By Marla Jones, Managing Editor • marla@southerntorch.com

RAINSVILLE, Ala. — (Full Video on our Facebook) The Rainsville City Council met for its first meeting of the new year on Monday, January 6.

At the work session, Rainsville citizen Rodney Williams addressed the Council regarding Ordinance 10-15-07, which places a tax on residential and commercial rental properties. Williams expressed his concern for tenants on a limited or fixed income who will be burdened with higher rent rates due to the tax levied on property owners. He stated that although the tax was small, the increase in rent could have provided a meal or two for any given tenant. 

In the regular meeting, Councilmember Marshall Stiefel made a motion to abolish Ordinance 10-15-07, which resulted in a heated discussion on whether or not it could be abolished. With no second from other Council members, the motion died. 

Councilmember Derek Rosson spoke on the new bill signed by Governor Kay Ivey requiring each municipality to provide a first responders benefits program, which was agreed to by the Council. 

Councilmember Brandon Freeman announced signups for baseball, softball and tee-ball will be held at the Field of Dreams on January 25 and February 1 from 10am to 5pm. 

Rainsville Fire Chief Willimac Wright thanked Councilmembers Rosson and Stiefel for attending their recent closed confinement rescue training presented by the Alabama Fire College. He thanked Southern Torch Managing Editor Marla Jones and Account Executive Amy Thrash for participating as well. 

The Council approved the following:

• Empowered the Mayor to approve a fireworks contract for the Rainsville Freedom Fest
• Put out bids for Skaggs Road to repair cattle crossing or replace it with a 36-inch culvert (bids will be opened on Wednesday, January 22)
• Awarded a contract to Joseph Lee for sewer line expansion in the amount of $50,000 (the 3,800 feet work will begin on Monday, January 20 and last for approximately three weeks)
• Appointed Henagar attorney Jeff McCurdy as the City’s new public defender (effective January 14)

The next meeting of the Rainsville City Council held on Monday, January 20 at 5pm with a work session at 4:15pm.