Judge Andrew Hairston, who has served on the Boom Days Committee since 2006, addressed the Fort Payne Council on the needs of the Committee to make Booms Days more successful.
Marla Jones| Southern Torch
Marla Jones, Managing Editor
marla@ southerntorch.com
FORT PAYNE, Ala.-- (Full Video on Southern Torch Facebook) The Fort Payne City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on October 4.
Mayor Brian Baine spoke of the success of Boom Days, which was held in downtown Fort Payne. He asked Judge Andrew Hariston, who has served on the Boom Days Committee since 2006, to address the Council, regarding the needs of the Boom Days Committee.
Hairston asked the Council to make a one-time pay adjustment to the current $100,000 budget to help with costs to provide quality entertainment for the event, making Boom Days even more successful.
Hairston also asked that the Council consider relocating power lines at the Boom Day stage to provide more room for the audience.
The Council voted to appropriate $30,000 for the power line relocation for the Boom Days stage and gave a one-time adjustment of $50,000 for next year's budget to the Boom Days Committee.
John Dersham, Director of the DeKalb County Tourist Association, addressed the Council on growth in Fort Payne, with two new hotels locating in the area.
Tourism has doubled in the last eight years in DeKalb County. In 2021, over $149 M was spent in DeKalb County, which was a 54% increase from 2020. The return visitor rate to DeKalb County is second in the state, following the Gulf Coast.
In other business, The Fort Payne Council approved the annual one-time pay adjustment for employees. Last year the Council granted a $1000, after tax, adjustment to full-time employees and $500 to full-time probationary employees.
The Council tabled Resolution 2022-32, which would increase the business license issue fee from $12 to $14, as approved by the Alabama Department of Revenue.
Council member John Smith stated that he did not want to increase fees during such bad economic times when businesses are struggling to keep their doors open.
The Council took the following actions:
- Set November 1st as the date for a public hearing to receive comments on a proposed right-of-way vacation for Vicky Kirby on Grand Avenue and 7th Street North
- Passed Resolution 2022-31, which authorized the application for an Airport Improvement Project grant
Approved the following Activity Permits:
- First Baptist Church, Halloween Party, Church property located at 2nd Street and Grand Avenue South, Sunday, October 30th beginning at 4:00 p.m. During the event, they are requesting the closure of 2nd Street South between Grand Avenue and Alabama Avenue.
- Family Services of North Alabama, Sherrie Hiett, 5K run/walk, Rotary Pavilion Route, Saturday, November 19th beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Approved the following Streetlight request:
- Pat Tcherneshoff, 1402 Rice Blvd N.W. at the intersection of Airport Road and Rice Blvd.
A work session was scheduled for October 12th to meet with Shannon Campagna and Nicole Gray concerning the availability of grants. Time to be announced at a later date.
The Council went into Executive Session, with no action taken.
The next meeting of the Fort Payne Council will be held on October 18, beginning at 12:30 p.m.
