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.