Tag Archives: 2024

Eutaw City Council urged by Fiscal Advisor to increase water and sewer rates

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At its regular meeting on March 26, 2024, the Eutaw City Council was presented with financial reports, by Ralph Liverman, Fiscal Advisor on several of its funds including the General Fund, Sewer and Water Funds, 3 Cent and 7 Cent Gas Tax Funds. These reports were for the first five months of the current fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2023, until the end of February.

In his report, Liverman pointed out that both the Water and Sewer funds were running a deficit each month of the fiscal year. The city’s Water Fund had revenues of $283,399.14 with expenditures of $363,128.88, for a deficit of $60,004.72 for the five-month period. The Sewer Fund had revenues of $94,133.56 and expenditures of $178,569.62, for a deficit of $84,436.06 for the five months.

In his accompanying report, Liverman said, “The Council must raise both water and sewer rates and do it sooner rather than later! Current collections will not support your present expenditures and debt repayments to USDA Rural Development on loans to improve the system. He also urged a review of personnel, overtime, and other expenditures, looking for ways to cut expenses in this department.

Liverman also indicated that the City Water and Sewer Department needed to negotiate new rates with the Consolidated Catfish Plant, which had been receiving a special incentive rate since it opened 25 years ago.

Liverman said in the past, funds from electronic bingo were used to cover the Water and Sewer deficits, but the city was no longer receiving bingo distributions from the Sheriff of Greene County, to handle these and other expenses.

CPA Rick Harbin, the City’s auditor, also pointed out in a previous meeting, when reviewing the city’s audit report and finances, that an increase in water and sewage rates was needed.

The current rate for water, for residential customers in Eutaw is: $14.41 for the first 2,000 gallons and $5.39 for each additional 1,000 gallons. The sewer rate is $8.59 for the first 2,000 gallons and $1.55 for each additional 1,000 gallons. There are higher rates for small business and commercial customers.

Sarah Levelle, Chief Water Clerk stated, “We have had some rate studies by different agencies, recommending increases. We have not increased water and sewer rates since 2015 but the cost of all our supplies and workers has increased.”

The Council deferred action on water and sewer rates until its next working session where they could discuss the issue in more detail.

Liverman also recommended close attention to expenditures in the city’s General Fund, especially for street repairs and for the use of city owned facilities such as the R. H. Young Community Center (formerly Carver school) and the National Guard Armory. He said rental for the use of these facilities was not covering expenditures. He recommended closing one or both facilities. Earlier in the meeting, the Council had tabled a proposal for establishing rental rates at the R. H. Young Community Center, until the next scheduled work session.

The Council approved a resolution declaring ‘Tony Rice Day’ for April 25, 2024, the one-year anniversary of Rice’s untimely death in an accident, while working to repair a water main in Branch Heights. The Mayor also honored Dr. Sandrall Hullett, former medical director of West Alabama Health Services and the Greene County Health System, with a moment of silence on her passing.

In other business, the Eutaw City Council:

• Scheduled a Council Work Session for April 8, 2024, at 2:00 PM at City Hall.
• Approved a loan of $5,000 to the Eutaw Chamber of Commerce for painting a mural, with repayment from reimbursable state grant funds, which can only be received after an invoice is presented for work completed.
• Approved use of meeting space, at no cost, for a meeting on March 28, 2024, of the Black Belt Community Foundation, Greene County Associates, at R. H. Young Community Center. The meeting was to explain the availability of Arts and Community Grants by the foundation.
• Approved closing City Hall for a holiday on Good Friday, March 29, 2024.
• Approved payment of bills.

Attorney Rob Lee announces candidacy for Circuit Judge

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To the Citizens of Greene County.

My name is Rob Lee and I am a candidate for Circuit Judge in the March 5, 2024 Democratic Primary Election. I have been practicing law for 25 years and have a wealth of experience in civil, domestic, and criminal law; all of which are important to serve as Circuit Judge. I am well-versed in the courtrooms of this circuit and other areas across the state. I received my Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama and my Law Degree from Mississippi College School of Law.

I was raised in Greene County and have lived in Eutaw, Alabama with my family for 26 years. My wife, Robin, has been an educator for 29 years and is from Thomaston, Alabama. She currently works as a Regional Literacy Specialist with the Alabama Reading Initiative. We have three children: Seph (21), Marilyn (17), and Bill (14). Our children attend the Demopolis City Schools and we are members of St. Stephens Episcopal Church.

As your Circuit Judge, I will serve with integrity and honesty and I will strive to uphold the law and rule accordingly. I look forward to meeting each of you as I continue to visit in and around your communities. I humbly ask for your support and your vote in the Democratic Primary March 5, 2024. Please join our team and help elect me, Rob Lee, as Circuit Judge for the 17th Judicial Circuit.

 

USDA extends application deadline for Discrimination Financial Assistance Program to January 13, 2024

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the deadline for the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program to January 13, 2024, to give eligible farmers, ranchers and forest landowners more time to apply for assistance. The original deadline was October 31, 2023.
This deadline extension is responsive to feedback from potential applicants, nongovernmental program administrators and community-based organizations working closely with USDA to inform and assist eligible individuals. The new deadline will allow more time to reach and help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners through direct, no-cost technical assistance and training sessions. The extension will also ensure everyone has adequate time to apply, including producers whose harvest season falls during the original application period.
“USDA knows it must earn the trust of the farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who are eligible for this program. That makes transparency in the administration of the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program crucial,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “In that spirit, after receiving feedback from organizations that have been supporting producers throughout the application process, we have made the decision to extend the deadline. We believe this is the appropriate action to take to ensure all eligible individuals wishing to apply are adequately informed about the program and have the opportunity to receive any necessary assistance.”
Cornelius Blanding, Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/LAF , a cooperator organization that has been assisting with outreach and technical assistance on DFAP applications, said “ We are pleased that USDA has extended the deadline to January 13, 2024. This will give us a chance to reach the hundreds of farmers who have contacted our offices across the South seeking assistance in filling out their DFAP applications. We will be able to devote time to planning and preparing quality applications for each farmer instead of rushing to meet the October deadline.”
This program delivers on Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides financial assistance for farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021. Congress provided a total of $2.2 billion for this program. The amount of money awarded to individuals through this program will depend on the number of eligible applicants and the consequences of the discrimination. Eligible individuals have the option to apply online or by submitting paper-based forms via mail or in-person delivery to local program offices. Applicants are not required to retain an attorney and should take precautions to protect themselves from potential scams.
In addition to the application deadline change, the deadline to request records from USDA’s Farm Service Agency for use in applications has been extended to Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. The application process was designed so that FSA records are not required, though relevant records may be attached to an application as additional evidence if they are available.
To learn more about the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program or receive assistance in English or Spanish, visit www.22007apply.gov, email info@22007apply.gov or contact the national call center at 1-800-721-0970 from 8 a.m. ET to 8 p.m. PT, every day except federal holidays. If you use sign language to communicate, you can use the 711 relay service to call. You may also email or contact the national call center if you have a disability and need another accommodation. Information about the program, resources, recent office openings and local events across the country is also available through a weekly e-newsletter.
Persons interested in contacting the Federation of Southern Cooperatives for technical assistance in filling out applications may call : 1-888-533-3271 or contact: 22007dfap@federation.coop to schedule an appointment for technical assistance in the application process.