The Greene County Democrat

Tag: City Council

  • TBOC requests support from city council

    TBOC requests support from city council

    By Maya Quinn, managing editor

    On Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026, city council members gathered for a regular
    meeting in City Hall. No decisions were made during the work session held prior to this session. All city council members were present.

    Mayor Cockrell reported that the city is diligently working to address water leaks while keeping the streets clean. He also states that the city is in communication with new businesses coming to Eutaw and with AL-DOT regarding infrastructure progress.

    Council member reports consisted of reminders for June events and students within the Greene County School System.

    Councilwoman Hunter urged parents of Greene County students to update their personal contact information, as she is not the point of contact for personal school communications. She also commented that Sun Bucks have already been distributed, and many may not have received them due to incorrect contact information. As a parent herself, Hunter urged attendees to contact the school with updated information and to check the post office for undelivered Sun Bucks.

    Councilwoman Logan wanted to remind citizens that the 250th Celebration of America will be held this Saturday, June 27th. There is still time to sign up for the parade, and admission is free. They are seeking participants with classic cars, tractors, and wagons. Councilwoman Watkins will be handing out fresh produce that same morning at 10:00 am at 218 Boligee Street. They are requesting a $5 donation during the distribution.

    During public comments, Mrs. Gloria McCruter from the Taking Back Our Community (TBOC) Summer Enrichment Program requested financial support for the program. TBOC showed up with only a small portion of the over 50 students enrolled this summer, yet they easily commanded the audience’s presence. Three students stood alongside her, testifying to the positive impact the program has on them. They delighted in the guidance teachers gave academically and spiritually. “It’s a beautiful thing to see all the children in the audience today,” Councilwoman Watkins told McCruter as she recounted when TBOC was just a dream in the making, 19 years ago. “I take my hat off to you.”

     

    There was no old business reported. Here are the approved new business items for the meeting:

    1. Resolution ACT 2026-608 #05: Local Unit Retirees and Beneficiaries of Deceased Retirees

    2. Resolution 2026-06: Authorizing Red Clay Concrete Co. LLC to assign or subcontract a portion of the R.H. Young Community Center Roof Replacement Project to Mike O’Bryant Construction Inc.

    3. Resolution 2026-7: Appointing a committee to evaluate engineering statements and qualifications for the City of Eutaw’s Community Development Block Grant Program

    4. Recommendation for City Clerk, pending background check and bonding

    5. Travel, per diem, and registration for Linda Spencer, court clerk, and Joe L. Powell, Court Magistrate, to attend the Alabama Municipal Court Clerks and Magistrates Association 2026 Annual Conference, September 22-26, 2026, in Perdido Beach, Orange Beach, Alabama

    6. Room reservation for Councilwoman Hunter for Wednesday, June 24, 2026, for $135.38

    7. Lighting Services Agreement between the City of Eutaw and Alabama Power Company to install a light at the Eutaw Airport Board and Authority by the Council

    8. Cease the use of all City Property for profit until approved by the Council; companies will be notified before any actions are taken.

    9. Easeent or Alabama Power re-routed a secondary line from a pole on the south side of Greenseboro Street across Clarence Thomas Cemetery to a pole near the property of Spiver Gordon at Thomas Avenue; Council members Hunter and Woodruff. opposed

    10. Mayor Cockrell Appointments to City Zoning Board of Adjustments, Shalonda Fulgham

    The next city council meeting will be held on July 14th at 5:00 pm. The next city council work session will be held on July 21st at 5:00 pm, and Councilman French encourages citizens to attend with any ideas or concerns.

     

    Featured Image: TBOC students and staff inside City Hall (Maya Quinn/The Democrat)

  • Eutaw City Council praises its citizens

    Eutaw City Council praises its citizens

    by Maya Quinn, editor

    The city council held a public meeting on Tuesday, April 15th, 2026. All district representatives were present and accounted for, each recognizing the county’s citizens’ and police department’s most recent efforts.

    On Saturday, April 11th, constituents of Greene County gathered at city hall to conduct a city-wide clean-up of Eutaw, Greene County’s most populated city. This initiative is part of a larger statewide spring clean-up campaign, “Don’t Drop it on Alabama.” The statewide campaign was established 40 years ago by Alabama People Against a Littered State (PALS). The council provided water and refreshments for those in attendance. Mayor Cockrell thanked all who took the time to come out and join the efforts.

    Councilwoman Valerie Watkins, District 1, praised Chief Kendrick Howell and the police department for timely and efficient responses to calls. Councilwoman Tracey Hunter, District 3, also recognized Howell for his exemplary mentorship of Eutaw native Raymond Lewis, who will be admitted into the police academy at a ceremony on April 30th, 9:00 am, at the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center, 1005 Charles Byrd Blvd, Selma, AL 36703, on the campus of George Corley Wallace State Community College. 

    Faye Tyree was also acknowledged for her efforts in coordinating the EMS fundraiser that brought in roughly $18,000 for the ambulance services. As Councilman Woodruff said, this initiative “shows that we can come together as a community and fight for a cause.”

    EMS Admins and Employees at Eutaw’s city wide clean up day

    All minutes for the March 24th regular session and the March 31st called meeting were approved. Here are the approved agenda items for new business:

    1. Resolution CDBG grant 
    2. Payment of Membership dues for the Alabama Rural Water Association-Utility 2026-$600.00
    3. Payment of Membership dues for the City of Eutaw with the National League of Cities-$981.00
    4. Payment of IMC Membership dues for ShaKelvia Spencer and Joe L. Powell-$135.00
    5. Payment of CMRO Membership dues for ShaKelvia Spencer and Joe L. Powell-$25.00
    6. Payment of AAMCA Membership dues for ShaKelvia Spencer and Joe L. Powell-$120.00
    7. Payment of Bills

    Please join the city council for its next scheduled meeting on May 14th, at 5:00pm.

  • Eutaw City Council approves proposals for infrastructure improvements at the Interstate Exit 40 location of Love’s Travel Center

    This is a report on the past two meetings of the Eutaw City Council on November 27 and December 11, 2018.
    The City Council approved a proposal from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) for $600,000 for enhanced lighting of on-and-off ramps at Exit 40 on Interstate 20 and 59, where the proposed Love’s Travel Center and truck stop will be located.
    ALDOT will finance the improvement of the lighting with the expectation of getting repaid for half of the costs – $300,000 – beginning in 2023 when the project will be generating increased gas and sales tax revenues for the City of Eutaw and Greene County.
    The City Council also approved bids for the extension of the sewage line along Highway 14 from the city limits to Love’s proposed location. The low bid of $728,731.50 for construction of the sewer line came from Cornerstone Civil Contractors of Northport, Alabama. The total cost of the sewer line project, including engineering and administration will be $897,406.50.
    The City of Eutaw has $772.425 in grants for the project from ADECA and Delta Regional Authority, which leaves $124,981.50 to complete the project. The Greene County Industrial Development Authority has agreed to loan this amount to the City with repayment based on revenues from taxes over time.
    Mayor Steele announced that based on his discussions with Love’s officials that construction of the Travel Center and truck stop will begin in January 2019 and be completed in nine months by the late Fall of 2019. Once Love’s is in operation it will generate $ 4 to 6 million in retail sales and 8 to 10 million gallons in gas and diesel sales per year.

    In response to questions from Council members, Mayor Steele said he would contact Central Asphalt and tell them they must begin immediately on the repairs to the roads and streets in Branch Heights or the project will be rebid.
    In other actions, the Eutaw City Council:
    • approved the reappointment of Theresa Beeker to a four-year term on the Greene County Industrial Development Authority;
    • adopted a holiday schedule providing December 24 and 25 as holidays and December 31 and January 1 as holidays, employees may take additional time off using annual leave based on arrangements with their supervisors;
    • cancelled the second monthly Council meeting for December, which falls on Christmas Day;
    • voted 3 to 2 to declare a shed at the National Guard Armory as surplus, so it can be leased to REACH, a non-profit organization for storage of its furniture project. Mayor Steele objected to this proposal saying the building was needed for storage of Christmas lights and other city equipment;
    • agreed to a Christmas toy giving program to be held at the Robert H. Young Civic Center (formerly Carver Middle School), which the City of Eutaw is co-sponsoring, provided that the proper paperwork for use of the facilities is presented;
    • voted down, by a tie vote of 3 to 3, a proposal by Councilmember LaJeffrey Carpenter to name local Attorney Joshua Sword as Municipal Judge.
    At the end of the meeting, several Councilmembers reminded the Mayor of the need for a budget and audit report as well as a regular reporting of bills paid which had been left off the past three Council meeting agendas.

  • Community awaits Eutaw decision on hearing held for police officers

    On Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016, Eutaw Mayor Hattie Edwards and the City Council held a closed personnel hearing reportedly for three Eutaw police officers who had been placed on administrative leave. At the close of the hearing, the outcome was not announced. It is expected that at the next regularly scheduled city council meeting on Tuesday, October 25, the public will be be given more information regarding the hearing and subsequent decisions.
    In an attempt to ascertain who has hiring and firing authority in city government, the Greene County Democrat staff researched recent municipal cases on this issue which resulted in Supreme Court decisions.
    The Alabama Supreme Court has issued various case rulings confirming that, in Alabama, mayors alone have the power to hire and fire municipal employees. In 2009 the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of Fairfield Mayor Kenneth Coachman, who had sued five members of the city council after they voted in favor of an ordinance that would have stripped the mayor of appointing authority. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Dan King ruled that, according to state law, the authority rested with the mayor. The Supreme Court upheld King’s decision.
    In similar cases steaming from the 2009 decision, the Alabama Supreme Court issued rulings against the city councils of Fairhope and Daphne when they passed ordinances removing their mayors’ power over personnel matters and giving it to themselves. The Supreme Court forced the city councils to undo the ordinances.
    At press time, the Democrat was unable to reach the city attorney to corroborate the process and procedures involved in hiring and firing practices in Eutaw Municipal Government.

  • Eutaw City Council approves resolution on use of National Guard Armory

    Chief & Sumlin

    Chief Coleman and Drug Task Force Commander, Clint Sumlin 

     

    At its regular meeting on April 26, 2016, the Eutaw City Council approved a resolution clarifying the procedure for waiving or reducing the usage fee for the City’s National Guard Armory on Mesopotamia Street by non-profit organizations.
    Currently the fee is $250 for a meeting or social event. The amount is higher for activities that are raising funds. The new resolution clarifies that to receive reduced cost or a waiver, a group or organization, must submit an application for a fee waiver or reduction. The applying group must attach a copy of their IRS 501(c) 3 charitable status; and be an “organization, group or individual who have a history of providing material items to the community, such as food, clothing, health care and the like”; or, a funeral repast for local residents. “The City is willing to reduce the fee for qualified community groups that will benefit residents of the City of Eutaw, but we are now, as of the adoption of this resolution, keeping files and records to make sure that the facility is used properly,” said Mayor Hattie Edwards.
    The Mayor announced that the ALDOT project to resurface Prairie Avenue from the Courthouse Square to Highway 43 is proceeding according to plans and $750 was spent on a permit to cross the Norfolk-Southern Railroad tracks that cross Prairie Avenue.
    The project is scheduled to be bid and constructed over the next few months.
    Police Chief Derrick Coleman introduced Clint Sumlin, who is Area Commander for the area’s Criminal Drug Task Force. Sumlin spoke about the work of the Task Force in interdicting the drug trade in and around our area. “The Task Force invites local law enforcement officers to ride with them and participate in activities as part of our training efforts. We do not provide insurance for the officers, who are volunteering, but we expect their home base department will help with this,” said Sumlin. He said the Drug Task Force was needed and would help keep everyone safer.
    Theresa Beeker addressed the City Council about organizing volunteers to help keep the City Park and tennis court in town, next to the Episcopal Church, clean so children and their parents can use it. She suggested that each council-member organize people in their district to clean and patrol the park one week a month, on a rotating basis. Mayor Edwards said that they would take this under consideration at a future meeting.
    Carl Davis asked the police to help residents in Branch Heights to stop young people from shooting each other and into vehicles and homes. “These young people know that they cannot be held in the adult jail so they are shooting guns and provoking the police. We need to work with them and their parents to stop the violence,” said Davis.