivity work rather than internal human‑resources compliance functions. Councilmember Watkins is listed as a co‑sponsor of the planned resolution.

The council approved the consolidated block that included the appointment by voice vote; no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the public transcript. The mayor’s office said Dr. Barber will begin work with department onboarding and that a qualifications sheet is on file for the position.","Dr. Randy Barber was confirmed by the council as director of the mayor's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion office. Councilmember Dr. Robinson said she will introduce a resolution to rename the department 'Multicultural Affairs.'",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393522,"Weeden House Museum reports visitor growth, new grants and education plans to Huntsville City Council",446,445000,891000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2106837-5635a87e6e522a290b62c85232202c51&start=445&end=891","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2106837-5635a87e6e522a290b62c85232202c51/thumbnail_445000.jpg","/articles/6393522/Huntsville/Madison-County/Alabama/Weeden-House-Museum-reports-visitor-growth-new-grants-and-education-plans-to-Huntsville-City-Council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393522-98d289fa4f11ea97cc494f53699eeeee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173653&Signature=fKL0Ea4WdOj~vET-GVBMsRJXUZpojcmNsfwQ-gI8BafdKdr2XTcbCIbgOLRI6Gn3GFiMbTgtG7ktApGPjxyNq-h96pejFCwfnboX~dHLuyefGV0wesHeszDTETGfMM3IqymvypQKqjQ6vTV3Af~05v9y2Tf-W2nfXCJkT2RfTFoQq~Vc6es53RrgWlUWfxgfVDUoElj8U3RTgxYgHOzT31BhJMK6AeA5HhphMNWZvl0w18cXllVxpnyh0Y2nRihQXJIAiCIQur81~Sk5DVjuQvpJXAwnJ36zWOc8ht3ZvX1Qco3-7ZqErlC2A9n0Ur5V4FQjiY4oHlc05rYReOimDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Beth Hamilton, director of the Weeden House Museum in the Twickenham Historic District, told the Huntsville City Council on Jan. 9 that the museum recorded growth in visitors and school programming in the past year and is pursuing partnerships and site improvements.

Hamilton said the museum welcomed about 10,000 visitors in 2024 and reported an increase in third‑grade field trips, from about 750 in 2023 to roughly 1,000 last year. She told the council the museum received a grant from the Alabama Historical Commission to improve restrooms on the property and has installed a new fence and maintained garden turf with support from city funding. The Twickenham Historic Preservation District Association governs the property and provides oversight.

Hamilton (first reference: Beth Hamilton, museum director of the Weeden House Museum) described efforts to expand educational offerings to homeschool groups and middle‑school students, increase collaborative programming with Historic Huntsville Foundation, Burritt, the Twickenham Garden Club and the Daughters of the American Revolution, and to develop a pollinator garden that will be used in school programming. She said the museum’s primary fundraiser, the luminary tours each December, produced the second‑largest revenue total since the event began in 1978.

Andy Kelly, president of the Twickenham Historic Preservation District Association, attended with Hamilton and offered support. Councilmember Dr. Robinson asked about coordination among local museums and the relationship with Historic Huntsville Foundation and EarlyWorks; Hamilton said the museums collaborate on exhibits, publicity and shared programs and that she borrows pieces for special displays.

Hamilton said the city allocates $40,000 to the museum, largely used for the museum director’s salary; she said she is the only full‑time salaried employee. She also described a project goal to pursue inclusion on the state’s civil‑rights trail to highlight Maria Howard Weeden’s work portraying African Americans during Reconstruction.

The presentation concluded with a request for continued city partnership as the museum expands outreach and programming.","Museum director Beth Hamilton told the council the Weeden House Museum increased visits and school field trips in 2024, won a grant for restroom improvements and expects continued partnerships with local preservation groups.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":80,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393525,"Huntsville City Council approves demolition, nuisance assessments and multiple hearings; Mayor's appointments confirmed",2473,1505000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2106837-5635a87e6e522a290b62c85232202c51&start=1505&end=3978","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2106837-5635a87e6e522a290b62c85232202c51/thumbnail_1505000.jpg","/articles/6393525/Huntsville/Madison-County/Alabama/Huntsville-City-Council-approves-demolition-nuisance-assessments-and-multiple-hearings-Mayors-appointments-confirmed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393525-7f5410ac3308fad76b1b6ab26cb1e67d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173653&Signature=Yv6yl7RxG1EQ~AVaeeCmacFvb~6NHumPcJCMd4xhZOug0aRBeccjvqQljywK2d6lPTNJhoYK1cIPFdvqqgw6Uk-HR7cRF-rgGSWHjhVXxbIUoBXwRw6Inh-OqwciYpYCXFpCVE6aH56iUDGgqJh5nwf~HV-DqoELrpBlkTYQpy99n~cNiyM3a2v25qWz1qzVdPTULVREO-zIApAv1sfp-GyRwdtxOFjRKjmW41w0iUO5-bHTvbiZaOo9gqZq-nTTn9cmnIqY8ZZUqlDM~mZ8AMSc-T6yDlMWbcXMN3lwmkV3AGhzGNhtQq1yWRqjGJbByMQ9H9CuYQ7th4yG8W5A5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Huntsville City Council on Jan. 9 approved a slate of routine and regulatory items, including authorization to abate an unsafe building, assessments for weed and grass violations, and the consolidated approval of multiple ordinances and appointments.

The council voted to authorize demolition of a structure identified at 6032 Normal Heights Circle (also listed as 5203 Normal Heights Circle Northwest) after a city inspection deemed the building not economically feasible to repair. Scott Irwin of the Community Development Department told the council the property had been inspected Oct. 4 and that owners had not taken action to remove the hazard. The motion to approve the demolition resolution passed without public objection.

Council members also approved a resolution allowing Community Development to assess the cost of cutting overgrown grass and weeds against 12 properties. Staff reported a total assessment of $3,061.04, an average assessment of about $255.90 per property; seven properties were inside Huntsville city limits and five were outside. The public hearing drew no speakers, and the resolution passed.

The council set several public hearings: a rezoning hearing for about 25.08 acres north of Bib Garrett Road and east of I‑65 was scheduled for Feb. 27, 2025; two special shuttle/transportation permit hearings — one for Wilcott Entertainment doing business as Mobile Mayhem Tours LLC and one for White Executive Concierge LLC — were set for Jan. 23, 2025.

By unanimous voice votes, the council also:
- Approved consolidation and adoption of a block of new-business items, which included the mayoral appointment of Dr. Randy Barber as director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and several other appointments and nominations;
- Adopted an ordinance updating procurement thresholds to align with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) guidance (see separate article for details);
- Declared certain equipment surplus and authorized public auction of surplus items;
- Authorized appropriations for Downtown Huntsville Inc. for promotional activities;
- Authorized expenditures totaling $37,607,324 for the pay period covering Dec. 11, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2024;
- Approved the appointment of Chad Ayers to the Land Trust of North Alabama and moved forward nominations including a reappointment of Kevin Gray to the Huntsville Public Library Board and nominations to the Alabama Constitution Village/Historic Depot board.

Several items had minimal discussion during committee reports and public hearings and were approved as presented. No contested roll-call votes were recorded in the minutes for these items.

Votes at a glance (motions as recorded in the meeting):
- Demolition authorization, 6032/5203 Normal Heights Circle — Motion to approve (motion by Dr. Robinson; second by Mr. Kling). Outcome: approved.
- Grass and weed assessments (12 properties; total $3,061.04) — Motion to approve (motion by Dr. Robinson; second by Mr. Little). Outcome: approved.
- Set public hearing: rezoning of 25.08 acres (north of Bib Garrett Road) for Feb. 27, 2025 — Motion to set hearing (motion recorded; second recorded). Outcome: hearing set.
- Set public hearings: Mobile Mayhem Tours LLC and White Executive Concierge LLC (special shuttle permits) for Jan. 23, 2025 — Motions to set hearings (motions recorded; seconds recorded). Outcome: hearings set.
- Consolidation and approval of new-business items 20A–20S, including appointment of Dr. Randy Barber (DEI) — Motion to consolidate and approve (motion and second recorded). Outcome: approved.
- Ordinance amending procurement thresholds (to reflect FTA updates) — Motion to approve (finance staff explained; motion and second recorded). Outcome: approved.
- Finance: authorization of expenditures totaling $37,607,324 — Motion to approve (motion and second recorded). Outcome: approved.
- Appropriation to Downtown Huntsville Inc. for events and promotions — Motion to approve (motion and second recorded). Outcome: approved.
- Board appointment: Chad Ayers to Land Trust of North Alabama (term to Dec. 31, 2026) — Motion to appoint (motion and second recorded). Outcome: approved.

The meeting included presentations and public comments (see separate articles for the Weeden House presentation and public-comment topics). The council held no roll-call vote listings in the public portion of the transcript beyond voice approvals recorded as “motion carries.”","The council voted to authorize demolition of an unsafe structure, approved nuisance assessments for 12 properties, set multiple public hearings, and consolidated approval of several ordinances, appointments and appropriations during its Jan. 9 meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council adopts procurement threshold updates to align with FTA guidance

Mayor's pick for DEI director confirmed; councilmember proposes renaming office to 'Multicultural Affairs'

Weeden House Museum reports visitor growth, new grants and education plans to Huntsville City Council

Huntsville City Council approves demolition, nuisance assessments and multiple hearings; Mayor's appointments confirmed