Marla Jones, Managing Editor
FORT PAYNE, Ala.-- (Full video on Southern Torch Facebook) The Fort Payne City Council held their regularly scheduled meeting on December 21st.
Earlier this month, Fire Chief Saferite announced his retirement, effective after the first of the year. Applications for the chief position were accepted and the Council interviewed the applicants on Monday the 20th.
Stacy Smith, a 25-year veteran of the Fort Payne Fire Department, was named as the new Fort Payne Fire Chief at the council meeting on Tuesday.
Smith, most recently, has been serving as the Assistant Fire Chief for the Fort Payne Fire Department.
Smith is a graduate of Valley Head High School and is married to Karen Koger Smith. The couple has three children and three grandchildren.
“I would like to thank the city council for this opportunity. I am excited about serving as Fire Chief and working with Mayor Baine and the council,” stated Stacy Smith. “A special thank you to Chief Saferite for the time I spent serving as Assistant Chief.”
The FPFD is a very well trained and equipped fire department that provides valuable emergency services to the city, its citizens, businesses and the surrounding communities,” continued Smith. “I have had the privilege to work alongside many fine individuals within the department in my career. These individuals were and are committed to serving this city. They have provided a strong foundation that we will build upon as we move forward into the future.”
Jason Harper, of Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC), addressed the Council about the creation of a citywide master plan. The Council voted to accept his proposal and entered into a contract with the firm to develop a master plan for the City.
The Council passed the following Resolutions:
- 2021-39, authorizing participation in the State of Alabama’s settlement of the ENDO opioid lawsuit.
- 2021-40, granting tax abatements for Children’s Place.
- 2021-41, accepting the low bid for two (2) submersible pumps at the wastewater plant.
The Council made the following appointments of two (2) positions to the Fort Payne Improvement Authority Board, Randy Moses (Incumbent) and Monia Smith.
The Fort Payne City Council will hold its next meeting on January 4th, 2022, beginning at 12:30 p.m.
