PHOTO: The new Fort Payne flag is a combination of two designs from Jeff White and Constance Price.
By Tyler Pruett, Managing Editor
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — Towards the end of Tuesday’s Fort Payne City Council Meeting, Fort Payne Mayor Larry Chesser unveiled the City’s new official flag.
“We took two of the winning entries, and kind of combined them. It’s basically the red diagonal that represents the State of Alabama. We’ve got the trail of tears, the Boom Days, the music revolution, and the sock business,” said Chesser.
“The letters on to the left, are Sequoyah’s Cherokee language, and stand for Willicy, which is their word for Wills Town,” said Chesser.
At the 2017 Independence Day Celebration, the winners were announced for the contest.
The design on the left was submitted by Jeff White, and took first place, with the design on the right, submitted by Constance Price, coming in a close second.
Both received a cash price for their submissions.
Around 80 designs were submitted, and the flag ideas were voted on by a panel of judges.
After partnering with Fort Payne Main Street, the city announced a cash award for the first and second place winners. The top 10 overall flag designs received a Certificate of Appreciation from Mayor Larry Chesser.
The entry forms asked contestants: “What are the best features of Fort Payne? What are the things that make Fort Payne a remarkable small town? As you think about the past, present, and future, what colors, symbols, and designs can you come up with to capture the spirit of Fort Payne?”
The city also received a good report on their annual audit. Katie Condit-Brown of MDA Associates, gave the report to the city council.
“We are issuing what we call an, ‘unmodified opinion,’ which is a clean opinion, and the highest opinion you can issue on a financial statement,” Brown said.
The council also discussed Resolution 2018-05, authorizing Tony Renta’s plan to renovate the Police Department and the Old Forest Avenue School Building at 2nd and Forest Avenue North.
Councilman Wade Hill said, “We got a proposal from Tony (Renta) a month or so ago, to do the study on this building and the police station, to see what the plan would entail to renovate. It’s not architectural drawings; it’s basically to study the buildings, check for hazards, and then get a construction manager to maybe look at it. And give us some ballpark figures.”
“We are to the point right now, and if we want to carry on with that, we’ve got to enter into an agreement with somebody to do that, and we have a proposal from his group,” said Hill.
Hill said the council would discuss the matter during this meeting, and will consider passing the resolution at the next meeting.
“The police department was top priority, identified by Tony Renta,” said Councilwoman Lynn Brewer.
“I think the police department definitely needs renovating,” said Councilman Red Taylor. “I would like to see that prioritized.”
“That was the general consensus of everybody; that this a top priority, renovating the police department,” said Council President Brian Baine.
Hill also related that the Police Department would have to moved to another building during the renovations.
You may view our full video of the Fort Payne City Council meeting here.
