By Tyler Pruett, Managing Editor
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — On Tuesday, November 15, at noon, the Fort Payne City Council held its first meeting with the new city council members.
Right after being sworn in, the new council voted to change the regular meeting times from 6:00 pm to noon for all future council meetings. The first meeting was well attended, showing good citizen involvement despite the scheduling change.
“This is mine, Lynn, and Wade’s first time behind the microphone. So bare with us,” said Council President Brian Bain to start the meeting.
“It’s good to see this many out to participate. We appreciate you being here and we appreciate the interest in the City of Fort Payne, as we try to do what we’ve been elected to do, and that’s to run the affairs of the city,” said Bain.
For the first order of business, the council voted to ratify the payment of accounts.
The council then voted to rescind Resolution 2015-22, granting tax abatements to GH Metal Solutions, Inc.
The original resolution was passed to provide over $3 million in tax abatements for the purchase of equipment, but since, GH Metal has went a different direction.
“GH Metal solutions has gone a different direction, and has bought some items outside the scope of that abatement, and ask that it be rescinded. Since it was passed by resolution, it has to be rescinded by resolution,” said City Clerk Robert Parker.
“This budget isn’t perfect, but it is something that we can live with. It’s a work in progress. Every year we amend the budget more than once, but I make a motion to approve the budget,” said Councilman Red Taylor.
“This budget is balanced, it does have a surplus, and we did do a little something for the [city] employees,” said Council Pro Tem Wade Hill.
“The employees will see a little bit of a pay increase,” Bain added.
The council passed the 2017 Budget unanimously.
The council also notified the public that a workmen’s compensation claimed had been filed by a former city employee, Autumn Dickson, a police officer. The claim had been forwarded to the city’s insurance carrier.
The council set the date to appoint the six new members of the DeKalb-Cherokee Gas Board. According to Bain, the city had 24 applicants for the positions. Hill made a motion to set that date. The appointments will be announced in a special call meeting on Tuesday, November 29 at 12:00 pm.
Mayor Larry Chesser was absent from today’s meeting. The mayor had a heart cath surgery done that morning.
“He’s expected to make a full recovery,” said Parker. I ask ya’ll to keep him in your thoughts and prayers,”
Hill also announced that Christmas decorating would start next week.
“Since Christmas is fast approaching, we’ve gone ahead and made the decision to let the employees start decorating,” said Hill.
“We’re going to get into Christmas mode next week, so anybody that sees the folks out working, let them know you appreciate it, because I certainly do,” Hill said.
“I think all our departments do a fantastic job, we appreciate what ya’ll do,” added Bain.
The next council meeting will be the special call meeting to be held on November 29 at noon to announce the DeKalb-Cherokee Gas Board appointees.
