By Marla Jones, Managing Editor • marla@southerntorch.com (Wochit News | YouTube)

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — (Full video on our Facebook) The Fort Payne Council held their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 19.

The Council reported additional safety measures, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that would have to be implemented for the Municipal City Election in August. 

The Council discussed the prices for holding municipal elections at the five physical polling places. 

Along with the availability of poll workers and the additional cost of COVID-19 security measures, it was determined that the polling places needed to be limited. Two polling places will be available for the municipal elections in August, one at the VFW Fairgrounds and the other at the Willis Valley Recreation Center.  

These two locations will provide adequate parking and space available for social distancing. The council suspended the rules and adopted Ordinance 2020-03 relating to a reduction in polling places for the 2020 Municipal election. 

For six years the City of Fort Payne has been working on the demolition of the “Old Hospital”.

 The City plans to apply for CDBG and ARC funding to assist in the demolition of the building located in the 1300 block of Forest Avenue North. According to Mayor Larry Chesser, the City “stood a good chance of getting both” types of funding for demolition. 

The Council authorized Ladd Environmental to proceed with the bid process for the 49th Street/Terrapin Hills Sewer Project.  All easements have been signed and discussion has been made about the extent of servicing the system. 

In other business, the Council:

• Approved a curbing request for Tyler Griggs on 411 38th Street N.E.
• Forwarded a claim to the City’s insurance carrier.  Burger King filed a claim against the City for damage received during the recent flood event. 
• Canceled the City Employee Memorial Day Picnic (possibly to be rescheduled for Labor Day) and gave the City Employees the ½  day off before the Memorial Day Holiday. 

The next regular meeting of the Fort Payne City Council will be held on Tuesday, June 2 at 12 p.m.

At press time on Wednesday, the Council will hold a special called meeting on Friday, May 22 at noon to discuss an ordinance passed during its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 19.