Muscle Shoals, Alabama

FAQ

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General
    1.  Is the City presently spraying for mosquitos?
    2.  When and where is Municipal Court held?
    3.  How can I contact another city department?
    4.  Does the City of Muscle Shoals have a landscaping ordinance?
    5.  Does the City of Muscle Shoals have a sign ordinance?
    6.  Does the City have an ordinance to control high weeds and grass?
    7.  Does the City regulate abandoned or junk vehicles?
    8.  May an offender pick up or drop off their children at a school or daycare or frequent ballgames or student activities?
 
Business
    1.  What is the sales tax rate in the City of Muscle Shoals?
    2.  How I can contact the offices of the Chamber of Commerce, Colbert County or the Shoals Economic Development Authority?
    3.  When is a City of Muscle Shoals business license required?
    4.  What is the business license year?
    5.  When are license renewal due?
    6.  What is considered timely payment?
    7.  What are the various municipal tax rates?
 
Fire Department
    1.  Do I need a permit before burning leaves, brush, and other debris?
    2.  Does the fire department teach CPR?
    3.  Are you hiring?
    4.  Do I need a smoke detector in my home?
    5.  Do I need a carbon monoxide detector in my home?
    6.  Should I call the fire department when my smoke detector beeps?
 
Human Resources
    1.  Do you accept resumes or applications at all times?
    2.  Is the City currently hiring?
    3.  How will I know when you have a job opening?
 
Library
    1.  Can I renew my library material?
    2.  What do I have to do to get a library card?
    3.  How many days can I keep the library material?
    4.  What is the fine if I turn in library material late?
 
Parks and Rec
    1.  Where do I register my child for programs and activities?
    2.  What are the hours of operation for the Recreation Department?
    3.  If I want to register my child for a program or activity, do I need anything special?
    4.  Do you have any specific rules regarding animals in the Parks?
    5.  How do I reserve a facility such as a pavilion, athletic field, tennis courts, or gym for my event?
 
Police Department
    1.  If I receive a traffic citation or parking citation can I pay the fine at the police department?
    2.  If I’m involved in a traffic accident where can I pick up a copy of the accident report?
    3.  My neighborhood is experiencing a problem with speeding vehicles and vehicles running stop signs. What can be done to help with this problem?
    4.  Do officers unlock vehicles when the keys are accidentally locked inside?
    5.  What can I do to assist the police in making my city a safer community?
 
Public Works
    1.  I have paid my deposit for the utility services to be turned on at my residence. How do I receive a new garbage container?
    2.  My garbage container needs repairs. What do I do?
    3.  I am opening a new business and will need garbage collection. Will my business meet the criteria for the Public Works Dept. to collect my garbage?
    4.  How often do I receive garbage collection?
    5.  How often do I receive brush/trash collection?
    6.  What is the monthly cost for collection of my garbage or brush/trash?
    7.  The storm drain is clogged and flooding my yard. Will the Street Department unstop the drain for me?
    8.  I would like to have drainage pipe installed in my yard. What is the process for this?
    9.  There is a pothole in the road. Will the street department repair this?
    10.  There is a dead animal in front of my house. Am I responsible for the removal of the animal?
 
General
    Q.  Is the City presently spraying for mosquitos?
    A.  The city sprays (adulticides) for mosquitos generally from mid March to late October. When the air temperature falls below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, mosquitos are no longer active. City personnel also apply chemicals (larvaeciding) to known breeding areas to kill the larvae or eggs which has proven to be a more effective means of combating mosquitos. For more information, you may contact city staff at (256) 386-9204.

    Q.  When and where is Municipal Court held?
    A.  Municipal court is held each Thursday with “first call” starting at 2:00 p.m. and trial cases generally at 3:00 p.m. in the City Hall Auditorium. Court personnel may be reached (256) 386-9210 between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

    Q.  How can I contact another city department?
    A.  DEPARTMENT TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Fire Department
Station 1, (256) 386-9231
Station 2, (256) 386-9235
Station 3, (256) 386-9237
Fax, (256) 386-9236 
Police Department(256) 383-6746
Emergency Line, (256) 386-9214
Firing Range, (256) 386-9215
FAX Line, (256) 314-1443
Parks & Recreation(256) 386-9270
Recreation Center, (256) 386-9271
FAX Line, (256) 386-9272
Maintenance Shop, (256) 386-9273
Steenson Hollow, (256) 386-9274
Dial-A-Play, (256) 386-9275
Gattman Park Pressbox, (256) 386-9277
Gattman Park Concession Stand, (256) 386-9278
Gattman Park Girls Field, (256) 386-9279
Recreation Center, (256) 386-9285
Sportsplex, (256) 386-9287
Sportsplex Maintenance Shop, (256) 386-9288
Public Library(256) 386-9208
FAX Line, (256) 386-9211
Public Works, (256) 386-9250
Outreach, (256) 386-9251
FAX/Internet Line, (256) 386-9252
Senior Citizens Center, (256) 386-9280
Outreach, (256) 386-9281
Storm Drainage, (256) 386-9204
North Alabama Gas District(256) 383-3306 
Electric Board, (256) 386-9290
Muscle Shoals Water/Wastewater Department - Muscle Shoals Utilities Board(256) 386-9260


    Q.  Does the City of Muscle Shoals have a landscaping ordinance?
    A.  Yes, for a copy please contact us at (256)386-9205.

    Q.  Does the City of Muscle Shoals have a sign ordinance?
    A.  Yes, for a copy please contact us at (256) 386-9205.

    Q.  Does the City have an ordinance to control high weeds and grass?
    A.  Ordinance #1202-99 states that all properties shall be free of any growth of weeds and/or accumulation of trash or debris favorable to the harboring of mosquitoes or other insects, rats, snakes, or rodents or reptiles of any kind. Any growth 12 inches in height shall be deemed favorable and is in violation of the ordinance.

    Q.  Does the City regulate abandoned or junk vehicles?
    A.  Ordinance #1272-02 states any owner or person in charge or control of any real property within the city shall not allow any vehicle which is non-operating, partially dismantled, junked, discarded, or damaged to the extent it cannot be operated on public raods, or any vehicle that does not display a current vehicle registration tag, tractor trailer shall be in violation of the ordinance.

    Q.  May an offender pick up or drop off their children at a school or daycare or frequent ballgames or student activities?
    A.  Yes, as long as the offender does not exceed the time necessary to complete the intended task. If the offender was convicted of an offense upon a child under the age of 12, he/she cannot loiter on or within 500 feet of a school, child care facility, playground, park, athletic field, or any other business having a principal purpose of caring for, educating, or entertaining minors.

While the questions were taken from the Alabama Law Enforcement website, the answers were customized to reflect the practices and procedures of the City of  Muscle Shoals Police Department and the Webmaster. Sex offender laws are ever-changing. If you have questions or are unsure of any information provided here, please do not hesitate to contact the Muscle Shoals Police Department, (256) 383-67461 or by email.

 
Business
    Q.  What is the sales tax rate in the City of Muscle Shoals?
    A.  What is the sales tax rate in the City of Muscle Shoals? The current sales tax rate is 9.0%, which consists of 4% State of Alabama, 1.5% Colbert County, 3.5% City of Muscle Shoals. The City has contracted with the Alabama Department of Revenue for collection of the city taxes.

    Q.  How I can contact the offices of the Chamber of Commerce, Colbert County or the Shoals Economic Development Authority?
    A.  Their telephone numbers and websites are as follows: Shoals Area Chamber of Commerce (256) 764-4661 www.shoalschamber.com Colbert County Commission (256) 386-8500 www.colbertcounty.org/ Shoals Economic Development Authority (256) 349-5632 www.seda-shoals.com

    Q.  When is a City of Muscle Shoals business license required?
    A.  A business license is required by any person or other entity prior to starting any service or business activity in the City of Muscle Shoals.

    Q.  What is the business license year?
    A.  The City of Muscle Shoals business license year runs January 1st through December 31st.

    Q.  When are license renewal due?
    A.  The renewal of a business license is delinquent after January 31st, and a penalty is imposed for licenses renewed after that date.

    Q.  What is considered timely payment?
    A.  Payment is considered timely if delivered or postmarked by the postal service on or before the due date. If the due date falls on a weekend or City observed holiday, payment is considered timely if hand-delivered or postmarked on the next business day.

    Q.  What are the various municipal tax rates?
    A.  Sales – Collected by the Alabama Department of Revenue
Use – Collected by the Alabama Department of Revenue
Rental – Collected by the Alabama Department of Revenue
Lodgings – 3%
Liquor – 5% of gross sales (within city limits)
2 ˝ % of gross sales (outside city limits)
Gasoline - .03 per gallon (within city limits) .015 per gallon (outside city limits)

 
Fire Department
    Q.  Do I need a permit before burning leaves, brush, and other debris?
    A.  Yes. Please call Fire Station #1, 386-9231, and tell them you would like a burn permit. A representative from the department will come and check the material and the site safety for burning in your location. Materials or products that are not allowed to be burned include, but are not limited to, rubber products, roofing shingles, pressurized containers, flammable liquids containers, and any item which will produce black smoke. Permits are issued between the business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Monday - Friday.  Any fire allowed must be extinguished by late afternoon and no fire can begun after 3:00 p.m.  Wind, Humidity, & other weather related factors will only allow a permit to be good for that day only due to changing conditions. Even after the issuance of a permit, if we have a citizen complaint or smoke becomes a hazard, the fire will be required to be extinguished.

    Q.  Does the fire department teach CPR?
    A.  We do not at this time have CPR classes for the public. The American Red Cross and other related organizations do have these classes available.

    Q.  Are you hiring?
    A.  All job opportunities in the City of Muscle Shoals will be posted in the Human Resources section of the Muscle Shoals website.

    Q.  Do I need a smoke detector in my home?
    A.  Yes. Smoke detectors allow for early warning and escape. Please check your detectors monthly, have one on each level of your home, and change the batteries twice a year. It is easiest to remember if you change your batteries each time we switch from Daylight Savings to Central Standard Time and vice versa.

    Q.  Do I need a carbon monoxide detector in my home?
    A.  Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, deadly gas. The most common home sources of CO are unvented gas or oil appliances such as kerosene heaters. A CO detector should be installed on each level of your home, and should be replaced every 2 to 5 years. All CO detectors, as well as smoke detectors, should meet the requirements of Underwriters Laboratories (UL). This certification is on the label.

    Q.  Should I call the fire department when my smoke detector beeps?
    A.  Smoke detectors alert occupants to the presence of products of combustion in a home. They are so sensitive that they often sound the alert even before smoke is observed. The beeping detector may also be the low battery warning. This beep is not the continuous beep as with a smoke alert, but is an occasional beep separated by minutes. A person should exit their home and call the fire department when the smoke detector sounds in the alert mode, which is a loud continual beeping by the detector.

 
Human Resources
    Q.  Do you accept resumes or applications at all times?
    A.  No. We only provide applications when we have a job opening available. Resumes may be attached to the application.

    Q.  Is the City currently hiring?
    A.  Applications are accepted during normal hours of operation at the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall when vacancies have been posted. You may refer to the Human Resources section of this website for specifics on any current openings.

    Q.  How will I know when you have a job opening?
    A.  We advertise in the local newspaper in the job wanted section of the classified ads, and also, we post openings on our website.

 
Library
    Q.  Can I renew my library material?
    A.  You can renew your library material by calling the library, or entering your library account through the Library catalog web page. The only items that cannot be renewed in this manner are videos and DVDs.

    Q.  What do I have to do to get a library card?
    A.  To obtain a card from our library you must show an un-expired drivers license and have a permanent home address and telephone number in the local area.

    Q.  How many days can I keep the library material?
    A.  Books, playaways, and books on CD are checked out for 2 weeks; DVDs and magazines are checked out for 1 week.

    Q.  What is the fine if I turn in library material late?
    A.  The fine for books, magazines, playaways, and books on CD is $.15 a day. The fine for videos and DVDs is $1.00 a day.

 
Parks and Rec
    Q.  Where do I register my child for programs and activities?
    A.  All registration for Muscle Shoals Parks and Recreation activities is taken at the Gattman Park Recreation Center Administrative Office located on Gattman Park Drive or you can register on-line.

    Q.  What are the hours of operation for the Recreation Department?
    A.  The Muscle Shoals Parks and Recreation Department is open Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday we are only open for rentals. 

    Q.  If I want to register my child for a program or activity, do I need anything special?
    A.  If your child has never participated in one of our programs or activities you will need to bring a birth certificate to verify that child's age.

    Q.  Do you have any specific rules regarding animals in the Parks?
    A. 

Animals are not permitted at ball complexes, unless its a service dog.   In open parks dogs are allowed on leashes.



    Q.  How do I reserve a facility such as a pavilion, athletic field, tennis courts, or gym for my event?
    A.  All of our facilities are available on a first come first serve basis unless we are using that facility for our programs or activities. To reserve a facility please come by the Gattman Park Recreation Center's Administrative Office, complete the registration form and pay the fee to reserve a facility.

 
Police Department
    Q.  If I receive a traffic citation or parking citation can I pay the fine at the police department?
    A. 

No. Fines must be paid at the magistrate’s office located at city hall, 2010 E. Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals.  For inquiries you may call the Court Clerk/magistrate’s office at 256-386-9210.  Certain violations require a court appearance.



    Q.  If I’m involved in a traffic accident where can I pick up a copy of the accident report?
    A.  There are three ways you can obtain a copy of your report that you file

1. Purchasing a copy at the Muscle Shoals Police Department located at 1000 East Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals,  AL 35661.  $8.00 Fee is required (cash or check only).

2. Purchasing a copy through the mail.  Send request to Muscle Shoals Police Department Post Office Box 2624, Muscle Shoals, AL 35662.  $8.00 Fee is required (cash or check only).

3. Purchase a copy online.  $15.00 fee is required (debit or credit card only). Go to the police report tab on our website or go to www.crashdocs.org.  You must know the case number, name of the driver to obtain a report online.  If you can't find what you are looking for online, please give us a call at (256) 383-6746.

Copies of reports will be available to you between 3 to 5 business days after the date of your accident.

Please see our Police Reports page for further information.

    Q.  My neighborhood is experiencing a problem with speeding vehicles and vehicles running stop signs. What can be done to help with this problem?
    A.  Become involved and report this problem to the police department. Officers will make every effort through increased patrols to reduce and hopefully end this dangerous situation.

    Q.  Do officers unlock vehicles when the keys are accidentally locked inside?
    A.  No we do not unlock cars.  You will have to call a locksmith or wrecker service. 

    Q.  What can I do to assist the police in making my city a safer community?
    A.  Become involved and report suspicious and criminal activity. The police and the community must form a partnership to reduce crime and make our city as safe as possible.

 
Public Works
    Q.  I have paid my deposit for the utility services to be turned on at my residence. How do I receive a new garbage container?
    A.  Contact the Public Works Dept. (The Electric Dept. will not contact us for you.) If there is not an existing container at the residence a new container will be delivered by one of our employees.

    Q.  My garbage container needs repairs. What do I do?
    A.  Contact the Public Works Dept. Place the container at the curb in the same manner as when garbage is collected. An employee of the department will come to the residence and repair the container. If the container is unrepairable a new container will be delivered.

    Q.  I am opening a new business and will need garbage collection. Will my business meet the criteria for the Public Works Dept. to collect my garbage?
    A.  As long as the business does not generate more than 18.8 cubic yards of refuse a week.

    Q.  How often do I receive garbage collection?
    A.  Residential - Once per week - Call for collection days for your area.   Commercial - Once a week - Thursday

    Q.  How often do I receive brush/trash collection?
    A.  Once a week - for residential collection only. The department runs a regularly scheduled route for each area of the City and it is followed each week. Contact the Public Works Dept. for the scheduled day for your area.

    Q.  What is the monthly cost for collection of my garbage or brush/trash?
    A.  Residential Brush/Trash - $17.75 per month and $5.00 for an extra container
Commercial - A flat rate of $29.95 for the first container. Any extra container will be billed at a rate of $12.00 per container up to three containers.


    Q.  The storm drain is clogged and flooding my yard. Will the Street Department unstop the drain for me?
    A.  Contact the Public Works Dept. The Street foreman will check the problem and determine how to relieve the obstruction.

    Q.  I would like to have drainage pipe installed in my yard. What is the process for this?
    A.  Contact the Public Works Dept. Give the address and any pertinent information needed for determining the amount, size, and type of pipe that will be needed. Someone from the department will contact you with the cost. The full cost must be paid in full before the job may begin and will need to be paid at City Hall at the City Clerk's office.

    Q.  There is a pothole in the road. Will the street department repair this?
    A.  There is a crew from the street department that "patches" periodically. Contact the Public Works Dept. and give the address or area that is in need of repair.

    Q.  There is a dead animal in front of my house. Am I responsible for the removal of the animal?
    A.  The Public Works Dept. will send a truck for the removal of the dead animal. The department will remove animals that are on the City right of way only and is not responsible for any dead animal on private property.