Greene County Democrat

Tag: Mayor Latasha Johnson

  • Eutaw City Council holds last meeting before election on August 26th.

    The Eutaw City Council held its last meeting before the August 26, 2025, municipal elections on August 12, 2025. The Council dealt with mostly routine business. The Mayor and all Councilmembers were present.
    The Council approved an agreement for Harbin and Stough, CPA firm to do the audit for the city for the fiscal year from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. This is the same firm that did the previous two audits for fiscal years ending in 2022 and 2023. The fee for the audit will not exceed $31,000 and be determined later when the amount of work time is calculated. Since the City is using an updated accounting system and the financial records will be in place, the cost may be less than in prior years.
    The Council approved purchase of a security system and cameras at the City Barn to prevent vandalism and stealing of equipment.
    The Council approved renewal of the agreement with Avenu and Analytics for collection of Sales and Use Taxes from merchants and businesses in the city. Avenu collects the 3% sales tax due to the city and pursues those who are delinquent in reporting and paying their share of taxes. Avenu charges a fee of 1.95% on the taxes it collects.


    The Council based on a recommendation from Legal Counsel, approved recommending claims from Felicia Allen and Bambarger Wrecker Service to our insurance agency for resolution. The Council also approved travel reimbursement to police officers for training and accepted the resignation of Sharon Trammel from the EMS Board. They also approved payment of all bills for the month.
    In her report, Mayor Latasha Johnson, recognized the Chief of Police, Tommy Johnson, for earning a certificate as a Law Enforcement Executive, after completing 240 hours of training over the past two years. She also announced a special public meeting on August 19, 2025, at the Eutaw City Hall to review plans and take public comments for a roundabout to be built at the intersection of Highway 43 and Highway 14 in Eutaw. The roundabout will insure more effective travel flow, increase safety and reduce the possibility of accidents at this intersection. The public is invited to the meeting.
    Several Councilmembers raised complaints about the need to cut down a tree near the location of the old swimming pool on Highway 14 because it obstructs the view of drivers entering the highway. The repair of potholes and the need for an animal control officer to deal with packs of dogs and feral cats that are roaming the neighborhoods of the city. Mr. James Lawson raised the issue of why the Council raised its compensation from $300 to $800 a month, a raise of $6,000 a year, but refuses to increase the pay of city workers. Some Councilmembers responded that the increase was for the in-coming Council after the election.

  • 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.

  • Map of the City of Eutaw voting districts for municipal elections


    The City of Eutaw released the official list of candidates who qualified for the August 26, 2025, municipal elections for Mayor and five City Council positions. The qualifying period, which ran from June 10 to 24, is now closed.
    There are three candidates for Mayor. Incumbent Mayor Latasha Johnson is challenged by Corey Cockrell, a current County Commissioner for District 3 and Tyrone Atkins.
    In each of the five City Council districts the current incumbents qualified, except for District 3, where incumbent Tracey Hunter is unopposed in the election. In District 1, incumbent Valerie Brewer- Watkins is challenged by Ke’Undra Quintz Cox. In District 2, Jonathan Woodruff, Jr., the incumbent, is opposed by Charles Naylor, Jr., and Quentin Maurice Walton. In District 4, incumbent Larrie Coleman is challenged by Sarah Duncan Brewer and Lorenzo French. In District 5, incumbent Suzette Powell, is challenged by Carrie Logan, Director of the Eutaw Area Chamber of Commerce.
    If no candidate wins a majority of the votes for Mayor or in their district for City Council member, there will be a Run-off Election scheduled for September 23, 2025, for the top two vote-getters in each race.
    The election is open to all registered voters who have lived in the city or their respective district for 30 days or more prior to the election. The polls will be open from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM on election day and for the run-off election, if necessary.
    The last day to register to vote in this election is August 15, 2025, for those who recently moved into the city limits, or never registered to vote or are trying to reclaim their voting rights. The newly elected Mayor and Council will take office in November 2025.

    Council Meetings on June 10 and 24

    The Eutaw City Council held its two regular monthly meetings on June 10 and 24, at the City Hall. Councilman Woodruff was absent for the June 10 meeting. All council members were in attendance for the June 24th meeting.
    In the June 10th meeting the Council approved purchase of materials to repair potholes in streets and other roadway repairs. The Mayor said she had a long list of streets to be repaired, and the city staff would work on these when the materials and time were available.
    The Council tabled requests from the Mayor to purchase a tractor and a bush hog and a truck mounted sewer jet to clean out sewer pumping stations.
    The Council approved travel for the Chief of Police to attend the annual conference of police chiefs in August ; travel for officer Jaleel Powell to attend a training in August; payment for poll workers in the upcoming municipal elections and approved payment of bills.
    At the June 24th meeting, the Eutaw City Council approved a new employee health plan from Colonial Life Insurance Company which includes dental and vision coverage not available in the current plan.
    The Council approved a Memorandum of Agreement with United Way of Alabama to install a ‘story walk’ in the city’s Memorial Park on Mesopotamia Street. The walk will tell stories to children when the walk through and will be an addition to the playground and tennis courts in the park.
    The Council also approved for Attorney Zane Willingham to write a letter to the Mayor concerning employee overtime. The Council approved payment of bills.
    The Council received a report from the Water Department listing $158,000 in delinquent bills to the city from 2017 to June 2025. Sarah Leavelle, Water Clerk, explained that these balances include water, sewer, garbage and connection fees owed. The Water Department has negotiated a payment plan for these overdue accounts.
    Leavelle explained, “Sometimes people honor their agreements and sometimes they don’t. We do have the right to cut off water services if people do not pay their bills and past due balances. We try to work with people to get their bills paid.” The Council took this information under consideration in terms of their planning and budgetary decision making.
    Council member Valerie Watkins raised several concerns. One was about large trucks parked by the place where the old swimming pool was located. Mayor Johnson asked her to get the names of the truck owners and license plates of violators to help in getting this problem resolved. Watkins said she was reporting the problem but could not be responsible for the requested information. Chief of Police Johnson said the police would monitor the situation and advise the truck owners of the laws.
    Watkins said the city staff should check and identify streetlights that are not working and make sure they are replaced. She also said residents were complaining about a ditch that runs between Roebuck and Edwards Streets. The Mayor responded that this ditch is owned by the residents and not the city and therefore cleaning the ditch was their responsibility.
    In the public comments section of the meetings, Faye Tyree complained that the bathrooms in the City Hall need to be repaired for use by the employees and the public. Alfonzo Morton complained about flooding from the rains and asked the city to help in cleaning the ditch behind his house.

  • Mayor Latasha Johnson announces bid for re-election

    Today, I am officially announcing my campaign for re-election to the Office of Mayor of the City of Eutaw, Alabama. It has been a privilege and honor to hold this position since November of 2020. Following my election, I did my best to put together a team (TEAM EUTAW) of people and citizens, who would work together to continue moving this city forward. While there have been some problems and difficult times there have also been some accomplishments and successes that far exceed difficulties.
    These are some of the challenges that we faced and how Team Eutaw addressed these: Eutaw Water Department’s revenue was down due to the billing system. Over 100 customers were not billed due to meter issues. We were able to correct these issues and tripled our water revenues. The city was in debt with IRS (over) $300.000 lien on the city, and with the help of staff, our financial advisors (Ralph Liverman), CPA (Rob Person), and Sheriff Joe Benison, we were able to resolve these issues.
    Our city suffered through severe weather conditions, including three tornadoes and other strong wind storms. Thankfully, there were no fatalities, but tremendous amounts of property damage to several homes, buildings, and excessive amount of trees and limbs damage throughout the city. FEMA was some help, but a large amount of the expenses fell on the city.
    The City paid off the debt on the former Carver School facility. Partnering with the County and the Industrial Development Authority, we completed Streetscape Project which resulted in new sidewalks with railings, curbs, gutters, and an area for beautification downtown. This project started under former Mayor Raymond Steele. 
 The City installed streetlights on Exit I- 20/59 (Love truck stop exit). We secured a $500,000 loan from Merchant and Farmers Bank to purchase street sweeper, boom debris pickup truck, water/street department work trucks, police cars, a new Fire Truck ($250,000) The last payment of that loan will be in September 2025. The City purchased the former Lon Grubbs building for future police department and storage of records. We partnered with the Town of Boligee and secured over $ 9 million dollars in grant monies from ADEM to fix water lines, lift stations, water tanks and pumping station.
    I am asking citizens of Eutaw to please RE- ELECT me (Latasha Johnson) as Mayor. I will continue my team work to improve roads, bridges, draining ditches, restoring old sidewalks/curbs, demolishing old overgrown houses/buildings. I will also work very hard for recreational activities for our children. As a community, we will continue to work together to grow our City; therefore, I am asking the citizens of Eutaw to please re-elect me (Latasha Johnson) for Mayor of Eutaw for 4 more years and I will continue to build up our city.

  • Eutaw City Council holds routine monthly meetings in April 2025

    Trash collected in downtown Eutaw on Saturday April 12, Clean-up Day sponsored by Eutaw City Council, Eutaw Garden Club and other volunteers

    By John Zippert, Co-Publisher

    This is a report of three meetings that the Eutaw City Council held during April 2025, the regular meetings on April 8 and 21 and a work session on April 15, 2025. The Eutaw City Council handled mostly routine business as well as a continuing argument over the best use of financial resources.
    The Council adopted a Boligee and Eutaw Area Strategic Plan for 2025-2029 as a guideline and goals for future projects to support community improvement and economic growth over the next five years. The plan document was and prepared by the Delta Regional Authority with funding from Hope Enterprise Corporation. Engagement, writing and graphic design were completed by the Delta Design Build Workshop (Delta DB).
    The City Council tabled this item in its April 8 meeting but approved it at the meeting on April 21, which gave members time to read and study the document. Some members were concerned that the plan might obligate the City to matching funds on projects for which it does not have funds on hand. Mayor Latasha Johnson clarified that the Strategic Plan was a guide to needed economic development, infrastructure, cultural and arts projects which would assist the city’s growth and development in the upcoming years. Copies are available through City Hall.
    An agenda item that appeared in all three meetings concerned budget compliance for the General Fund and raises for city employees or laying off employees and return to a 40-hour work week. This agenda item was tabled in all three meetings pending a report through March 31,2025, half of the fiscal year, on the city finances and recommendations by the city’s Financial Adviser, Ralph Liverman. Some council members want Liverman to appear in person, so their will be no misunderstandings about his recommendations.
    Mayor Johnson said that she kept employees, on the 32-hour schedule, to keep within the budget guidelines and not layoff staff. Council members Hunter and Woodruff were arguing that their interpretation of Liverman’s advice was that they should layoff staff and return to the 40-hour schedule to be in budgetary compliance. This matter was tabled until the March 31 financial report and budgetary adjustments and recommendations are available.
    Another financial issue that came before the City Council, at all three meetings, was the disposition of two checks ($146,103.69 and $28,286.48) totaling $ !74,390.17, from the Alabama Examiner of Public Accounts from an audit of the Greene County ad valorem tax collections June 24, 2017 through June 26,2023, including some checks paid to the City that were outstanding and needed to be replaced. Councilman Woodruff asserted that these tax funds, which were an unexpected windfall, should be set aside in the Capital Improvements Fund for later use when the city’s financial status was clearer. The City Clerk explained that she used some of the funds to pay bills and that these funds will be reimbursed to the City from various construction projects. Woodruff also wanted to retain the funds to pay off the most recent loan to the City, at 6.5% interest, which he characterized as very high and expensive. This issue was postponed until there was a more accurate picture of the city’s finances, possibly after the March 31 financial report.
    In other business, the Eutaw City Council:
    • Approved a resolution for Zane Willingham, City Attorney, to represent the City in civil asset forfeitures of less than $5,000 on a contingency basis.
    • Approved a 020-Restaurant Retail Liquor License for the King and Queen Cantina on Boligee Street in Eutaw.
    • Approved Ordinance no. 2025-4 setting qualification fees for Mayor and City Council candidates in the upcoming municipal elections.
    • Approved Resolution 2025-3 for the 2025 “Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday on July 18-20, 2025.
    • Approved purchasing of dirt to repair the City Park Baseball Field.
    • Approved T&H Services for a contract to remove trash on Park Avenue.
    • Approved payment of bills.
    The City Water Clerk reported $132,291 in revenues for March 2025; as compared to March 2024 – $102,740, March 2023 of $113,365, March 2022 of $117,585. This means the increase in water rates is generating $20,000+ in revenues each month toward increasing expenses.
    Tommy Johnson, Chief of Police, reported that he had scheduled a special training class for women on the use of guns, for Saturday May 24, 2025, with registration at 7:45 AM and starting time at 8:00 AM at City Hall. The training will include a visit to the shoot range for practice in shooting. It also will include safety and maintenance of weapons.
    Several councilmembers complained of large potholes in city streets that need to be repaired. The Mayor said she had a long list of street repair projects which she was working on as fast as she could with limited resources for materials and staff.
    The Mayor thanked the Eutaw Garden Club for co-sponsoring the City Clean-up Day on Saturday, April 12, 2025.

  • City of Eutaw holds contentious meeting; approves non-exclusive broadband franchise for Alabama Fiber Network

    By John Zippert, Co-Publisher

    The Eutaw City Council held its bi-monthly meeting on February 25, 2025. All five council members and the mayor were present. The past few meetings, since the first of the year, have involved tensions between the council members and Mayor Latasha Johnson. This meeting was no exception, and in my notes, I wrote ‘this is a very contentious meeting’.
    In the Fall of 2024, the Council removed Mayor Johnson, as a signatory on all city accounts, in recent meetings, the Mayor and the Council disagreed over an ordinance raising council members stipend from $300 to $800 a month, beginning the next fiscal year. They also disagreed over travel reimbursements for staff, the repair schedule for streets in the city, raises for city employees, the use of city vehicles, staff work hours and other matters.
    Mayor Johnson has asserted that her decisions, were within her purview as “day to day operations of the city” while the Council members assert that they have fiscal control over the budget and expenditures and can correct the Mayor’s actions dealing with city funds.
    These arguments began at the February 25 meeting over approval of the agenda before any other actions were taken. Councilman Jonathan Woodruff moved to remove two items from the agenda, because he said they had already been decided or should be considered in a working session. He moved to eliminate a discussion of employee evaluations and raises that was later decided to be shifted to a discussion in the next working session. The Mayor wanted some discussion and decisions on these matters, since the council members had voted themselves a raise without considering the employees.
    Woodruff also wanted to cut an agenda item dealing with partial reimbursement of Assistant Police Chief William Smith for travel expenses to attend an FBI training workshop in Rushton, Louisiana on January 12-17, 2025. Woodruff said the Council disapproved the reimbursement in the prior three meetings because it was not a mandatory trip and because it was made in a city vehicle before it was authorized and under the policies this is not permitted.
    Mayor Johnson said that she authorized the trip because it was beneficial to the city and put it on the agenda as soon as she could which was after the trip was underway. The Council agreed to reimburse Assistant Chief for $523.49, which was a third of his original request and a compromise realizing the trip had not been properly authorized but that the Mayor and not the Assistant Chief was the responsible party. Woodruff said the Mayor should have polled the Council by phone before authorizing the trip. He also said this was the last unauthorized trip that he would vote to reimburse, since the proper policies were not followed. The Mayor said she felt she did the best she could and felt the city would benefit from the police training that Smith received.
    Another issue of contention was raised by Councilwoman Tracey Hunter who wanted to remove Police Chief Tommie Johnson, as a signatory, from the DARE Program checking account. The Mayor argued that the Police Chief is the supervisor of this special account and that he should not be removed from the account since he was not present at the meeting. It was unclear if the Chief had spent funds incorrectly from the DARE Account. The matter was tabled until a meeting where the Chief could be present.
    The Council also passed Ordinance 2025-3, granting a non-exclusive franchise agreement to Alabama Fiber Network, to provide middle-mile broadband services in Eutaw. A copy of the full ordinance is printed in this week’s Democrat, as a Legal Notice on Page 7. In the ordinance, when fully operational, Alabama Fiber Network will pay a three per cent of revenues franchise fee to the city.
    In other business, the Eutaw City Council:
    • Tabled consideration of Zoning Board, Cemetery Committee and Airport Authority Board appointments.
    • Referred Ms. Verna Nickson’s request for replacing her mobile home in a district zoned for residential dwellings, because her mobile home was in place before the zoning went into effect, to the Zoning Board for a variance.
    • Received financial reports from Ralph Liverman, Financial Adviser.
    • Approved services agreement with AVEN Insights and Analytics for collection of sales taxes and business licenses.
    • Approved travel, per diem, registration and parking for Mayor, Clerks and Council members to attend the Alabama League of Municipalities Annual Convention in Huntsville on May 13-16, 2025.
    • Tabled request from Victoria Harris to rezone area, near Lock Seven, for a Bar and Grill, pending consultation with neighboring residents.
    •Approved payment of bills.

  • Mayor Johnson announces completion of project to re-pave West End Avenue

    Mayor Latasha Johnson together with (L to R) Commissioner Tennyson Smith (District 2), City Council members Valerie Watkins and Suzette Powell announce completion of project to resurface 1.374 miles of West End Avenue, from Lower Gainesville Road to Highway 11 (Boligee Street). This street is heavily trafficked due to housing complexes. The State of Alabama under the Rebuild Alabama Act contributed $316,671.81 toward the project. The City of Eutaw contributed $66,671.81 in matching funds and $47,000 in engineering costs for a total contribution of $113,671.81 to complete the project. S. T. Bunn was awarded the contract to do the project. Former City Council member Jacqueline Stewart (District 5) was instrumental in pushing for the City of Eutaw to do this project in her district.

  • Eutaw City Council agrees to declare the R. H. Young Community Center as surplus, as a step toward sale of the property

    Police Officer Tyler Johnson named ‘Officer of the Year” . L to R. are Councilwoman Tracey Hunter, Police Chief Tommy Johnson, Councilwoman Valerie Watkins, Officer Tyler Johnson, Mayor Latasha Johnson, Councilwoman Suzette Powell, and Councilman Jonathan Woodruff.

     

    By John Zippert, Co-Publisher

    In response to financial and budgetary pressures, the Eutaw City Council met on December 10, Dec. 17 and in a working session on December 12, to deal with several issues related to the projected deficit in the current Fiscal Year (2024-25) finances. Mayor Latasha Johnson and the Eutaw City Council differ on the best approaches to the financial problems.

    Councilmembers led by Jonathan Woodruff and Tracey Hunter feel the city must curb expenses, layoff workers and sell properties that are not financially sustainable, to avoid deficits. The Mayor argues that she has faith the city will grow and provide new revenues to sustain the workforce, make necessary improvements and hold on to properties like the R. H. Young Community Center. Mayor Johnson also argues that the mayor oversees “day-to-day operations”, which includes hiring and firing of employees to accomplish the on-going tasks of city administration.

    The Council voted unanimously at its December 17 meeting to declare the Robert H. Young Community Center as surplus property, so it can be sold. The City of Eutaw purchased the school from the Greene County Board of Education for $200,000 in the prior city administration of Raymond Steele. The Council’s intention was to develop the former Carver School as a community center, with spaces rented to community organizations and small businesses. While the school, especially the gymnasium has been used for meetings and funerals, the facility has not generated enough income to pay utility, maintenance and repair costs.

    The Mayor stated the city needs a community center and the Greene County Commission may be interested in buying the facility or working together with the city in its development as a community center for all county residents. Councilman Woodruff says, “There is a lack of trust between the city and county because the county did not honor its commitment to put up $70,000 for the matching funds for the Street Scape
    Project to remodel the sidewalks around the old Courthouse Square in downtown Eutaw.”

    Woodruff continued, “We are willing to sell the property to the County at its current appraised value, but I do not think we can work together with them since we have financial problems and no funds for a community center.” Many community residents feel the best way to proceed would be a joint effort of the city and the county seeking public and private grant funds to develop a comprehensive community center out of the old Carver school.

    The City of Eutaw was able to borrow funds from Merchants and Farmers Bank to cover the shortfalls in matching funds for the Street Scape and West End Avenue repaving projects. The City committed funds from its State of Alabama 4-cent and 7-cent roadway repair funds to repay the loan.

    The Mayor presented a revised fiscal year 2024-25 fiscal budget, where she moved expenses around from some funding to repair the old E-911 building and a fund to purchase or repair police vehicles to be able to retain all current staff. The Council voted not to accept the Mayor’s budget revisions and approved the original budget which requires layoff or not replacing vacancies in the street, water, sewer and administrative departments.

    The Mayor voted against this resolution and said the budget was a plan that could be revised based on needs. She asserted that she oversaw day-to-day operations and as long as her spending was within the budget requirements, she could keep staff needed to operate the city. Councilmembers Woodruff and Hunter said they would continue to monitor and evaluate the budget, expenses and the staffing of city departments. This remains as an area of disagreement between the mayor and the council.

    The Mayor said that the city attorney was working on negotiating an agreement with Alabama Fiber Network to sell them a 50 by 50-foot space to place their “middle mile broadband equipment” to facilitate expansion of fiber Internet access in the city and county. The legal paperwork for this sale will be provided by the attorney, for approval by the council, at a future meeting.

    A payment of budgeted support funding to E-911 was tabled until after the city receives its allocation of property taxes in January. E-911 provides dispatch services for city agencies like the police and ambulance services.

    In other business, the Eutaw City Council:

    • Approved travel for Police Chief Tommy Johnson to attend the AACOP Winter Conference in Montgomery on February 9-13, 2025.
    • Approved $150 membership dues for City Attorney, Zane Willingham, for the Alabama Association of Municipal Attorneys.

    • Tabled repairs to a manhole behind Ms. Suzzette Quinnie’s property until the ownership of the sewer line can be documented between the City and the Greene County Housing Authority.

    • Heard a presentation from Lamar Martin, of the Secure Wellness Group on a Self-Insured Medical Reimbursement Plan for city employees. The Council voted to provide information for a payroll census, without personal information, so he could develop a plan for the City of Eutaw and
    present it at a future meeting.

    Mayor Johnson indicated that City Hall would be closed on December 24 and 25, 2024, December 31, 2024 at 12:00 Noon and January 1, 2025, for the holidays.

  • Eutaw City Council approves fire agreement and additional contracts and requests for the water and sewer system improvements

    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 approves loan to complete Streetscape and other road projects; raises sewer rates and adopts budget

    Mayor Latasha Johnson presents certificate of completion for City Clerk’s training over a four-year period at the University of Alabama, to Joe Powell, Assistant City Clerk. Shekelvia Spencer, City Clerk, earned a similar certificate but she was not able to attend the meeting.

    The Eutaw City Council met on Tuesday October 22, 2024, for the third meeting this month and completed consideration of issues posed in the prior meetings on October 8 and 15, 2024. All Council members were present.

    The Council heard a report from Craig Williams, Thompson Engineering of Tuscaloosa about outstanding projects. The concrete work for Streetscape is nearing completion for sidewalks and universal access around the old Courthouse Square. The final landscaping phase, where trees and shrubs will be planted is yet to come.

    Williams said the project cost was $1 million paid to the contractor and a matching $270,000 for 20% matching and design and engineering cost. There was an agreement between the County Commission, Industrial Development Authority and the City to share in the matching. The GCIDA did contribute $80,000 but the County Commission said it could not find authority in its minutes to pay a share of the matching costs. This left the City of Eutaw to bear an additional part of the cost.

    Williams also reported that the Rebuild Alabama Project to repave 3 miles of the Lower Gainesville Road has been awarded and signed by S. T. Bunn, prime contractor. The State will pay $316,672 for the project, in a lump sum up front payment. The City will be responsible for the remaining matching and engineering cost of $113,000 for this project. This project will be started in November and be finished by the end of the year.

    The Eutaw City Council approved Resolution No. 2024-28 which allows the City of Eutaw to borrow up to $300,000, from Merchants and Farmers Bank, for the completion of the Streetscape and Lower Gainesville Road projects. The resolution allows the City to pledge revenues from its Four Cent and Seven Cent Gas Tax Accounts for a period of up to 24 months,
    as security for the loan.

    With this loan, the city will be able to satisfy its financial matching obligations for these two important projects. The City had planned to use the gas tax funds, for matching, to make these and other improvements to roads and bridges in the city, so these resources will still be committed to this purpose. The City may need to schedule additional road improvement work, based on funds available in the gas tax funds, taking into account the loan repayment.
    The City Council approved Ordinance No. 2024-7 which raises garbage collection rates from $15.00 to $18.00 for residential customers and $18.00 to $21.00 for small businesses. These rate increases go into effect immediately and will be reflected in the next water and sewer bills for the month of October. The Council already approved an increase in water and sewer rates to cover the costs of these city services.

    The Council also adopted Draft No. 3 of the City of Eutaw Budget for 2024-2025 fiscal year which began October 1, 2024. This draft reflects the new water, sewer and garbage rates, which should cover the cost of these services and not reflect a deficit, as in previous earlier versions of the budget for the current fiscal year. Other smaller changes were made to the General Fund in this third version of the budget, prepared by Ralph Liverman, Financial Advisor.

    In other business, the Eutaw City Council:

    • Approved Resolution No. 2024-29 establishing a credit card policy
    • Approved a statement limiting overtime hours to 2 or 3 hours weekly, for employees, unless there is a disaster that requires more work time.
    • Approved use of the R. H. Young Community Center Gym, at no cost, for the Greene County Childrens Policy Council, for a public purpose.
    Approved $1,380 for installation of a K-9 kennel for the police dog.
    Approved $4,800 yearly software subscription for the Eutaw Police Department for Code Enforcement Case Management, which is required by state regulations.
    Approved reimbursements to city employees for supplies they purchased, based on receipts submitted
    Approved $300 for meals, parking and other travel expenses for Mayor Latasha Johnson to attend Annual Neighborhood Community Leadership Institute in Baltimore, Maryland on October 31 to November 3, 2024
    Raised questions about and did not approve a contract submitted by Eagle Internet for use of the city’s water tower for wireless high-speed internet.
    Approved payment of bills.

    In her mayor’s report, Latasha Johnson asked for a moment of silence for the victims and survivors of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Month. The Mayor also announced a citywide celebration for all children of Halloween on October 31, 2024, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the RH Young Community Center. This will be a safe way to do “trick or treating”.