Tag Archives: Financial Advisor

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

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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 approves fire agreement and additional contracts and requests for the water and sewer system improvements

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The Eutaw City Council met for its regular fourth Tuesday meeting on November 26, 2024. The mayor and all council members were present.

The Council approved the Greene County Automatic Aid Agreement with the Greene County Volunteer Fire Departments which had been considered but not voted on in the last meeting.  The agreement would allow the dispatch of the closest four fire departments when a fire is reported. The four fire departments that would come to Eutaw’s assistance would be Springfield, Lower Gainesville Road, Clinton and Dollarhide. The Eutaw Fire Department would automatically be dispatched to fires in these four rural nearby communities.

The Council referred the lease agreement with the West Alabama Action Group to its attorney, Zane Willingham. He will meet with the group to refine the agreement to rent the Grubbs/E911 Building for three years in exchange for repairs it would make to the building. Willingham will work out a listing of the specific repairs and costs for inclusion in the agreement before it is brought back to the council for a vote.

Th Council approved a contract, recommended by Engineer Angela Henline, with the Cassady Company in Northport. This Contract “E” will replace portions of the 16-inch water main, between Lola Wallace Young Road and the Boligee Connector, was awarded to Capstone Contractors, who submitted the low bid of $635,481. Henline said this was the last of the contracts for improvement of the joint Eutaw -Boligee Water System, which came as grants from ADEM.

Engineer Henline also asked the Council to approve a request to ADEM for $8.3 million for additional improvement to the Eutaw Sewage System, which also serves Boligee, the Crossroads of America Industrial Park and surrounding areas. The funding would be used for improvements to the City’s lagoon, rehab of pumping stations in the city (Clarke, Branch Heights, Annie Thomas, Chevron, School, Swamp), a sewer jetter (trailer mounted) and improvement of the city’s gravity sewer system. The Council voted to approve this request.

Mayor Latasha Johnson reported that the Project 24-1122-0016 to resurface West End Avenue was moving forward as planned.
In other business, the Eutaw City Council:

• Tabled consideration of requests from the Alabama Fiber Network for a space to place a building and equipment related to broadband in the city and the county; they also tabled a request from Eagle Internet, who propose placing a wireless tower on top of the city’s downtown water tower.

• Received financial reports on accounts in Merchants and Farmers Bank and utility revenue collections for October, compiled by Financial Advisor, Ralph Liverman.

• Approved annual software maintenance agreement with BBI Inc. for the city’s financial reports.

• Approved appraisal quote from Bill Mackey Real Estate for appraisal of the R. H. Young Community Center and surrounding property.

• Approved payment of bills.

• Reset the date of the second meeting in December from the 24 to the 17th of December.

The Mayor gave a report and Council members commented on it. Several residents made comments in the Public Comments of the meeting.

Eutaw City Council considers garbage fees, water and sewer improvement projects, meets new canine officer

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Eutaw City Councilmembers Stewart, Hunter, Woodruff, Mayor Johnson, Officer Tyler Johnson, Marco ( German Shepard),  Chief Johnson Councilmembers Watkins and Coleman.

By John Zippert, Co-Publisher

The most exciting part of Tuesday’s Eutaw City Council meeting was the introductory appearance of new K-9 officer – Marco – with his handler Officer Tyler Johnson. Marco, a trained German Shepard police dog, who can sniff out drugs and other contraband is the newest member of the Eutaw PD.

Mayor Latasha began with a discussion of the garbage collection services provided by Arrow Disposal Services, Inc (ADSI) which did not collect garbage for two weeks in July 2024. The mayor sent the company a letter requesting information on the problems with garbage services. The mayor said, “ASDI says it experienced difficulties in staffing and several truck breakdowns, which have delayed garbage pick-up in July, which has since resumed on most routes in the city.”

The City Council also received a memo from Financial Advisor, Attorney Ralph Liverman, indicating that the current $15 a month garbage fee, included with monthly water bills, is too low to cover the company’s billing for garbage services. He recommends raising the garbage fee to $18 per month for residential customers and possibly putting the garbage contract up for bids. The Council decided to consider the issues related to garbage collection at a work session to be scheduled.

The Council also heard a report from Angela Henline, engineer with Cassady Company of Tuscaloosa on progress with improvements to the water and sewer system, serving Eutaw and Boligee. Most of the elements of the overall project are completed or are on schedule, including the Boligee Water Tank, which lacks a control valve and meter that will be installed by September 3, 2024, which will bring this water tank online and increase water pressure in Boligee.

Henline asked the Council to approve two additional contracts for work on the system. First, a $24,543 contract with Gaines Utility Construction
Company of Mobile, to do an investigative inventory of materials in 400 water connections that have not been fitted with backflow meters. This inventory is needed for a report to ADEM on lead pipes in water systems. The inventory has already been completed on 1200 services that received backflow preventers in a prior contract.

The second contract is for $427,225 for Manhole Restoration for Boligee, awarded to Insituform Technologies LLC to raise and repair the Boligee Manhole, which is part of the unified sewer system. Henline also stated she was working on ways to include the Branch Heights pumping station in repairs and new pumps in the next phase of the wastewater improvement project, which includes refurbishing the lagoon and other pumping stations. The Council voted to approve both new projects, pending approval by ADEM.

The Council discussed the leasing of the arena in the Lock Seven City Park to the Six Saddle Riding Club. The club has been locking up the park property and several councilmembers objected to this process. The mayor indicated that a new lock had been put on the gate and that the Eutaw Police Department controlled the key. The mayor said the park was locked because of a large hole in the road. The hole is a cracked septic tank cover and cannot be easily filled without relocating the septic tank. The city staff is trying to figure out the best and least expensive way to deal with this problem.

The Council voted to accept the resignation of Jacqueline Stewart, District 5 Councilperson. Stewart explained that she purchased a home and no longer lives in District 5. The Council set August 27, 2024, as the deadline for persons interested in filling this seat to apply. The application must include a copy of a driver’s license and voter registration showing residency in District 5 and a letter of interest in serving in this position. The Council will hold interviews for the candidates on September 5, 2024, at 11:00 AM as part of a working session, scheduled for that date.

In other business, the Eutaw City Council:

• Approved travel registration and per diem for Council members, staff, including the City Attorney and Judge, and others to attend upcoming trainings in their fields of work.
• Approved payment of $3,600 to Brian Price Transmissions for repairs to a police car.
• Approved use of the R. H. Young Community Center, Gym, at no charge, for the Greene County Volunteer Fire Fighters, for a public purpose and partnership activity with the city.
• Tabled discussion of sale of.3.36 acres of property on the Lock Seven Road to Elizabeth Hamilton.
• Approved a request that bank statements be included in the councilmembers’ meeting packets.
• Heard a presentation by Sandra Walker on supporting the Miss Black USA Pageant.
• Received several financial reports from Ralph Liverman, Financial Adviser.
• Approved payment of bills.

Eutaw City Council holds routine meeting

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At its regular meeting on August 22, 2023, the Eutaw City Council handled routine business for the city.

The Council heard a presentation from Tom Bowman of Business Computer Systems of Tuscaloosa for complete office IT support, including phones and security cameras, which are linked to the computer systems. The Council agreed to a contract for these services, to be negotiated with the Mayor, to include all technology related equipment at City Hall.

At the recommendation of Ralph Liverman, Financial Advisor, the Council voted to set up a separate bank account, in Merchants and Farmers Bank for road and bridge repair funds coming from the 2019 Rebuild Alabama Act and to develop a ‘Transportation Plan’ as required by the State of Alabama for the expenditure of these funds.

Liverman said he expected that $33,000 would be received in the next fiscal year (2023-24) from the Rebuild Alabama Act. The Transportation Plan calls for giving priority to repair of the Lower Gainesville Road and repairs needed on Woodfield Avenue. The priority for this plan does not change other priorities for the use of state gas tax monies, FEMA funds and others for already scheduled road, bridg and drainage repair plans previously adopted by the City Council.

The Council approved an agreement for payment of $8,445.25 in back water and sewer charges for King Village, Greene County Housing Authority. These funds will be repaid at the rate of $703.77 per month for 12 months, beginning October 1, 2023. Based on the agreement, no interest or late charges were levied to make repayment easier for GCHA.

The Council approved advertising for bids, for a company to conduct an environmental assessment of Brownfield sites, within the city limits, that could be ameliorated and improved.

In other business, the Council approved the following:

• Travel and per diem for the Mayor and Council members to attend the Alabama Association of Regional Councils (AARC) Annual Conference at
Perdido Beach on October 8-11, 2023.
• Payment of a claim of $2,323.70 for repairs to a truck, owned by Rev. Michael Barton, after a collision with a vechile driven by a city employee.
• Received financial reports on city bank accounts for the period October 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023 in Merchants and Farmers; and water accounts in Citizens Trust Bank, for the same period.
• Agreed to pay all bills incurred to the meeting date.

At the end of the meeting, Mayor Johnson asked Kevin Gorskey to make a presentation on behalf of Phi-Air-Medical, a company that provides helicopter transportation of sick and injured people to area hospitals from the heliport at the Greene County Hospital. Gorskey explained that his company offers coverage for helicopter medical services for $65.00 a year membership to families in Greene County. If you join his service, you get helicopter rides to medical service and the company collects, whatever your insurance agrees to pay, instead of a potentially very high bill.

Mayor Johnson said that she would look into this service as a potential fringe benefit for city employees and to encourage other area businesses to consider the service as well.