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

RAINSVILLE, Ala. — (Full Video on our Facebook) The Rainsville City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, April 20 via teleconference due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The main topic of the meeting pertained to the safety of the employees and citizens of Rainsville. Mayor Rodger Lingerfelt gave an update regarding steps that had been taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Employees are advised to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer and to maintain an appropriate social distance. Lingerfelt also stated that due to the recommendation of Councilman Marshall Stiefel, the thumb-print time clocks are wiped down after each use. The City is also planning on temperature checks for employees at each city building.

In addition, the mayor advised that all tornado warning sirens within the city, with the exception of Collier Circle, were now repaired. The repair on Collier Circle will cost $900, which the council approved. 

“I am pleased that the Mayor has implemented these measures for the protection of our employees and our citizens of Rainsville,” stated Rainsville Councilman Marshall Stiefel.  

Mayor Lingerfelt also updated that the Rainsville City Audit was now completed. Mayor Lingerfelt stated that copies of the audit could be picked up at the City Hall. When Southern Torch reached out to the City for a copy, we were advised that there were not enough bound copies available for us to obtain one. Southern Torch will upload one and make it available to the public. We will review and make information available in a later article. 

The Council suspended the rules for immediate consideration to pass Ordinance 04-20-2020 regarding Small Cell Technology. This ordinance will control where cellphone companies can put antennas and poles on the city streets. 

In other business:

• Accepted the $79,596.79 bid by Davis Heating and Air, Inc. to extend the sewer line to the new Medical Clinic owned by Ashley Wigley-Thomas.  The council gave the authorization to Mayor Lingerfelt to sign all necessary paperwork. 
• Gave Mayor Lingerfelt authorization to sign the necessary paperwork to apply for 80/20 funding for sidewalks on Hwy 75 from Foodland to Cornerstone Christian Academy and possibly to Hilltop if funding is available. If funds are available, the process to qualify could take up to one year. 
• Council Brandon Freeman updated that Park and Recreaction are awaiting an announcement from Governor Kay Ivey giving them the authority to proceed with a summer league. There were nearly 300 who signed up for summer league ball and that he wanted “to give those kids the opportunity to play ball if at all possible.”

The Rainsville City Council will meet again on May 4, 2020.