By Marla Jones, Managing Editor • marla@southerntorch.com
RAINSVILLE, Ala. — The Rainsville City Council held their regularly scheduled meeting on September 16, 2019.
During the workshop, Mayor Rodger Lingerfelt announced that the Council had been “slack” regarding the conduct of the council meetings. He stressed that items had been thrown on to “at the last second” or brought up without being on the agenda. Lingerfelt stated that from this point forward, items not on the meeting’s agenda will not be discussed.
Lingerfelt also said the hiring procedures going forward will go through him.
Councilmember Derek Rosson agreed with the agenda changes, but objected to the new hiring procedure. Lingerfelt cited two recent hires, who were approved by the Council without him ever meeting them, as the reason for the changes.
“We need to clean that up,” said Lingerfelt. “We’re going to start today, and that’s the way it’s going to be.”
Councilmember Bejan Taheri brought forth a measure to reinstate funds to the Rainsville Chamber of Commerce, in order to hire an Assistant Director. The Chamber hired Ruth Hill Dukes to fill the position.
Councilmember Marshall Stiefel stated he was happy the money was reinstated, despite the fact that so many young business leaders left the Chamber regarding the situation. Taheri replied that those members had been replaced.
After much discussion regarding scheduling conflicts, Stiefel made a motion to hold the City’s budget meeting on Monday, September 30 at 5pm. The motion was approved.
The Council approved the following:
- Replaced motor/digester at the Wastewater Treatment Plant/Albertville Electric Motor Service
- Remodel of the drive-thru at City Hall by Jimmy Traylor Construction
- Accepted Pete Long’s resignation from the Zoning Board
- Proclaimed September 30, 2019 as Family Day in the City of Rainsville
- Set up website for Rainsville Freedom Fest in the amount of $1,054.98 to Anything Creative
- Authorized the City Clerk to open two accounts at First Southern State Bank to handle the Alabama Gas/Diesel Tax
- Approved the Court Clerk/City Clerk to attend a Court Conference
- Purchased (10) roll off dumpsters from Toter in the amount of $38,950
- Approved the placement of a street light at the intersection of Parker and Vaughn
The Council voted down a measure to bid out a 2020 Front Loader Garbage Truck (Peterbilt or Mack). The trucks currently service the communities of Fyffe, Sylvania, Rainsville and Ider, but one truck is currently having mechanical issues. Stiefel and Freeman voted in favor with Taheri, Rosson and Byrum voting no.
In the workshop, the Council honored Pete Long, who retired from the Zoning Board after over 20 years of service.
The next meeting of the Rainsville City Council will be held on Monday, October 7 at 5pm with a work session at 4:15pm.
