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

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — The Fort Payne Council held their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday. 

The Council discussed the procedures that they will follow as they search for a new chief for the Fort Payne Police Department.  The position has been vacant since the retirement of former Chief Randy Bynum in October.

Applications for Police Chief will be accepted until December 1, 2020.  Interviews for the position will be conducted on December 7.  These interviews will be before a panel of Police Chiefs from across Alabama.  After interviewing all applicants, the panel will recommend the top three candidates to the Council.  This can be accepted or refused by the Council.  The Council will then interview the applicants on December 10.  

The Council went into Executive Session at the first of the meeting to discuss potential litigation.  After returning from Executive Session, the Council suspended the rules for immediate consideration to proceed with the closure of the purchase of the Jacaway property for industrial use.

The Council agreed to change the meeting for next month to 12:30 p.m.  At that meeting, the Council will pass an Ordinance to change Council meetings times to 12:30 p.m.

The following were approved by the Council:

• Ordinance 2020-07 regarding the rezoning of approximately .25 acres at the corner of Scenic Road and Fort Payne Gap from R-1 (Low-density residential) to C-3 (Highway Business District) to be used to construct a real estate office building which has been approved by the Planning Commission for rezoning. 
• Resolution 2020-45, accepting the highest bid for a City-Owned bucket truck in the amount of $4,100.00 in a sealed bid by Steve Brewer
• Resolution 2020-46 declaring a 2005 Massey Ferguson tractor as surplus
• Voted to place David Stanley on the Fort Payne Improvement Board after the resignation of Brad Scott.  Applications for the Board were accepted through October 16.
• Accepted the curbing request by Tony and Peggy Campbell at a property located: 406 3rd Street SW
• Approved the activity permit made by Jennifer McCurdy of the Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce, for the annual Christmas Parade on Friday, December 11th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Christmas in the Park will be on the same night, beginning at 4 p.m.
• Approved the bid out of the new Fort Payne School Campus paving
• Reappointed Ron Saferite as the Fort Payne Fire Chief 
• Approved Fort Payne Audio and Digital Team to film Board Meetings in the amount of $12,000. 
• Approved Resolution 2020-47 for Signatures for Bank Accounts

The next meeting of the Fort Payne Council will be held on December 1 at 12:30 p.m. on the second floor of Fort Payne City Hall.