The Mayor and the Eutaw City Council met for their first regular meeting since being installed and holding their organizational meeting, to consider regular business of the city. All Council members were present except for Carrie Logan, who was attending a training session for new council members.
The Council heard from Jimmie Moore of Meridian Waste Company, which has the contract for garbage collection and disposal in Eutaw and some surrounding jurisdictions. Moore explained the cost per customer has increased by a small account. The Eutaw City Council approved the contract with Meridian Waste and will absorb the increase within the current monthly charge for residents and businesses in the city.
The Council approved the creation of a new position of Administrative Assistant to the Mayor and City Council of Eutaw, which is Ordinance 2025-6. This Ordinance also names Joe Powell to the position of Administrative Assistant. His duties and responsibilities will be to assist the City Clerk in her administrative duties; also, to assist the Mayor and Council in preparing meeting agendas, notices, and correspondence; assist with public record and resident inquiries; and otherwise assist the Mayor and Council in other tasks as assigned. His rate of pay will be $16 per hour and benefits.
The Council approved the salary of Kendrick Howell as Chief of Police at $60,000 annually, which is $5,000 less that the previous Chief Tommy Johnson was being paid. The Council also agreed to a $3.00 an hour increase for SheKelvia Spencer, City Clerk.
An approval of the 2025-26 Annual Budget was tabled, to give the new Mayor and his staff a chance to review and perhaps change some of the staffing, expenses and revenues projected for the year that started on October 1, 2025, and running through September 30, 2026. A Council Work Session on the budget was scheduled for November 18, 2025. A request to purchase a new 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe vehicle was also tabled pending the budget review.
In other business, the Eutaw City Council:
• Approved a request from Mayor Cockrell to enter an agreement with Diversified Computer Software to purchase trackers for all city vehicles and equipment.
• Approved travel, registration and per diem for staff to attend training.
• Approved for Mayor Cockrell to hold a Thanksgiving Dinner for staff and residents.
• Approved reimbursements to staff for necessary small purchases to continue operations.
• Approved Resolution No. 2025-27 for “Use of Social Media” by staff to carry out work requirements.
• Approved rental of city property at $150 a day for K & S Southern Midways to hold a fair in the city at the park adjoining the Robert H. Young Community Center in Eutaw on November 14-17, 2025.
• Approved payment of bills for the city.
At the end of the meeting, Mayor Corey Cockrell said he had received a report from the Water Department Clerk that over $300,000 in late and unpaid water accounts were in the records. The Mayor said, “All residents and businesses in the city must get their water bills in order and paid, including city staff and council members. We should not have to carry so many late and overdue accounts, if we want to improve our city – streets, water and other infrastructure.”
Tag: Chief Tommy Johnson
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Eutaw City Council meets on Nov. 12 handles routine business
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Eutaw City Council takes small steps to remedy possible financial deficits
At its regular meeting on June 11, 2024, the Eutaw City Council took some small, measured steps to increase income and reduce expenses to complete the fiscal year on September 30, 2024, without a deficit.
In the Old Business section of the agenda, the Council reaffirmed its decision not to allow city vehicles, including police cars, to be driven home by city employees. Councilman Woodruff also asked if the city’s insurance coverage covered the police car used for special patrols at the RockTenn facility. Chief Tommy Johnson said that RockTenn was providing insurance coverage for the special patrols. Woodruff asked that evidence of the coverage be provided by to City Attorney.
The Council agreed to allow not profit organizations, with a 501c 3 IRS status, who are holding a non-public event, to use the R. H. Young Community Center space at 50% of the regular fee, twice in a 12-month period, after providing documentation of their tax-exempt status.
Agreed to provide up to $65 a month toward the utilities expenses for the Storm Shelter on the Lewiston Road. The shelter is in the Eutaw fire district. The shelter can accommodate 125 people and can serve people driving through the area in case of a storm.
The Council received financial reports, compiled by staff and Financial Adviser, Ralph Liverman, on all bank accounts for the first seven months of the fiscal year ending April 30, 2024. All accounts show a positive balance.
Ms. Giles made a request on behalf of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives to use the cafeteria/kitchen part of the R. H. Community Center (former Carver School), including the cold storage area, to process and package vegetables from local farmers and cooperatives for sale to commercial buyers. The Council requested that the Federation provide a detailed written proposal for the space they need, improvements they plan to make and the financial compensation they are proposing to pay the city for use of the space..
In other actions, the Eutaw City Council:
• Received a proposal from the Mayor to Sheriff Benison for matching funds for state approved road construction projects, including $30,000 for the Streetscape Project and $ 196,873 for the paving of 1.34 miles of the Lower Gainesville Road from Highway 11 to the city limits. The City requested a total of $226,873 in electronic bingo funds from the Sheriff.
• Agreed to a $200 sponsorship for the Miss Black Alabama Talented Teen Pageant to be held at the Renaissance Theater in Eutaw.
• Agreed to purchase U. S. and Alabama flags for the council room and outside flagpole.
• Agreed to travel, registration and per diem for Angela Bonner and Barbara Collins to attend AL 911 training at Gulf Shores in October 2024.
• Approved paying of the outstanding bills.
The Council tabled consideration of raising Water, Sewer and Garbage rates until the next work session to allow for studying prior proposals to raise the rates gradually over the next five years to cover all expenses of the water and sewer systems. The Financial Adviser has urged consideration of an increase in these rates to cover expenses for these city services.
Mayor Johnson announced that there will be a ribbon cutting for the new Eutaw mural on the side of a building adjoining City Hall at 9:00 AM on June 12, 2024. She announced a retirement celebration on June 28 at 11:00AM for Wilma Wedgeworth, long time custodian at the City Hall and William Smith, police officer. She also announced that Police Officer Carter would be issuing citations for residents who have not maintained their properties and for abandoned vehicles that do not have a current license tags, parked on the streets or in lots.
Councilwoman Valerie Watkins said she paid back the city for travel reimbursements she received for trips that she went on riding in other’s cars. She said it was unethical for council members to receive mileage for trips that they did not drive their vehicle to attend.
Residents raised questions as to why the Lock 7 City Park was closed. Mayor Johnson said they were trying to patch holes in the road and until then it would be locked. She said they have ordered the materials to fix the road at the park, but the materials have not been delivered to the city yet.
The Chamber of Commerce announced that they were having a movie night on the Courthouse grounds on Friday June 21st at 8:00 PM.
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Eutaw City Council funds debris
clean-up from stormThe Eutaw City Council met on December 9 and December 13, 2022, to discuss dealing with housing for families displaced by the EF-1 tornado that hit Sagewood Apartments and other parts of Eutaw on Tuesday night, December 6, 2022.
The Council also considered debris clean-up in the areas where the tornado hit, including Ezekiel Baptist Church, Sagewood, Mesopotamia Avenue around the Robert Brown Middle School and the neighborhoods behind Kirkwood. Twenty homes were damaged by wind and falling trees in the area north of Mesopotamia Avenue, behind Kirkwood.
Mayor Latasha Johnson and the Eutaw City Council discussed debris removal with several local contractors at the December 9 Special Council meeting. The mayor arranged to meet with the contractors and city street department staff, the next day, to work out an affordable plan for debris removal and disposal.
At the December 15th regular meeting a major issue for discussion was the use of city vehicles and the policy that city police could drive their cars home, even if they live outside of Greene County, to be able to respond to emergency situations in a timely manner.
Chief Tommy Johnson said he supported allowing the city vehicles to be driven home by officers, instead of leaving them parked at City Hall, because this was a more efficient and effective way of combatting crime and responding to emergencies. The Chief said he had developed an inspection checklist to review the cars each week to make sure they were in operating order.
Council members LaJeffrey Carpenter and Valerie Watkins wanted this item on the agenda to be sure the City Council understood the budgetary and insurance cost implications of the vehicle policies.
Ms. Watkins said she met with the chief and was satisfied with his explanation of the vehicle policy. The Council voted to reaffirm the policy concerning use of the police cars and other city vehicles.
The Council referred an invoice with Babbs Engineering Consultants, former City Engineer, to City Attorney Zane Willingham to resolve. The Council approved a pricelist for pumps, motors, and other replacement parts and repair costs, for the water and sewer systems from Shephard Services, LLC of Tuscaloosa. The price list would give the city assurance in advance of costs to repair and replace major pieces of equipment in the coming year.
Ralph Liverman, city financial adviser, gave a financial report on the city revenues and expenses for the months of October and November and said the expenses were in line with budgetary projections and that revenues received were slightly larger than expected. The Council approved opening new bank accounts for the ADEM grants provided to the city for the water and sewage system upgrade and consolidation with Boligee.
Mayor Johnson reported to the City Council that she had re-appointed Teresa Beeker to the Greene County Industrial Development Authority and Jackie Allen to the Eutaw Housing Authority Board. She also appointed Sharon Trammel to the Greene County Emergency Medical Services Board, which supervises the ambulance services.
In other business, the Eutaw City Council:• Approved purchase of a 2015 silver Chevrolet Tahoe truck for the Police Department
• Approved travel and per diem for Corey Martin to attend a plumber training program.
• Approved City Judge Joshua Swords membership in the Alabama Municipal Judges Association; and City Attorney Zane Willingham for the Alabama Municipal Attorney Association.
• Approved $19,200 contract with P. M. Roofing to complete roofing on the cafeteria of the Robert H. Young Community Center.
• Approved Holiday schedule for employees.
• Approved payment of bills and claims. -
Eutaw City Council approves raises for police and water department
Mayor Latasha Johnson, Council members and staff present check for $30,000 to support E-911 dispatch and other emergency services. Funds came from the City’s American Rescue Act funding.
At Tuesday night’s regular Eutaw City Council meeting, the members went through an extensive agenda mostly distributing funds and buying necessary items with General Funds and special funds provided to the city under the American Rescue Plan passed by Democrats in Congress and signed by President Biden. Fiscal Advisor, Ralph Liverman reported that the City had raised $577,000 in General Fund revenues in nine months since the October 1st fiscal year had begun, compared with $525,000 in revenues forecast in the budget. “This means the city will earn additional revenues beyond what we budgeted and the Council can approve additional needed expenditures,” said Liverman. Liverman also reported that $800,914 in revenues from the City’s Water Department for nine months, ending June 30, 2021 was substantially greater than the budgeted amount and more than last year’s full collections. Liverman said Corey Martin, Water Department Supervisor had corrected problems with meters and leaks, raised collections, and secured a license as a sewer operator as well as having a water operator’s license, required to operate the city’s systems. At the Mayor’s suggestion, Liverman recommended that the Council approve a raise of $4.00 an hour for Corey Martin. The Council approved the raised based on the recommendation. It was noted at the end of September 2021, the city would no longer have to pay another contracted company $1,900 for supervising the sewer system, since Martin’s new sewage license would qualify him to play this role. The Mayor asked that the Council approve a $1.00 an hour raise for all police officers which would raise the minimum pay for certified officers to $15.00 an hour. Chief Tommy Johnson commented, “This rate of pay is still low in comparison with other cities, like Moundville and Linden who are paying $17 an hour. Some cities like Demopolis are offering a $5,000 signing bonus. Councilwoman Jacqueline Stewart said she supported a pay raise but it should be based on an evaluation of the individual officer’s work record. “Some officers may deserve more than a $1.00 an hour raise and some less,” she said. Mayor Johnson said let’s give this raise, because it is in the budget already and look again in six months to get an evaluation of all police officers for additional adjustments in pay. The Council and mayor unanimously approved this pay raise for the police. The Eutaw Council also approved spending $97,208 for a well improvement telemetry program to put all wells on a digitally monitored system instead of using a telephonic warning system, which does not provide the information on a as detailed or timely basis. They approved $3,483 a year for the On-Solve Community Notification System, to inform residents of emergencies and problems with the city utilities. They also approved $21,175 for new software for bookkeeping, cemetery maintenance and business licenses; $8,896 for purchase of body cameras for the police; and $1, 980 for replacement of the light fixtures in the City Council meeting chamber. Most of these expenditures will be paid by the American Rescue Plan funds or from the Capital Improvement budget. In other actions, the Eutaw City Council:
•Approved a resolution to set up a Water Department Revenue Account and ending the Water Deposit Account, since there are no records of water deposits paid. If a resident can produce a receipt for a water deposit they will be reimbursed. New water customers will be required to pay a one-time $100 water connection and account fee. •Adopted a written Water Leak and Bill Dispute Policy.
•Approved several members of the staff to attend an Alabama Rural Water Training in Tuscaloosa on July 15, 2021
•Approved a resolution to set up a bank account for currency seized by police in raids and arrests.
•Approved the creation of a police sub-station at the Robert H. Young Community Center (old Carver School). •Approved paying bills. •Approved a contribution of $30,000 to support E-911.
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Eutaw City Council appoints board and committee members, reviews water system issues, E-911 and pays bills
Shown L to R: Eutaw Police Officer Tyler Johnson, Asst, Chief Kendrick Howell, Chief Tommy Johnson, Mayor Pro Tem LaJeffery Carpenter, Officers Robert Geter and William Smith displaying their new uniform. Chief Johnson stated he has an open door policy. Look professional and act professional. We are here to help our citizens.
At its regular meeting on January 26,2021, the Eutaw City Council
dealt with several outstanding issues including naming people to city committees and boards, reviewing continuing problems with the water system, support for E-911, reviewing an agreement for joint work with the County Commission and Industrial Board, setting lease rates for space at the Carver School Community Center and paying bills.
The Mayor and City Council appointed members of the following boards and committees:
• Eutaw Zoning Board: John Zippert, Broderick Fulghum, Cynthia Cooper, Corey Cockrell, and Shirley Eubanks
• Eutaw Housing Authority Board: James Powell, Jonathan Lewis, Jacqueline Allen, and Isaac N. Atkins
• Eutaw Medical Clinic Board: Judy Jarvis, John Zippert and Joyce Cotton
• Eutaw Historical Commission: Evelyn Davis, Gilda Jowers, Diane Liverman, Carol P. Zippert, Sharon Trammell, Johnnie Mae Knott, Sandra Walker, Judy Jarvis
• Eutaw Cemetery Board: Nicolas Wilson, Joseph Fritz, Suzette Powell, Sharon Trammell, and Connie Tyree
The Council took up the issue of setting a rental payment for use of rooms at the Carver School Community Center. The CRFD, a non-profit agency has had a space for a year and Liberty Tax, a business. is requesting a space. Councilwoman Tracey Hunter raised the concern that the monthly charge includes utilities. Mayor Johnson said it was a community center not a business, so the city was not likely to recover all costs for the facility, but needed to charge a fair rate for non-profits and others. Hunter then moved to table the issue until more research and information was available.
The Engineers of the South (EOS), the consulting firm that is currently contracted to monitor the operations and quality of the Eutaw Water System was present and stated their interest in supporting efforts to improve the system. The spokesperson for EOS said that they would provide a proposal to increase time on monitoring the system, help in auditing and correcting faulty meters and replacing meters that could not be repaired. EOS is also answering an ADEM complaint about the water system, which was sent to the past Mayor but never answered.
The City also has a proposal from Kathie Horne of Water Management Associates for improving and repairing problems with the water system. Her agreement is for three years and charges $6 per meter, per month. Mayor Johnson said the city has 1,400 water meters, which means that Horne’s contract is for $8,400 a month or more. Johnson said she wasn’t sure if the city could afford this contract and welcomed other proposals, like one from EOS. The Mayor said this would be discussed in more detail at a Council Work Session on Tuesday, February 2nd.
The next agenda item was a pledge by the City since 2004, to provide $30,000 a year for the operation of the E-911 emergency assistance and dispatching services, which has never been paid. Johnny Isaac, Chair of the E-911 Board was present and said, “In 2004, I was the Sheriff and Reginald Spencer was Eutaw Chief of Police, we agreed to transfer dispatching services to E-911. This is saving the city between $200,000 and $300,000 a year. We hope you can support us with $30,000 that was pledged but never paid. The monies we get from the phone bill tax of $1.86 per customer is not sufficient to operate E-911”
Mayor Johnson said the City should pay $30,000 a year to support E-911, from bingo funds. The Council agreed and supported this expense.
The Council reviewed an agreement between the City, County Commission and Industrial Development Authority for development of the Interstate 59/20 Exit 40, especially the location of a motel and other projects to improve the county. The Council tabled this issue for further discussion at the upcoming work session.
The Council received a listing of outstanding bills for the months of November, December and January, which they approved for payment.