HOOVER – Hoover’s mayor and some city council members shared thoughts on the end of their term as new officials prepare to take office in November.

The city council meeting on Oct. 17 was the last for Mayor Gary Ivey, Executive Director Allen Pate, City Council Chairman Jack Wright, Councilman Joe Rives and Councilman Jack Natter.

“It’s been an honor to serve the city,” Rives said.

Natter said that while council members did not always agree, they were always working toward the same goal.

“We looked for the good of the city of Hoover,” Natter said.

Wright said he worked with five different mayors and 24 council members during his five decades on the council.

“I want to thank the employees who busted it every day to make Hoover great,” Wright said. “The day we stop trying to be better is the day we’ll cease being great.”

“It’s been my honor to serve you guys, and I appreciate your support,” Ivey said.

The meeting was also the last for city attorney Charlie Waldrep.

“This is as good of a group of folks as I’ve ever been around,” Waldrep said.

In another fitting end to the current council’s term, it was presented a resolution from the Alabama House of Representatives designating the bridge over Paradise Lake on Alabama 150 in Hoover as the Brian L. Skelton Sr. Memorial Bridge.

Skelton served 17 years on the council and in 1999 as mayor, according to the resolution.

“In memory of the late Brian L. Skelton Sr….a dedicated public servant and a loyal and loving husband, father and family man, the Alabama Legislature hereby honors his life and contributions by naming a bridge in his honor,” the resolution read.

In other business, the council:

• Approved the request of Richard A. Johnson II, representing SB Dev Corp, for conditional use for the construction of 40 townhouses and a park to be located across Grand Avenue from the Ross Bridge Welcome Center. The property is zoned PC Planned Commercial. Council members noted that the recommendation comes with no opposition from the Planning and Zoning Commission and that it would eliminate 110 multi-family parcels that had been on the books for Ross Bridge.
• Approved a bid in the amount of about $8 million submitted by Saiia Construction Company for the Hoover Recreational Complex Civil Package. Saiia’s was the lowest bid received. Others were as high as $11.6 million.
• Approved for the mayor to execute an amendment to extend a health services agreement with QCHC Inc. regarding inmate health services to the municipal jail.
• Declared nine police vehicles as surplus to be sold to outside law enforcement agencies. The oldest vehicle was a 1994 model, and the newest was a 2013 model. All have registered at least 95,000 miles.
• Approved an ABC application for retail beer and retail table wine for BFA Investments LLC, operating Deep Dish at 3000 Meadow Lake Drive, Suite 113. This is a new license on a previously approved site.
• Approved for the mayor to execute a claims service agreement with Alternative Service Concepts LLC.
• Authorized renewal of casualty insurance with Argonaut (Alteris) Insurance Company for one year, along with authorizing the mayor to execute the necessary documents to bind coverage.

•Approved minutes from the Oct. 3 regular meeting, Oct. 11 special meeting and Oct. 13 work session.