Rainsville Resumes Business as Usual

Rainsville Resumes Business as Usual

By Marla Jones, Managing Editormarla@southerntorch.com

RAINSVILLE, Ala. — (Full Video below)  The Rainsville City Council held its first physical meeting in the Council Chambers since the coronavirus pandemic on Monday, June 1.

During the work session, Mayor Rodger Lingerfelt brought forth several items that would need to be approved in the regular session. 

The first being that the City was ready to pave three city streets that had previously been put on hold. These streets are Church Street, Grimes, and Northside Drive. 

Councilman Marshall Stiefel stated that he thought that local contractors should have the chance to bid on these projects.  

Councilman Bejan Taheri stated that the companies had to be approved by the State to be able to work on roads, where improvements were paid by tax dollars.  

The bids for Church, Grimes, and Northside are currently being advertised, with bids being opened on Thursday, June 18 at 1 p.m. at the Council Chambers.  

Lingerfelt also stated that an agreement between the City of Rainsville and Town of Section, for sewer usage needed to be approved. This agreement had not been changed since sometime around 2013. 

Lingerfelt updated the Council on the flood damage on Chavies and Country Club Lane.  The total damage is $22,000. Headwalls, paving, extending the culverts, and upgrading the pipes will be the scope of the project.

Councilman Ricky Byrum stated that there was a drainage problem on 4th Avenue that needed to be corrected.  

Councilman Brandon Freeman reported the Rainsville City Pool had opened, with limited swimmers on Monday.

Freeman also stated that Parks and Recreation are opening the City Park and the Field of Dreams Playground. The department will sanitize the equipment each morning.  Park attendees are encouraged to bring their own sanitizing wipes for added protection. 

The Parks and Rec Department will be having Pee Wee Football sign-ups on June 8-9 each evening from 5-7 p.m. The cost is $75 for signup plus $25 for a jersey if not played the year before. For new players, please bring a copy of the birth certificate.

Mayor Rodger Lingerfelt advised the Council that the Rainsville City Hall would open on Wednesday, the Agri-Business Center and Rainsville Public Library was now open and that the municipal courts would resume on Tuesday, June 23. 

In other business the Rainsville City Council approved:

  • A $1000 advertising budget to the Rainsville Chamber of Commerce for Rainsville Freedom Fest to be held June 27
  • Purchase of (20) 4-yard dumpsters at the price of $11,000

The Council went into executive session to discuss potential litigation.  After a 30 minute recess, the Council came out of the Executive Session and reported that the City of Rainsville would pay a damage claim due to a washed-out culvert to Jeff and Susan Rooks on Country Club Lane in the amount of $4,515.

The City will repair the culvert and in return, the Rooks will be required to sign a statement,  relieving the City of all responsibility.

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