CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman City Council at its meeting on Monday, Sept. 28, proclaimed October 2026 Dyslexia Awareness Month. The Council also adopted an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance.
Lily Shadeck, a junior at Cullman High School and reigning Miss North Alabama’s Teen, accepted the resolution from the Council.
Shadeck is the founder of the nonprofit Myth Busters Dyslexia Foundation, which brings awareness to and provides education about dyslexia beyond common misconceptions.
Her journey advocating for dyslexia began with her twin brother, Michael, she said. “I’ve watched him work twice as hard at things that seem to come so easily to others. I’ve also seen firsthand that dyslexia has absolutely nothing to do with intelligence or someone’s potential.”
Shadeck noted that the goal for Myth Busters Dyslexia Foundation is to educate, advocate and ensure families in the community don’t have to navigate the challenges of dyslexia alone.
“This proclamation is more than a piece of paper,” she said. “It starts conversations, brings awareness and, most importantly, tells every child with dyslexia in our community that they are seen, supported and capable of amazing things.”
Zoning Ordinance
The Council adopted Ordinance No. 2026-43, updating Cullman’s residential zoning rules and establishing additional design standards for qualifying developments. Detached single-family homes remain permitted in R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential districts. In R-4 districts, those homes are permitted only on property zoned R-4 before Jan. 1, 2026.
The ordinance replaces Sections 62-52 through 62-55 governing residential districts, establishes Design Quality Standards under Section 62-56 and replaces Section 62-93 governing attached single-family dwellings. It received a favorable recommendation from the Planning Commission.
The design standards give builders an option to construct homes on smaller lots where the city approves that approach, provided the homes meet stricter architectural, construction and landscaping requirements. For example, a qualifying detached home in an R-1 district can be built on a lot measuring at least 12,000 square feet instead of the standard 15,000 square feet. Requirements include specified exterior and roofing materials, covered front entries, minimum main-floor ceiling heights of 9 feet and landscaping.
The ordinance also permits attached single-family homes, such as townhouses, in R-1 and R-2 districts when they meet the Design Quality Standards. In R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts, attached homes cannot be developed between two occupied detached homes along the same street frontage within a block. The attached-home rules limit each group to eight dwelling units and require sidewalks at least 5 feet wide along the applicable street frontage.
At a previous Council meeting, Chief Building Inspector Brandon Lewis noted that the Building Department had shared the proposed changes with groups such as local Realtors and builders and received positive feedback and cooperation. He also stated that the changes would give builders more options while requiring higher-quality construction.
Personnel
The Council also adopted Ordinance No. 2026-51, which removes and replaces Section 181 “Adoption of Personnel Policies” from Chapter 2 “Administration” from the Code of Ordinances. The ordinance also removes and replaces Section 182 “Election of Officers” from the same chapter. This gives the city clerk, city treasurer, police and fire chief, who, already having some level of authority, the ability to maintain that authority pertaining to city employees and to have a say in the creation of policies.
Section 182 now reads, in part, “The city clerk, city treasurer, police chief, and fire chief may only be removed by a two-thirds vote of the city council elected to serve. All officers listed above must report to their designated committee chair, at least once per month, to keep the city council informed of the operations of their department. In addition to the normal duties of their respective departments, these officers shall set formal procedures for personal conduct of the employees within their departments not inconsistent with the policies set by the city council.
“The following officers shall be appointed by majority vote of the city council shall continue to serve until their successors are elected and qualified:
“1) City attorney.
The city attorney shall be appointed by a majority vote of the city council. The appointment of the city
attorney shall be subject to the approval of a contract. The term of the contract shall not exceed one year. The city attorney shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed by the city council.
“2) City prosecutor.
The city prosecutor shall be appointed by a majority vote of the city council. The appointment of the city
prosecutor shall be subject to the approval of a contract. The term of the contract shall not exceed one
year. The city prosecutor shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed by the city council. The
positions of city attorney and city prosecutor may be combined by a two-thirds vote of the council
elected to serve. Once the offices of city attorney and city prosecutor have been combined, a two-thirds
vote of the council elected to serve is necessary to separate those positions.
“3) City judge.
The city judge shall be appointed by a majority vote of the city council. The appointment of the city
judge shall be subject to the approval of a contract. The term of the contract shall not exceed two years.
The city judge shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed by the city council. The mayor may
appoint a special judge to any case before the city court which the city judge has a conflict or recuses
himself. The city judge, or his designee, may appoint a special prosecutor to prosecute any case in which
the city prosecutor has a conflict or recuses himself. The city attorney may be appointed by the court to
act as city prosecutor if the court so orders.
“All appointees in this section, who by statute require a bond(s) for their performance, shall have said bond(s) approved by the mayor and such premiums for bond(s) shall be paid out of the city treasury.”
Changed meeting times
The Council adopted Ordinance No. 2026-52, which moves the Council’s regular meetings from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. Work session will now be at 5:30 p.m.
Resolutions
The following resolutions were adopted:
- Resolution No. 2026-152 will allow First National Bank funding assistance for a deceleration lane on U.S. Highway 278, through a 772 agreement, an economic development
- Resolution No. 2026-153 will allow the Council to enter into an agreement with Safety Holdings, Inc. for SambaSafety driver reporting – this agreement will be renewed for four years and will provide training to the Street Department
On Sept. 22, the Council received a bid in the amount of $63,079 for a 4WD crew cab truck. The Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-154 to award the bid to Long-Lewis Automotive Group of Cullman.
During the Mayor’s Report, Mayor Woody Jacobs thanked Zach Lee for his service on the City of Cullman Housing Authority Board, as he will soon be concluding his service.
Special events approved
- Cullman First Baptist Church will have a Hot Dogs and Handlebars preschool family fellowship event on Third Avenue Southwest on Sunday, Oct. 4, from 4-6 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 23, The Link of Cullman County will hold a trunk or treat event on Elizabeth Street Northeast from 6-8 p.m.
- The Cullman Caring for Kids Ho Ho Ho Christmas Car Show will be held on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 402 Arnold St. from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
The next Cullman City Council meeting will be Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, at 6 p.m. in the city hall auditorium, with a work session beginning at 5:30.
