Marla Jones, Managing Editor
FORT PAYNE, Ala.-- (Full Video on Southern Torch Facebook) The Fort Payne City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, December 2o.
Mayor Brian Bain informed the Council that the contract between the City and Mahogany Properties, which represents Whataburger, had been terminated. The property (the former Jefferson’s location) which was previously slated for the chain restaurant, will not accommodate their building.
Mayor Bain stated that Whataburger still wants to locate in Fort Payne and is actively looking for other properties.
Overland Development is currently looking at the property for another type of retail business and the contract will be forwarded to City Attorney, Rocky Watson for review.
A community meeting to discuss the Comprehensive Master Plan for the City of Fort Payne will be held at the Little Ridge Intermediate School, on January 19, 2023. Refreshments will be served at 5:30 p.m. and Citizens will have the opportunity to tour the facility. The meeting will begin at 6:oo p.m. and should last approximately one hour.
“We want to know where we will be as a City, twenty years from now” stated Mayor Brian Bain.
Sam Griggs, of C.E.D. Mental Health, updated the Council on the activities of the organization. The organization will host a Youth Prevention Conference on January 23, 2023, at the DeKalb County Schools Coliseum. This conference will be held for tenth graders across the County and will inform the students of the dangers of poor choices through substance abuse. Timothy Alexander will be the guest speaker.
Griggs asked the Council for any help that they could provide. The Council approved a $1,000 donation for the Conference.
The following Ordinances were tabled by the Council until a meeting could be held between Building Contractors and the City.
• Ordinance 2022-07, adoption of the 2015 Building Codes and Ordinance 2022-08, adoption of the 2021 Fire Codes
The Council approved Resolution 2022-42 which accepts the lowest qualified bid for the installation of the “Lower Leg” of the sewer rehab project per Ladd Environmental’s recommendation. The bid was awarded to Lambert Contractor, LLC in the amount of 8.3 million dollars.
In New Business, the Council:
• Authorized Clerk Parker to seek bids for a new “pool Pump” for the City swimming pool.
• Set a work session to discuss adjusting rates for sewer and sanitation and also adjusting recreation and facility fees.
The Council went into Executive Session to discuss potential contract litigation, with no action taken.
The next meeting of the Fort Payne City Council will be held on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, beginning at 12:30 p.m.
