By Marla Jones • Managing Editor • marla@southerntorch.com
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — (Full Video on our Facebook) At this week’s meeting of the Fort Payne City Council, citizens sounded off on the recent controversy involving the removal of flowers at Glenwood Cemetery.
Recently, the graveyard overseer moved several pots in order to get mowing at the cemetery back in cycle. According to Councilmember Wade Hill, it takes 120 hours to mow Glenwood Cemetery, so for the sake of time efficiency, the flowers that were placed in the mowing path had to be moved.
“He meant no ill intent,” said Hill of the cemetery’s overseer, Randale Burt. “The City did not do this as a malicious thing and they want to be respectful in doing their job.”
After Hill’s explanation, several concerned citizens addressed the Council regarding what comes next. The citizens said that their biggest concern was the rule stating that flowers must be removed within 30 days and wondered who kept up with the time for each individual arrangement placed on the graves.
The City suggested that citizens, along with Councilmembers, compile a list of ideas for how to solve this issue and come back before the Council in two weeks. Hill stated that the rules only needed to amended once so signs with the correct regulations could be posted at the cemetery and properly distributed to funeral homes and florists.
In other business, the Council:
- Adopted Ordinance 2019-02 rezoning 7.5 acres of property on Godfrey Avenue, just north of Beason Gap
- Passed 2019-06, informing the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) of actions taken by the City to meet the requirements of the Wastewater Treatment Plant
- Declared Friday, July 5, 2019, a City holiday in conjunction with the City and County
- Authorized the purchase of brick pavers for Patriot’s Park in the amount of $14,480
- Authorized the 2019 paving list
- Reappointed Tony Dobbs to his second term on the Fort Payne Water Board
- Granted activity permits for the Fort Payne Main Street fundraiser and the Alabama Shelters & Rescue
The next meeting of the Fort Payne City Council will be held on Tuesday, July 16 at 12pm.
