The Eutaw City Council in its regular meetings on May 8 and 27 set the basic rules for the Tuesday, August 26, 2025, election for Mayor and five City Council positions by district. If no candidate wins a majority of the votes for Mayor or in their district for City Council member, there will be a Run-off Election scheduled for September 23, 2025, for the top two vote-getters in each race.
The election is open to all registered voters who have lived in the city or their respective district for 30 days or more prior to the election. The polls will be open from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM on election day and for the run-off election, if necessary.
The Polling places are District 1: Greene County Baptist Christian Center; District 2: Eutaw Activity Center, this is a change from Robert H. Young Community Center (formerly Carver School) because the center is closed for repairs; District 3: Morrow Brown Community Center in Branch Heights; District 4:First Presbyterian Church; District 5:National Guard Armory; and the Absentee Ballot at City Hall.
The Council approved the Notice of Election, Setting Polling Places, Appointing Election Officials and other necessary steps for holding the election in August. This included a request to the County Commission to use county owned electronic counting machines for the election, which has been approved by the County Commission. City Clerk Sha’Kelvia Spencer and Assistant Clerk, Joe Powell, are the main election officials and absentee ballot managers.
Qualification for office begins June 10, 2025, daily from 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, and goes for two weeks until June 24, 2025, at City Hall. You need to see the City Clerk to qualify. The qualification fee is $50.00 for the mayor’s office and for a city council seat. You will also need to file a Statement of Economic Interest with the State Ethics Commission, within five days of qualifying for office or you may be disqualified.
The City Council then discussed payment of $6,500 in claims for repairs to driveways from Eugene Bryant, Dorothy Beverly, and Mary McMillan . Mayor Latasha Johnson said that she had made the repairs because they cost less than $10,000 each and were part of her “day-to-day responsibilities” as mayor. Council member Tracy Hunter said she was not aware that the Mayor had a threshold of $10,000 for spending, without approval by the City Council. Mayor Johnson said that this threshold had been agreed to at the beginning of her term to allow for emergencies and other immediate demands.
This discussion was a repeat of a continuing dispute between the Mayor Johnson and some of the City Council on her authority to conduct the day-to-day business of the city and their responsibility for finances. Mayor Johnson said she would ask for prior approval of expenses when possible and adhere to her $10,000 threshold for emergency expenses, that were within the city’s approved budget. The Council then voted to approve the $6,500 expenditure.
In other business, the Eutaw City Council:
Approved a request from Chief Tommy Johnson to purchase ammunition for officer’s firearm training.
Approved Sams registration and renewal for five years.
Approved the Municipal Water Pollution Prevention Annual Report.
Approved easement request for Alabama Power to connect power to
Alabama Fiber building behind the National Guard Armory.
Approved travel and expenses for several city staff and police officers to attend conferences and training.

The conflict over responsibilities and control of finances came up again in the Council comments section of the agenda. Councilman Woodruff asked the Mayor about refilling potholes on Ann Street, trash collection near the lagoon and status of the city’s small tractor. The Mayor replied that she needed authorization to buy materials to fix the potholes in many city streets and asked for this to be placed on the next agenda. She said that rainy weather had delayed the trash pick-up near the lagoon. The Mayor also reported that the city’s small tractor had turned over while cutting a ditch and there was still a need for a larger tractor and bushhog to cut grass in the city. “We are thankful that the tractor accident did not result in any injuries to the driver,” said Mayor Johnson.
Councilman Woodruff asked Mayor Johnson, “What is the best way to communicate with you? I have tried sending emails and calling but you do not respond. Then we wind up asking questions in the meeting which leads to a hostile environment in the meetings.” Mayor Johnson did not directly answer this question, but said, “The Council should help me to accomplish my day-to-day responsibilities.” She did not specify the best ways to communicate with her.
Council member Valerie Watkins asked about trucks parking on streets in the city and causing damage. The Mayor asked Watkins to find out who owned the trucks, so she could deal with the problem. Watkins said she was reporting the problems but was unable to find the identity of the truck owners.
Residents of the city who regularly attend the City Council meetings are dismayed that the Mayor and Council have not found a way to overcome disagreements and conflicts in the best interest of all the city’s residents.