Greene County Democrat

Tag: Councilman Woodruff

  • Eutaw City Council receives positive financial news; approves funding for August 26 municipal election, begins absentee voting

    Special to the Democrat by John Zippert,
    Co-Publisher

    This is a report of the two regular Eutaw City Council meetings on July 8 and 22, 2025. Mayor Latasha Johnson and all five City Council members were present except Valarie Watkins at the July 8 meeting and Tracey Hunter at the July 22 meeting.
    At the July 22nd meeting the Eutaw City Council received positive financial news from Ralph Liverman, Financial Advisor, who submitted a financial report for the nine months of the fiscal year from October 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.
    Liverman pointed out that the City of Eutaw had repaid all but two payments on a $500,000 loan from Merchants and Farmers Bank taken out in 2021, with a 3.5% interest rate, to purchase new equipment to maintain streets in the city. The remaining payments of $22,338.16 will be made by September 15, 2025.
    This fulfills a promise made by Mayor Johnson for responsible handling of the financial affairs of the city, by paying off this needed loan during her first term in office. Liverman indicates that this will free up $134,028 of funds for use in the General Fund, for the new annual budget for 2025-26. This additional funding may help the city get other needed equipment and staff to repair potholes, culverts and other street problems.
    A second piece of good news was a report from Liverman of General Fund Revenue and Expenses for 9 months of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Liverman states in his report, “ As of June 30, 2025, you should have collected at least 75% of the budgeted revenues for the fiscal year, and your expenditures should not exceed 75% of the budgeted amount.”
    “As of June 30, 2025, you have collected 97% of budgeted revenues. It is obvious that you will exceed the budgeted projection for revenues.

    All of your major revenue sources such as property tax, franchise tax, sales tax, and privilege licenses have or should exceed 100% of budgeted amounts.”
    “General Fund Expenditures are running at 78% of budgeted amounts, but most of your single payment items (such as insurance) have been paid. Unless some major event happens, you should end your fiscal year with a surplus in the General Fund.”
    These reports were in the council member’s meeting packets but were not analyzed and discussed by the members in the public meeting. This was strange to me, as a reporter who regularly covers Council meetings, since the Council professes great concern about its powers to oversee and approve city finances. In fact, the Council has used limited finances to justify rejecting the Mayor Johnson’s requests to buy a new tractor and mowers, increase staff and staff pay, even rejecting some trips for city staff to travel to training, as part of their supervision of finances.
    There was another example of this strict financial supervision at the start of the July 22nd meeting. The Mayor asked to add payment to two contractors for grass cutting at the Mesopotamia and Clarence Thomas cemeteries. Councilman Woodruff objected to considering payment of this item until he and the Council received more information justifying this expense. Mayor Johnson said the grass in the cemeteries needed cutting and this expense was in the budget, so as part of her day-to-day authority she had the grass cut. Woodruff’s motion initially prevailed to block payment for the cemeteries to two separate contractors. However, at the end of the meeting, the Council approved payment of bills including grass cutting at the cemeteries.
    At the July 22nd meeting, the Council approved a resolution (No. 2025-8) providing $25,000 for expenses in holding the municipal election on August 26, 2025. It also approved several changes in election poll officials.

    Absentee Voting in Municipal Election is Underway

    Joe Powell, Assistant Election Manager announced that Absentee Voting is underway. Voters can come to the City Hall on Monday to Wednesday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Thursday and Friday from 8:00 AM to Noon, to request an absentee ballot for someone who is homebound. Voters can also walk-in and request an absentee ballot, if they are not going to be in town on election day to vote, and vote right then. August 19 is the deadline for requesting an absentee ballot to vote by mail. August 21 is the last day to walk-in and vote absentee.
    Powell said, “We are following instructions from the Alabama Secretary of State on the rules for absentee balloting. You can go to this website to see the rules and apply for an absentee ballot, without coming to City Hall to vote by mail in this election, if that is your preference. Be aware that you will need a copy of your driver’s license, or acceptable state ID, to get an absentee ballot and vote in this election.”
    In other actions, the Eutaw City Council:
    • Approved Resolution No. 2025-9 for Weather Preparedness Tax Holiday for February 20-22, 2026.
    • Approved travel for City Attorney Zane Willingham and City Judge Joshua Swords to attend annual Municipal Law Conferences.
    • Approved payment of claim of $89 for Christopher Branch.
    • Approved recommendation from Zane Willingham on Planning Commission rezoning.
    • Approved payment of $1,976 for annual dues to the Alabama League of Municipalities
    • Approved payment of $952 for annual dues to National League of Cities.
    • Approved payment of bills, including grass cutting in the cemeteries.

    Mayor Johnson announced that a public hearing would be held in August concerning sidewalks and a traffic roundabout at the intersection of Highway14 and Highway 43. The date will be announced later.
    Chief of Police Johnson announced Police Night Out will be held September 9 at 5:00 PM at Carver School to improve community relations.
    Danny Cooper announced that the Eutaw Area Chamber of Commerce was sponsoring a political forum for all candidates in the municipal election on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at the Courthouse Square starting at 10:00 AM.

  • 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.