A bond for Baptist Health System and a request for speed bumps in the Southwind Subdivision highlighted the Monday, June 3 meeting of Alabaster City Council.

The City Council granted its stamp of approval to the Baptist Health System request to float no more than $15 million in bonds for improvements including the purchase of the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machine at Shelby Baptist Medical Center at a cost of $1 million.

The action approved by the passage of two resolutions from the City Council does not obligate the city of Alabaster to any financial debt in connection with the bonds.

Janice Gill, chief financial officer for Shelby Baptist Medical Center, said the MRI unit already in place at the hospital will be purchased from the physicians group which now owns it.

She said as a result, the hospital will received the revenues generated from the use of the device.

The remainder of the some $15 million will be used for equipment at other hospitals in the Baptist system, she said.

The establishment of criteria for the placement of speed bumps to slow traffic in Alabaster is a &uot;work in progress,&uot; according to Council member Michael Sherwood.

Steve Johnson of the Southwind Subdivision told the council more than 95 percent of the people on his street (Caribbean Circle) want speed bumps.

He later said the residents of 41 of 45 homes signed a petition requesting the speed reduction device.

Johnson told the council, &uot;We want speed bumps put in our area to slow down these speeders.&uot;

He said no one adheres to a 20 miles per hour speed limit or a &uot;slow children playing sign.&uot;

And, he added, &uot;I might as well dig it up and throw in the garbage.&uot;

Sherwood said the council is in the process of establishing criteria fo speed bumps because a lot of people want them. And he said that not in every case is it the safest way to go.

When Johnson questioned speed bumps installed in Apache Ridge, Sherwood called that a &uot;test &uot;area. And he said the results show the &uot;need to set criteria.&uot;

Johnson said the police chief and a council member said the speed bumps should be installed on his street.

However, Council member Jim McClain said he looked at the area, the police chief was favorable and that the information was turned over to the &uot;appropriate people.&uot;

He said later that he turned in the request for speed bumps in and thought

it was &uot;moving forward.&uot;

Both Sherwood and McClain also noted later that

they

serve on the city’s safety committee.

Sherwood told Johnson he was not saying that Johnson would not get his speed bumps.

He also later said of criteria for speed bumps, &uot;We want to do this the right way and tailor fit it to Alabaster.&uot;

Mayor David Frings reported that an agreement is being worked out with the county for a park proposed to be developed in partnership between the two establishing responsibilities in writing.

He also said work will begin this week on turn lanes into the sports complex.

In other matters, the council:

Approved an annexation request from Venture Development LLC for two parcels of property located between I-65 and Highway 31 South. The two properties, 3.68 acres and 5 acres will come into the city designated as &uot;municipal reserve&uot; which means that are not zoned in any category.

Approved a street light request 13 lights in Lake Forest. The city will only pay utility bills on the lights.

Set a public hearing for June 17 on an annexation request from Blaising, Kennedy Revocable Trust, Goggins, and Ashbury Associates LTD for 18.38 acres along Alabama 119.

Set a public hearing on an annexation request from Bobbie J. Belzer for approximately 16 acres along Smokey Road for July 1.

Approved the appointment of Jack Harris to

the Alabaster Board of Adjustments to replace Mark Gambill.

Set a work session for June 13 at 7 p. m.

Sherwood reported that in May the Police Department received 1,350 calls and worked 113 traffic accidents.

Council member Henry Hines reported that the public works department made 267 trips and loads and made 6,063.

Council member Tommy Ryals reported that there were 623 building inspections, 82 permits issued, 19 new homes, one new business and the city received 456,700 from sewer tap fees.

Approved the minutes of the May 20 meeting with Hines and Council member Moseley abstaining. The two were absent from that meeting