By Marla Jones, Reporter • marla@southerntorch.com
RAINSVILLE, Ala. — (Full Live Video on our Facebook) The Rainsville City Council held their regularly scheduled meeting on September 17, 2018.
The Council approved the $4.3 million proposed budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year.
Councilmember Ricky Byrum said he had studied the budget and felt comfortable with its passage.
Councilmember Marshall Stiefel stated that he would be voting in favor of the budget, but felt that the outside audit from 2016-17 should have been completed by now because it would have been helpful to compare figures. The Council unanimously passed the budget.
Mayor Rodger Lingerfelt addressed the Council on several items including the needed repair of a tractor at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The estimates to repair it were from $3,000 to $5,000. Lingerfelt also discussed the need for wording changes in the contract between the DeKalb County Commission and City of Rainsville concerning the funding of the Boozer Bridge. The City would give a parcel of land in exchange for backfill and approach work for the bridge. The City is seeking funding due to ATRIP funds no longer being available.
The Mayor also reported that public safety radios would be cheaper to repair than to purchase new ones.
Councilmember Brandon Freeman read a proclamation regarding the 231st anniversary of the drafting of the U.S. Constitution and made September 17-23, 2018 as Constitution Week in the City of Rainsville.
In the workshop, John Baker, the Democratic nominee for DeKalb County Sheriff, addressed the Council regarding his positions on issues and his platform for Sheriff.
In other business, the Council:
• Appointed Marsha Hundley to the Library Board due to the retirement of Paul Tumlin
• Appointed Teresa Darwin Phillips as City Public Defender
• Approved the purchase of four yard and eight yard dumpsters from Wastequip in the amount of $9,399.00
• Accepted the George Wallace Bridge project. According to City Engineer, Sam Phillips, George Wallace is now open and that they are waiting on settling before completing the paving process
• Hired Tara Wilkerson full-time at the City Hall at a rate of $12.50 beginning September 19, 2018
• Started the discussion pertaining to Subdivision ordinances
• Approved the Dilbeck two year warranty and agreed to pay Wiregrass the remaining $101,511.83
• Approved City Attorney Nikki Scott to revise Ordinance 9-21-87 to allow prisoners to pay off legal fees by doing community work in the City such as garbage cleanup for the City for a proposed set amount
• Hired Danny Rosson for the open spot on Sanitation due to Steven Pike’s resignation
• Hired Stephen Shassverger to replace Anthony Austin in the Police Department
• Promoted Justin Harper to Captain at the Rainsville Fire Department
• Voted to take down the 3-way stop on Church Street and Rainbow, making Church a thru street and Commuters will only stop on Rainbow, beginning Monday.
The City has several upcoming events over the next few months. Those include:
• The Plainview Homecoming Parade on October 11 at 4pm
• The last day of Farmer’s Market on October 27 (depending on participation, it may be extended)
• The City of Rainsville Trunk ‘R Treat at the Park from 5pm to 7pm on October 31
• The Christmas Parade on December 1
The next meeting of the Rainsville City Council will be held on October 1 with a workshop beginning at 4:15pm and the meeting beginning at 5pm at City Hall.
