Story by Donna Thornton donna@southerntorch.c

There will be more paving in Rainsville, after approval last week of a project including several streets.

Council member Rickey Byrum had asked for an estimate of the cost to finish paving the remaining tar-and-gravel roads in the city. That estimate was $542,800, and Byrum asked his fellow council members to OK the project, which was to pave Croft from Laverne to Highway 35, White Street from Sam Ellis Drive all the way out to Highway 75, White Circle, Chambers Avenue, Hillcrest Drive and Morgan Road to the city limits.

Council member Brandon Freeman asked if there’d been any determination on how to pay for it. 

“Well, how are we going to pay for the ball fields, and the shop and the rest of it?” Byrum asked. Byrum said there is anticipated growth, in the city’s garbage business and with a new Waffle House coming in. “Growth is how you pay for it,” he said.

Mayor Rodger Lingerfelt said to use existing bond money for it, the council would have to go through the process of changing it, because its set aside to use for certain things.

The council approved the paving project.

In other action, the council:

Voted to sponsor the Freedom Run for $5,000.

Approved the purchase from Benchmark Company of $4,500 worth of mulch for playgrounds.

Approved travel/training for Fire Chief Willimac Wright and Derek Summerford for a chief conference.

Hired Connor Boydston as plant operator for the wastewater treatment plant for $28.44 an hour.

Hired Chris Cannatella, CDL driver for sanitation department for $18l65 an hour.

Approved purchasing books for an EMT class at a cost of $2,815.17.

Byrum also mentioned the need for the city to assist in maintaining the 

memorial to the victims of the 2011 tornadoes that struck Rainsville.

 “There was a lot of life lost that day,” Bynum said, and it needs to be remembered. 

Council members also heard from Rodney Etherton as its regular meeting began.

He questioned what plans are for traffic on Dilbeck Road East. Lingerfelt told Etherton signs had been placed on the roadway, directing 18-wheelers away from Dilbeck Road East.

Etherton countered that the signs, saying no 18-wheelers “except deliveries” were worthless, because all 18-wheelers are making deliveries. 

Lingerfelt said the city had consulted the state transportation department about the signage and the state placed the signs.