BERLIN, Ala. – The Berlin Town Council met Monday, Nov. 17, with a good portion of the meeting devoted to discussion about the ongoing Berlin Farmers Market project.
Mayor Patrick Bates acknowledged a bid from Rogers Group to finish the parking lot, saying, “This bid is so low that, technically, we are leaving money on the table.” Bates told the council, “The really good news is where we were looking at spending as much $45,000 out of local funds on this project, we’re now looking at only having to spend about $8,000-$9,000 on this project, because the bid is so low that the State is going to pay everything up to $17,500, and we only have to pay half that.” Bates explained that their engineer recommended a request for a change order with Rogers Group to add in the parking lot of the Berlin Farmers Market into those funds. “I motion to approve that,” Councilman Keith Hardman stated. “I know you are and I’m almost done,” Bates laughed. “What that means is that we’re about to have $35,000 of what we budgeted for this project still available to spend for doing this asphalt in the parking lot. We’re gonna have to come up with this other $20,000 in the budget, which I think we can do. But again, this is all contingent on Rogers Group agreeing to the change order.” The council gave conditional approval to award the bid if the change order doesn’t exceed $57,500. Bates then moved to guest Will Edwards with Spectrum Wireless regarding a $1,000 lump sum franchise agreement for the next 50 years. “This would be a business deal between the Town and Spectrum,” Town Clerk Keirstyn Montgomery clarified. Said Edwards, “This franchise agreement that would pay a lump sum application fee upon acceptance, which would take place of the business license fee and of the franchise fee.” All council members motioned to approve. Montgomery asked for approval for $500 for the annual pancake breakfast. All council members agreed on this amount. She clarified that, for anyone interested, Berlin’s fifth annual Pancake Breakfast will be held at the Berlin Community Center on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, at 7 a.m. At the beginning of the meeting, Montgomery addressed Bates regarding a social media comment about opening a food pantry. Bates and fellow councilmembers didn’t express or discuss a need for it at this time. The Berlin Town Council will hold its next meeting on Dec. 15, 2025, at 7 p.m. at Berlin Town Hall, 461 County Road 1615, Cullman, AL 35058. For more information, contact Town Clerk Keirstyn Montgomery at 256-736-3138 or clerk@berlinal.gov.
