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

PHOTO: At Monday night's meeting, the Rainsville City Council voted to raise sanitation rates for the first time since September 6, 2005. (Zach Hester | Southern Torch)

RAINSVILLE, Ala. — The Rainsville City Council held their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday.  

During the meeting, the Council voted to approve Resolution 02-01-2021 (B) to increase sanitation rates beginning on April 1.

According to Councilmember Ricky Byrum, sanitation rates in the City of Rainsville have been the same for the last sixteen years.

“It will still be the cheapest service that you’ll have in your household,” stated Byrum.

The rates will increase from $14 for one can to $18 per month. Two cans will be $28 per month, The rate for Seniors and disabled will be $12 with each additional can being $10. This increase will be equal to what is being charged by the County for sanitation.  

Rainsville Police Chief Michael Edmondson spoke on the Amnesty Period that the City will offer during the month of February.  

“If you have any outstanding warrants or owe any outstanding fines or costs that you are behind on, please contact the Court Clerk at (256) 638-6334 or the Rainsville Police Department at (256) 638-2157 in order to find out what needs to be done to take care of this,” stated Chief Edmondson. 

The Council received an update from Rainsville Fire Chief Willimac Wright regarding the new air packs that were purchased from a $122,950 grant that the department received. These tanks will allow firefighters to breathe for thirty minutes in toxic smoke conditions. 

Wright also presented to Councilmember Bejan Taheri the stats from the Rainsville Fire and Rescue Squad for the month of January. There were 56 incidents with 17 being a fire incident.  

The Council approved the following:

• To seek bids for the replacement of drainage structures on Willingham, Wade, and Nappier.  
• Placement of Headwalls on Marshall Road to Boozer Construction in the amount of $2400
• Promoted Brad Willingham from Interim Director to Director of the Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Promoted Josh Wilson to Lieutenant/Detective in the Police Department at a rate of $16.66
• Promoted Adam Facteau to a Grade II Operator in the Wastewater Treatment Plant at a rate of $18.00
• Two year K-9 Contract to Luke Yarbrough
• Ordered dumpster lids from GoToParts in the amount of $939.24
• Authorized Mayor Lingerfelt to sign a sanitation agreement with the City of Fyffe
• Extended the tax abatement to Rainsville Technology, Inc for another six months, for a total of 18 months
• Remodel of the Revenue Office and Mayors Office at the City Hall  in the amount of $10,520.00 to Jimmy Traylor Construction
• Floor at the Tom Bevill Floor to Monarch Carpet $9,740.00
• Ceiling at the Tom Bevill to Jimmy Traylor Construction for $13,380.00
• The passage of Resolution 02-01-2021 (A) to surplus AT&T cell phones

The Council went into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation, with no action taken.

The next meeting of the Rainsville City Council will be held on Monday, February 15 at 4:30 p.m. with a work session at 4 p.m.