By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — (Full Video Below) The Fort Payne City Council held their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, September 15.

At the meeting, the Council discussed the need for security cameras at the Alabama Walking Park, due to recurring vandalism. It was reported that two more cameras would be placed on the north end of the park where there’s no coverage.

“It’s unfortunate that we have to do something like this, but...that park didn’t make it 24 hours before it was vandalized,” said Councilman Wade Hill. “We’ve had repeat vandalism...I’d be fully in favor of adding this to the system that is already there.” 

“If you haven’t had a chance to go see the meditation park, it is awesome, but when it’s vandalized, it’s not,” said Council President Brian Baine. The installation of the cameras was approved by the Council.

In other business, the Council: 

• Discussed the need to purchase a new sanitation truck to be put into the budget
• Discussed abating fees for the soccer program’s concessions operation
• Approved Resolution 2020-40, requesting the City’s local legislative delegation to introduce a local act to amend Section 39-7-14 and 39-7-15 of the Code of Alabama (1975) that governs Improvement Authorities
• Approved the purchase of two (2) speed tables on McCurdy Loop
• Moved the next council meeting to October 13 to avoid any conflict with the municipal runoff elections on October 6

In his report, Mayor Larry Chesser acknowledged the recent wreck that took place at Joe’s Truck Stop. 

“I’ve been asked by a lot of people where we stand on the re-routing,” said Chesser. He continued by stating that the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is currently working on a solution to the route and things are progressing in the engineering phase, but “there’s still a lot of work to be done before any actual construction can be done.”

Chesser stated he had been told it would likely be five years before any work began.

The next meeting of the Fort Payne City Council will be held on Tuesday, October 13 at 12 p.m. on the second floor of City Hall.