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

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — (Full Video at southerntorch.com) The Fort Payne City Council held their first virtual meeting of 2021 on Tuesday, January 5. 

At the meeting, the Council held a first reading of Ordinance 2021-01, which amends Ordinance 2004-18, as it relates to businesses advertising on the DeKalb Theatre marquee. 

According to the new ordinance, it was “discovered during the 2020 Municipal Elections that wording in Ordinance 2004-18, which prohibited political advertising on city rights-of-way or City-owned property, also prohibited commercial advertising on City rights-of-way or City property.” The new ordinance will allow business entities to advertise on the DeKalb Theatre marquee, under the same guidelines as any other entity.

In continued business, the Council agreed to interview new candidates for placements on two boards. The candidates will be in line to fill the seat held by Kenneth Larson and John T. Davis on the Improvement Authority Board and Terry Camp on the Water Board. 

In new business, the Council discussed passing the FY2021 budget along with facility closures, but as of press time, the Fort Payne City Council was set to hold a budget meeting to discuss it. The Council also discussed renaming Ruby Tuesday Lane.

In his report, Mayor Brian Baine reported personnel changes, including:

• Ashlee Berry, change of status from full-time to part-time, effective December 27
• Trent Faircloth, probationary/education pay adjustment, effective December 11
• David Davis, full-time Police Chief, effective January 4

The next meeting of the Fort Payne City Council will be held on Tuesday, January 19.