The Eutaw City Council held its regular meeting on October 14, which is likely to be the second to last meeting presided over by Mayor Latasha Johnson as her four-year term comes to a close at the end of the month.
The meeting was fairly routine in approving required city business matters but not tackling new initiatives, policies or programs. The Council tabled a budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025, since most of the expenditures will be made in the initial months of the next mayor’s administration. Even though the budget was listed as a draft budget for the 25-26 Fiscal Year, the council members did not want to encumber the plans of the new Administration with a budget that it would have to change.
At the end of the meeting, it was announced that the inauguration of the new Mayor, Corey Cockrell, and the five council members, would be held on Monday November 3rd, at 10:00 A.M., on the grounds of the Old Greene County Courthouse, in downtown Eutaw, Alabama.
The Council also heard a report from Travis Boyd of the Servpro Corporation about alterations and repairs to the gym portion of the Robert H. Young Community Center, the former Carver School. The report includes removing toxic substances, such as lead paint and asbestos from the facility. The Servpro representatives gave their report to the council members to review. In the public meeting, the company representatives never spoke to the specifics of their financial proposal for the rehabilitation of the building.
Richard Harbin of Harbin and Stough CPA firm, made a preliminary report on their audit report for Fiscal Year 2024-25, which ended September 30, 2025. Harbin said, “ Mayor Johnson has done a good job of recording the financial records of the city. She is leaving the city in good financial shape. She has helped the city to get several grants including a large one of over $3.6 million from ADEM, for water and sewer improvements for the cities of Eutaw and Boligee that jointly share in the system,” said Harbin. He said it would take some additional time to complete the audit due to accounting for the State of Alabama Retirement System which covers city employees, audit testing of accounts and payments and writing an opinion.
In other business, the Eutaw City Council:
• Approved a Resolution to create a bank account to hold funds from currency seized from lawbreakers.
• Approved City Attorney Zane Willingham, writing a letter to Mayor Johnson concerning her disposition of city property without council approval.
• Approved City Attorney Zane Willingham to send Trevaris Truman a certified letter for the return of $4,975 in funds for a clean-up contract he never started.
• Approver registration, travel and per diem for Councilwoman-elect, Carrie Logan, to attend an orientation training for newly elected officials in Dothan, Alabama on November 12 and 13.
• Received a report from City Clerk Sha’kelvia Spencer, on using Mills Tax Service for providing bookkeeping and payroll services for the city.
• Approved donation of $250 to Greene County Children’s Policy Council for Halloween Festival.
• Approved getting a Public Official Bond of $100,000 for Mayor-elect Corey Cockrell and other city officials.
• Approved renewal of Notary Bond for City Clerk and Water clerk; and purchase of two overnight deposit from Merchants and Farmer’s Bank for deposit of city and water funds.
• Approved reimbursement of Police Officer Tyler Johnson for $45.06 for motor oil for patrol car.
• Removed item from the agenda to designate the 4th Saturday in August, to honor John and Carol Zippert, for work on the Black Belt Folk Roots Festival for fifty years.
• Approved the appointment of Pamela Hamilton to the Greene County Ambulance Board.
• Supported a Work Session to review the rental agreement for city buildings, and other facilities, including increasing the fees for clean-up costs.
• Approved payment of Monthly bills.