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

RAINSVILLE, Ala. — The Rainsville City Council approved a $4,673,400 budget for 2021 at their meeting on Monday, September 21 with permission to amend in November if needed.

According to the last outside audit, which occurred in 2019, the revenue for the City was well over seven (7) million dollars. Southern Torch reached out to Mayor Rodger Lingerfelt regarding why the budget was not higher and questioned whether the lower budget was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lingerfelt stated the reason for a lower budget is due to the sewer revenue not being included in the budget.

“They’re not in the actual, total budget,” said Lingerfelt. “We actually have not had a great decline.”

In other business the Council:

• Awarded a $10,000 contract (with a $5,000 donation) to Laney Electric for stadium lights at the Cornerstone Christian Academy/Pee-Wee football field
• Accepted the bid by Oliver Tree Care to trim, take down, and remove overgrown trees on Kirk, Horton, Everett, Chavies, Fortner, and Garrett for the price of $2,800.
• Accepted the bid to Brown Construction for the culvert repair on Parker South in the amount of $4,100.
• Approved Lingerfelt to sign a contract with Pyrotecnico for the Freedom Festival and to pay a preshow advance of $6,450.
• Purchased (4) 4-yard dumpsters from Wastequip in the amount of $1,992.
• Purchased (6) 8-yard dumpsters from Wastequip in the amount of $4,656.00
• Accepted the resignation of Scott Baswell from the Rainsville Fire Department (FD)
• Hired Levi Bass as a Patrolmen at the Rainsville Police Department
• Hired Jarrett Flippo as a Fireman at the FD
• Gave Rainsville Police Chief Kevin Smith the authority to apply for a 100% ADECA grant in the amount of $24,000 for equipment for the police department. 

The next meeting of the Rainsville City Council will be held on October 5.