PHOTO: Fort Payne Council President Brian Baine discusses the open board positions on the Fort Payne Improvement Authority (FPIA) Board. (Tyler Pruett | Southern Torch)
By Tyler Pruett, Managing Editor
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — (Video at the Bottom) Toward the end of today's meeting of the Fort Payne City Council, the council approved Resolution 2017-45 Authorizing Application for a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Grant.
The grant is part of an effort to redo the sidewalks in the downtown area, and is being handled by Tony Renta, who is under contract by the city to find grants for improvement projects, including the "Greenspace" and North Fort Payne sewer projects.
"We've got to do something about our sidewalks and the handicap accessibility downtown and if we don't hurry up and do it, it's going to take even longer," said Councilwoman Lynn Brewer about the grant application.
Councilman Wade Hill explained that ALDOT was planning on coming in sometime this year to start working on the handicap accessibility on the sidewalks, so they were very receptive to them applying to this grant, as the grant would take the place of state work.
"I think if we don't make our town as good as we possible can visually, we're backing up," said Wade Hill.
Hill also explained that the project would not only include the sidewalks, but also, "other infrastructure," and would include moving as much of the utilities as possible underground, as well as new street lights.
Hill said that the project would also move the downtown waterlines out from underneath the roads. While the city is applying for the grant, he said that this part of the work would be funded by the city's water department during the sidewalk project. The city would be applying for funding to cover as much of the project as possible, and will adjust once the award is made.
"We need to apply for this, see how far it will go, what it will do, and do a field adjustment when we find out," said Hill.
The council approved the resolution to apply for the TAP grant.
Before the grant resolution, the city council announced and discussed open board positions that must be filled to replace Kenneth Larson and John T. Davis on the Fort Payne Improvement Authority Board (FPIA), whose terms expire December 31st.
The council decided to take applications until close-of-business December 15th for the board positions.
Council President Brian Baine then reminded the audience that the annual Fort Payne Christmas Parade is this Friday, along with Christmas in the Park.
Other items addressed at the meeting:
- The council approved an appropriation of funds to the High School to help with the "Wills Valley Shootout" Basketball tournament. This year, the council appropriated $2000.00 to help the school put on the tournament. This year the tournament will include 20 teams, so the council increased the amount from $1750.00 last year.
- Re-appointed Andrew Hairston as Municipal Judge for the City of Fort Payne. The re-appointment is for a two year term.
- Patrick Dunne, Sanitation Supervisor, discussed the need for a pick-up truck for the department. The department is without a pick-up truck, after the two works trucks the department used had broke down in the last two weeks. Dunne believed the department could make do with only purchasing one used truck. He asked for the consent of the council to purchase a good used truck when one is found for a reasonable price, or a new truck be bought for another department and a used truck handed down to sanitation.
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