By Marla Jones, Reporter • marla@southerntorch.com (Photo by Marla Jones)
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — (Full Video Below) The Fort Payne City Council held their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, October 16.
Council President Brian Baine updated the Council on Mayor Larry Chesser’s condition. Chesser recently suffered a heart attack and had surgery last Thursday. Baine reported that the Mayor was still weak, but was on the road to recovery. He also said that Chesser wanted to send thanks for the prayers and thoughts.
The Council rescinded and repealed Resolution 2016-18 which authorized the application for State Revolving Funds (SRF) for the wastewater treatment plant to allow certain modifications, authorizing City Clerk Robert A. Parker to sign the necessary documents in the Mayor’s absence.
They also authorized Parker to sign the annual airport improvement grant (Resolution 2018-44) for fiscal year 2018-19.
In continued business, the Council further discussed modifications of the subdivision regulations that must go through the Planning Commission. The Council rescheduled a meeting with the Planning Commission for the second Tuesday in November at 6pm.
In new business, the Council:
• Authorized a wetland study on the “Carden Property” to be performed by Wildland Services LLC in the amount of $2,980 (City Clerk Parker was authorized to sign the necessary documents)
• Authorized an agreement with MRS Consultants for archaeological assessment of the proposed reroute of the gravity sewer line in the amount of $4,000 (City Clerk Parker was authorized to sign the necessary documents)
• Authorized an agreement with Jacksonville State University for forensic services
• Granted an activity permit to the First Baptist Church for the fall festival on October 28 from 4:45pm to 7:30pm on 2nd St S between Grand Ave. and Alabama Ave.
• Approved the purchase of a mixer at the wastewater treatment plant
• Surplused a 60-inch grasshopper mower
Reworded the closing procedures for the Vulcan property purchase after recommendation by the title insurance
• Tabled the appointments of two Councilmembers to the Boom Days Committee until the next meeting
The Council denied a permit to the DeKalb County Democratic Party for the closure of Gault Ave between 1st St through 5th St from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. Councilmember Johnny Eberhart expressed his concern because the Council had tried to stay out of politics.
“We just don’t want to take sides,” said Eberhart. “We have to work with whoever gets elected. I have a problem with shutting the road down.”
Council President Baine said, “I know we have turned it down on several things, if we open it up to this, what else are we going to have to open it up to?”
“I think we need all have apprehension from years past when we had events in this town that were embarrassing to all of us. I’ve got no problems with either the Republican or Democratic Party, but let’s say the Communist Party wants to come down and have a parade in Fort Payne and wants to use this as a precedent,” said Councilmember Wade Hill. “I’m just playing devil’s advocate here. Some bunch of knuckleheads somewhere will figure out how to wriggle a way in here and have a demonstration of some kind.”
The Council ultimately agreed that guidelines needed to be set regarding activity permits for the closure of streets and the request died due to a lack of a motion.
The Council approved a budget adjustment to assist with the Patriot’s Park project. Lee Buffington of Turf Tamers submitted the winning bid and took $5,368 off as his gift towards the project. The Waterworks Board agreed to pay for project materials. The Council will use $7,500 of DC Gas contributions toward this, leaving $1,000 shy. The Council approved the adjustment and the sprinkler system will be in place soon.
The next meeting of the Fort Payne City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, November 6 at 12pm on the second floor of City Hall.
Full Video: