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

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — At this week’s meeting of the Fort Payne City Council, Mayor Larry Chesser and the Council honored several students from the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. (ROTC) program at Fort Payne High School. 

Fort Payne Police Chief Randy Bynum spoke on an incident that occurred in December in which a pedestrian had been hit by a car while walking on Godfrey Avenue. Seth Chambers, Joshua Laws and Krista Fowler stopped and began performing first aid until paramedics arrived on the scene.

“In this day and time, young people need to be recognized for what they do,” said Bynum. “You always hear the negatives about what school kids [do], and these kids went above and beyond. A lot of people just probably passed by and didn’t stop, but these kids stopped and helped that young lady.”

Sergeant Max of the Fort Payne Junior ROTC stated that it was good to see that the program is successful. 

“My job, as a JROTC instructor, is to take these high school students and make them better US citizens,” said Max. “They validate that every day.” 

The Council introduced Ordinance 2019-01, which would amend the “Catastrophic Illness Policy” section of the City’s personnel policy. Human Resources Director Don Fisher said that this ordinance would abolish the “sick bank” and give employees 120 days of catastrophic sick leave instead of 90. The Council approved the ordinance.

The Council approved the following:

Resolution 2019-04, which declares certain real estate owned by the City no longer needed for public or municipal purposes.

Resolution 2019-05, which requesting the City’s “Local Legislature Delegation” to introduce legislation changing the method by which council members are elected in the Fort Payne municipal elections.

A tax abatement for a new business that is planning to settle in the City on the request of Jimmy Durham, the Executive Director of the DeKalb County Economic Development Authority.

The purchase of a portion of property located 519 Gault Avenue North, adjacent to the City’s recently purchase building from the Fort Payne Depot Museum in the amount of $20,000 with the restriction that it be used solely for parking.

A $2,000 budget adjustment for a TV, wi-fi, etc. for Conference Room.

The next meeting of the Fort Payne City Council will be held on Tuesday, February 19 at 12pm at Fort Payne City Hall.