By Marla Jones, Managing Editor • marla@southerntorch.com

RAINSVILLE, Ala. — (Full LIVE Video on our Facebook) At this week’s meeting of the Rainsville City Council, Council Pro Tem Ricky Byrum conducted the meeting in the absence of Mayor Rodger Lingerfelt. 

In the workshop, City Engineer Sam Phillips explained the expanded paving project for Rainsville city roads. The Council approved Wiregrass Construction as the low bidder at $278,971.10. The roads to be resurfaced are: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Streets SW, along with Harrison, Oak Drive and Massingale Lane. 

The Council approved a lease agreement between The Public Building Authority of the City of Rainsville (PBA) and the City of Rainsville. The lease began on July 1, 2019 and ends on June 30, 2020. The monthly lease payments will total $220,000 to be paid by the City. 

In addition to the lease payments, the City will pay $120,000 annually for the operation and maintenance of the Agricenter as required by the Code of Alabama, Section 42-25A-140.

The agreement also stipulates that the City will pay the power bill for the facility, liability insurance for the property, property insurance and accounting and auditor fees at an undetermined amount annually. 

According to the 2018 Rainsville City Audit, the Agri-Business Center’s annual revenue was $194,262. According to Councilman Ricky Byrum, management of the facility will remain with the PBA and the PBA will retain all revenue collected through the operation of the facility. Byrum stated, “It’s a separate entity. We’re basically putting it back in their hands.”

Councilmember Marshall Stiefel stated that he had several concerns regarding this agreement. “Due to problems in the past, I feel that transparency with the PBA Board and Agri-Business Center needs to be a top priority. There is a lot of tax money being used to fund this facility and the City should have oversight over how the money is spent.” said Stiefel.

All meetings are posted in Rainsville City Hall for every third Thursday at 5pm.

Mayor Lingerfelt was contacted for comment and failed to return our call.

In other business:

• Rainsville Police Chief Kevin Smith honored two officers (Asst. Chief Josh Wigley, Patrolman Dean White) for their assistance with a local veteran affected by PTSD
• Closed out the sewer expansion account at First Southern State Bank
• Agreed to take bids on a 2015 Chevrolet truck on July 26 at 1pm
• Approved the purchase of 1993 Ford F150 in the amount of $14,000 for the Fire Department (City will be reimbursed from the sale of another vehicle)
• Approved the purchase of headwalls on 1st Street and Harrison at a cost of $2,500

The next meeting of the Rainsville City Council will be held at 5pm on Monday, August 5 with a work session beginning at 4:15pm.