The Greene County Democrat

Category: Local Government

  • Eutaw City Council meets to discuss contracts for city improvements

    Eutaw City Council meets to discuss contracts for city improvements

    By Maya Quinn, editor

    Eutaw City Council met for a regular session on September 8th, 2026, at 5:00 pm in City Hall. Mayor Corey Cockrell, administrators, and council members were present. Councilman Woodruff established decorum before the council entered an executive session for approximately fifteen minutes. The agenda was amended to include items 7 and 8 that were discussed during the executive session; no other decisions were made. 

    Mayor Cockrell began his report by thanking the councilmembers for their diligence and vigilance within their respective districts. He implored citizens to continue discouraging littering and “speak life into the city of Eutaw.” He reported that construction on City Hall’s roof is on schedule and the city’s workers are striving to ensure Eutaw is “looking good.” He also assured Councilmembers Valerie Watkins, Carrie Logan, and Lorenzo French that staff is working on locating the owners of properties in every district that violate Ordinance No. 2024-20-06 # 6: Ordinance Regulating Grass and Weed Nuisances, Accumulation of Rubbish, Abandoned and Inoperable Vehicles, Abandoned/Dilapidated Structures, and other Nuisances. Councilman French requested that they urgently start ticketing properties with hazardous debris. Councilwoman Watkins named a home on O’Neal Street in such condition. Property owners, business and residential, who reside outside of the city are still held liable. The ordinance will be reposted on greenecodemocrat.com along with enforcement procedures.

    Eutaw City Council met for a regular session on September 8th, 2026, at 5:00 pm in City Hall. Mayor Corey Cockrell, administrators, and council members were present. Councilman Woodruff established decorum before the council entered an executive session for approximately fifteen minutes. The agenda was amended to include items 7 and 8 that were discussed during the session; no other decisions were made.

    Mayor Cockrell began his report by thanking the councilmembers for their diligence and vigilance within their respective districts. He implored citizens to continue discouraging littering and “speak life into the city of Eutaw.” He reported that construction on City Hall’s roof is on schedule and the city’s workers are striving to ensure Eutaw is “looking good.” He also assured

    Councilmembers Valerie Watkins, Carrie Logan, and Lorenzo French that staff is working on locating the owners of properties in every district that violate Ordinance No. 2024-20-06 # 6: Ordinance Regulating Grass and Weed Nuisances, Accumulation of Rubbish, Abandoned and Inoperable Vehicles, Abandoned/Dilapidated Structures, and other Nuisances. Councilman French requested that they urgently start ticketing properties with hazardous debris. Councilwoman Watkins named a home on O’Neal Street in such condition. Property owners, business and residential, who reside outside of the city are still held liable. The ordinance will be reposted on greenecodemocrat.com along with enforcement procedures.

    During councilmember reports, Councilwoman Tracey Hunter asks citizens to keep Branch Heights uplifted in prayers, especially regarding the safety of their youth. Councilman Jonathan Woodruff complimented the work done on Robert Young Community Center’s Roof and reported that a meeting with the Finance Committee will be scheduled soon.


    The following agenda items were approved during the session

    1. Grover and Frazier General Contracting for Shutters to be installed at City Hall; racing commission funds will cover the amount agreed upon

    2. Revised Supplemental Loan #1 Application Form-Revised on August 17, 2026

    3. Quote from Red Clay Concrete Company LLC for National Guard Armory

    4. FY27 American Red Cross Campaign Pledge

    5. Registration, travel, and per diem for Councilwoman Watkins to attend NLC in Nashville, TN, November 19-22, 2026

    6. Payment of bills

    7. Approval for hazard mitigation plan as devised by the Greene County EMA

    8. Disciplinary hearing for Officer Chief Kendrick Howell

    During public comments, multiple citizens echoed concerns about big trucks damaging roads and road signs in their districts. Ms. Faye Tyree has observed trucks continuously passing through undesignated areas, creating holes in the asphalt. One citizen asked if the city will enforce designated areas for big truck traffic; no confirmation was given.

    John Cashin from the Eutaw Airport Authority Board also provided a progress update. The board is working to remedy the airport’s remaining two violations, resurfacing the runway and moving a beacon. Cashin is seeking permission to move the beacon and renovate a fire engine into a parade vehicle, as the land and vehicle are under city jurisdiction. Administrator Joe Powell explained that under the agreement between the board and the city, he would be allowed to do so using Airport Authority Board funds.

    The next city council meeting is scheduled for September 22, 2026, at 5:00 pm in City Hall and will be live on the City of Eutaw Facebook.

     

  • City of Eutaw Ordinance No. 2024-20-06 #6:

    City of Eutaw Ordinance No. 2024-20-06 #6:

    LEGAl Notice from CITY OF EUTAW

    Be It Ordained by the City Council of the City of Eutaw, Alabama, that the following ordinance is adopted to amend Chapter 42, Article I of the Code of Ordinances, City of Eutaw, is hereby amended as follows:

    Section One – Cumulative Nature

    These provisions shall be cumulative in nature, and are in addition to any and all power and authority which the City may have under any other law, including statute or other ordinance of the City.

    Section Two – Unlawful growth of vegetation.

    In order to keep premises and vacant lots within the city free of any growth of weeds or grass downed trees and /or limbs favorable to the harboring of mosquitoes or other insects of like kind and/ or rodents or reptiles, it shall be unlawful for any person owning, residing or having charge or control of any premises or vacant lot within the city to allow weeds, grass or kudzu to grow to a height in excess of twelve (12) inches or to plant or allow bamboo within fifty (50) feet of any residential property line, right-of-way of public utility easement or to allow any other vegetation, including, but not limited to vines, or underbrush to become overgrown or to allow downed trees and /or limbs to remain to such an extent that the same may create favorable conditions to the harboring of mosquitoes or  other insects of like kind and/ or rodents or reptiles otherwise constitutes a public nuisance or a danger to the public  health, safety and welfare.

    Section Three - Removal of litter and accumulation of trash required.

      It shall be unlawful  for any person owning, residing on or having charge or control  of any  premises or vacant lot within the city to allow any litter or accumulation of trash or rubbish, including but not limited to storm debris, tree limbs, dead trees, construction materials, glass, bottle, tin cans, brush, combustible material, tires, automobile parts, lawnmowers, appliances, machinery, tools electronics, or any similar items (except for collection  purposes on regulary scheduled collection days in a manner authorized) on said premises or vacant lot.

    Section Four- Household appliances and household furniture prohibited outside any dwelling.

    (a) It shall be unlawful for any person residing in or having charge or control of any dwelling within the City of Eutaw to leave or permit to remain outside of any such dwelling any household appliances or household furniture in such a manner that the same are exposed to the elements.

    (b) Provided, however, [that] exposed shall not include the interior of any fully enclosed porch (including, without limitation, a porch enclosed by screening material) that cannot be accessed from outside except through a closed door that can be locked, and shall not be considered outside for the purpose of this section.

    (c) The following shall constitute specified defenses to any alleged violation of the provision.

     (1) That such furniture was placed in an outside location in order to allow it to be moved during a move of a resident or residents or removed as part of a trash or recycling program on a day scheduled for such moving or removal.

    (2) That such furniture was temporarily placed in an outside location in order that it be offered for sale at a yard or garage sale if each of the following conditions exists:

    1. The furniture is located in an outside location only during the hours of  8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
    2. The person attempting to sell the furniture, or that person’s agent, is outside during the period of the yard or garage sale in order to monitor the sale.
    3. A sign is placed on or near the furniture indicating that it is for sale.
    4. This defense shall not apply if upholstered furniture is located in an outside location for more than two days in any six-month period.

    Section Five – Dismantled, wrecked, discarded vehicles or premises.

    (a) It shall be unlawful for any person in charge or control of any real property within the city, whether tenant, owner, occupant, lessee or otherwise, to allow any vehicle which is partially dismantled, nonoperative, wrecked, junked or discarded to be on said premises. A vehicle will be considered nonoperative for the purposes of this section if it cannot be safely operated or if it is incapable of being moved under its own power or if it may not be legally operated due to lack of any legal requirement, including a current license tag. 

    (b) In lieu of the above procedure, the city may utilize the provisions of the state abandoned vehicle law.

    (c) This section shall not apply to any vehicle in a permanently enclosed building or shelter, or to any vehicle on the premises of a licensed business, when the keeping of such vehicle is lawful and necessary to the operation of such licensed business, nor shall this section apply to storage place or depository lawfully maintained by duly constituted law enforcement  officers in the city.

     Section Six – Unsafe/Dilapidate Structures  

    It shall be unlawful for the owner, occupant, or person  in charge or control of a property, within the City of Eutaw, Alabama to allow the existence of any abandoned, unoccupied dilapidated structure that is dangerous to the public and that could work, hurt, inconvenience, or damage to another.

    Section Seven – Enforcement procedures

    (a) Litter enforcement officers. The following are hereby designated at as litter control officers:

     (1)  All police officers of the city.

    (2) The city Building Inspector.

    (3) Any employee of the city as the mayor may direct

    (b) Procedure and Penalties:

    (1) No notice shall be required to constitute a violation of this Article

    (2) When any employee of the city designated as a litter control officer, as herein above defined, observes any violation of the provisions chapter, such employee may go before a city magistrate and request a summons or warrant to be issued pursuant to Rule 3.1 of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure. 

    (3) The Uniform Non-Traffic Citation and Complaint (UNTCC) shall serve as the charging instrument. The UNTCC shall be issued  in accordance with Rule 20 of the Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration. 

    (4) Any individual, firm, partnership of corporation that violates any provisions of this article shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred ($100.00) or more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisoned for  no more than ninety (90) days or both in the discretion of the court.

    Corey Cockrell, Mayor

    Attest Ke’Undra Cox Clerk, Clerk

  • Alabama New South Coalition to hold Fall Convention in Montgomery on Saturday, September 26, 2026

    Alabama New South Coalition to hold Fall Convention in Montgomery on Saturday, September 26, 2026

    The Alabama New South Coalition (ANSC) will hold its  43rd Fall Convention on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the RSA Activity Center, at 201 Dexter Avenue in Montgomery, Alabama, from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Registration is $50 for members and non-members.

    The theme of the meeting is “ Building Bridges, Not Walls, Our Path to Freedom”. There will be workshops, final endorsement of candidates and amendments to be on the November 3, General Election ballot, election of ANSC state officers and other important business for the statewide Black and progressive voters’ organization.

    The luncheon speaker is slated to be the Honorable Kristen Clarke, former Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, under President Obama, and currently General Counsel for the NAACP. She is a great speaker and will talk about the attacks on voting rights and what the response of organizations like ANSC and grassroots people should be to these attacks.

    There will be a workshop on the importance of voting, registering those over 18 that will be eligible to vote November 3, encouraging the participation of youth in voting and increasing turnout to show the power of the Black vote in statewide, Congressional and multi-county races.

    Hank Sanders, President Emeritus of ANSC said, “These are critical times for our country, our state and our Alabama New South Coalition. We are all working on making our country and our state better places to live, despite challenges from the President and Congress.

    We are also working to make our ANSC stronger, so it will help to make our country and state stronger. We invite you and need you to come and participate in this convention. We need you to encourage others in your community and county to attend. A strong Alabama New South Coalition is absolutely necessary to deal with these terrible and dangerous times.”

    Sylvia Fitts, ANSC Board Chair said, “ We must remember that every issue is a voting issue. Bring your local issues and concerns to this convention so ANSC can plan to work on them before and continuing after November 3rd.”

    Garria Spencer, Greene County ANSC Chapter President announced that the local chapter would be meeting on Thursday, September 17 at 5:00 PM, at Sandra Walkers office, to prepare for the Fall Convention and select delegates to the convention.

    If you need additional information on the ANSC Fall Convention, contact Shelley Fearson, State Coordinator at 334-262-0932.

  • Dancy announces write-in campaign for District 5 School Board Seat

    Dancy announces write-in campaign for District 5 School Board Seat

    I, Carrie Dancy, am launching my write-in campaign for District 5 School Board Seat, for the November 3, 2026 General Election. I am a longtime servant of Greene County and a former member of the Greene County Board of Education, District 5. During my years of service, I worked alongside educators, families, students, and community members with a commitment to strengthening the local school system and advocating for students.

    After coming within 47 votes of retaining my seat, I am still committed. I will remain engaged in the community and continue my interest in the future of Greene County schools.

    I understand the unique opportunities and challenges facing a rural school community. My focus remains on students, supporting educators, listening to families, and contributing to thoughtful decisions that help move Greene County schools forward.

    I am a candidate with a history of service, a connection to the community, and a continued commitment to the children and families of Greene County, and I will continue to stand for our community. I ask that you write-in Carrie Dancy on voting day, November 3, 2026. I bring my experience, knowledge, and years of service on the Greene County School Board for District 5.

    United We Stand, Divided We Fall. We need your support