Story by Donna Thornton donna@Times-Journal.com

There’s a whole slate of holidays ahead, but the City of Rainsville is preparing already for Independence Day, 2025.

At this week’s council meeting, Mayor Rodger Lingerfelt got the go-ahead to sign a contract with Sawyer Brown to perform and the city’s annual summer event. The council approved paying a $28,000 deposit with EastCoast Entertainment to secure the country band’s performance.

Sawyer Brown’s latest album is “Desperado Troubadours,” but the band had a history of hits behind them. The country band is known for “Some Girls Do,” “All These Years,” and “The Walk,” among many other songs.

Council members also voted to amend the city pay scale to include the position of assistant public works director, and to post the job internally for seven days.

Work has been underway on the pad for the new public works facility the city is building, and construction should get started soon.

A bid was awarded to AEST Fire & Safety for fire hoses and related equipment for $44,244. The mayor explained there was a lower bid, but it failed to meet a key bid specification: a two-year warranty. Because of the failure to meet that specification, the bid went to the other company.

Lingerfelt was given authorization as well to reimburse a Rainsville police officer for a gun that was inside a police vehicle involved in a crash several weeks ago. Because the gun was the officer’s personal weapon, the city’s insurance company would not cover the cost, and city leaders believe that he should be reimbursed. They gave the mayor the OK to reimburse the officer and estimated $2,500-$2,700 for the weapon.

City leaders also noted it would be preferable that the city supply whatever weapons officers carry.

Approval was given to replace lights on three poles at the sports complex with LED lights. Lingerfelt explained that three lights were positioned so that it would be difficult to work on them without putting trucks on playing fields – something that can’t be done without damage after turf is in place. For a cost of $5,000 each, the city will place LED lights on those poles.

The council approved an easement agreement that will allow removal of the an old building where Bartrett Street runs into George Wallace Drive.

As the city continues paving work, residents can expect some roadways to get tar and gravel treatment – needed to seal the road before 1.5 inches of asphalt is put over it. City leaders asked that people be patient with the work.