PHOTO: Chuck Chitwood of CDG Engineering updates the Rainsville City Council on the ongoing Chavies Road Bridge Project and a potential project to add more sidewalk to the city. (Tyler Pruett | Southern Torch)
By Tyler Pruett, Managing Editor
RAINSVILLE, Ala. — At April 3rd's meeting of the Rainsville City Council, the council voted to adopt new uniforms for the police department, make personnel changes, and received updates on the ongoing bridge projects.
To start the workshop, Officer Paul Bell, from DeKalb's Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program led the meeting in prayer. Bell was in attendance to inform the council and public on Plainview 5th grade's graduation from the program and the cookout held for the kids. The graduation will be held on May 24th at 9 am in the DeKalb County Schools Coliseum and the cookout will be held the next day on May 25th.
Chuck Chitwood of CDG Engineering briefed the council on the project to replace the Chavies Road bridge. He reported CDG is currently waiting for the Alabama Department of Transportation to respond on the proposed plan. Mayor Rodger Lingerfelt stated that the council would be passing the ordinances to move both the electric lines and telephone wires to construct the new bridge.
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"The bid letting isn't in too long, it'll be here soon," Councilman Bejan Taheri pointed out. The bid-letting is currently scheduled to take place in May.
Chitwood also updated on a potential program to expand the city's sidewalks. The city is seeking to apply for the federal government's Transportation Alternative Program (TAP). The application for the program is due in December, and according to the program's website is, "to provide choices for non-motorized users that are safe, reliable, and convenient." Chitwood explained his recommendation for the sidewalk improvement:
"From a construction standpoint and to get the most advantageous application in, we looked at Highway 35 East, from the end of the sidewalk there at the Tech School, take it all the way down to Marshall Street, and put a pedestrian crossing in there and come back to the High School. That'll tie the school, daycare, library, and tech school all together," said Chitwood.
Adam Lea from LADD Engineering updated on the Boozer Road bridge project. The Department of Transportation has asked for cost comparisons on different curb heights and culverts. LADD engineering is waiting on the response to the cost comparisons. Lea also reported that they are awaiting county approval on the project. All of the right-of-way notifications had also been sent in.
Chief Kevin Smith proposed changing the duty uniforms for the city's police force. The new uniforms would be a grey shirt with black pants. Smith reported that the current blue polyester uniforms cost approximately $100 per set while the proposed uniforms would cost around $80. The new uniforms would be thicker and more resistant to tears.
Chief Smith reported an increase in arrests of over 100 percent in the month of March (29 arrests in February compared to 67 in March), most of which he said were drug related.
In the regular meeting, after approving the previous minutes, Councilman Marshall Stiefel brought up two motions which would pay Farmer's Telephone and Sand Mountain Electric to move the utility wires that cross the Chavies Road bridge to construct the new bridge. The motions passed.
Councilman Taheri put forth motions to give pay raises to police officers Tyler Perea and Eric Tidmore. Perea had completed his 90-day probationary period and Tidmore was promoted to the rank of Detective. Taheri also brought up a motion to allow Chief Smith and Assistant Chief Josh Wigley to attend yearly adminstrative conferences. Taheri's motions passed unanimously.
Byrum notified the public that the new stop sign at the intersection of Carlisle Road and Church Street would be uncovered and in use on Monday, April 17th. Councilman Byrum also proposed installing two new street lights. He also brought up a donation to sponsor the county's DARE program for $500, all of which passed unanimously.
Byrum also made a motion to purchase a 15 foot, bat-wing bush-hog, from Boykin Tractor for $13,400.0 to replace the 8 foot currently in use by the city. The motion was approved unanimously.
"This will allow us to cut down on our mowing," Byrum said.
Councilman Brandon Freeman officially brought up the vote to change to the new uniforms that Chief Smith had proposed. After Smith explained that the officers would keep a blue uniform for funerals and dress functions, the uniform change passed unanimously.
Mayor Lingerfelt proposed moving Police Officer David Snay, who is currently working in city hall, to the position of revenue officer while he recovers from an injury. Sheila Townsend would also be moved to the position of Utility Clerk due to the new sanitation customers in Sylvania. Councilman Derek Rosson brought forward both these personnel changes, which passed unanimously.
Councilman Freeman stated the the first, "Second Saturday" event will be this weekend, from 5 pm to 8 pm in the city park.
"It'll basically be just a cruise-in, we're not going to worry about the food vendors, it'll just be a meet and gathering. In May will be our first big (event)," explained Freeman.
Before adjourning, the mayor mentioned that the county would be placing dumpsters around the county, with one being placed behind the city's shop. The mayor recommend the council designated their cleanup month, which Byrum moved for this to be done in May. This final order of business passed unanimously.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Rainsville City Council will be held on April 17th in the Rainsville City Annex, with the workshop beginning at 4:15 pm and the regular meeting at 5 pm.
