By Marla Jones, Managing Editor • marla@southerntorch.com
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — (Full video at southerntorch.com) The Fort Payne City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 2 via Zoom.
During the virtual session, Council President Walter Watson requested that in-person meetings of the Council return beginning in April. The Fort Payne Council has held virtual meetings since the beginning of the year.
“Let’s take this month and try to get the vaccines, and resume our scheduled meetings at City Hall on April 6,” said Watson.
The Council also discussed the future use of the Coal & Iron Building and potential rates for rentals. This issue will be discussed further in an upcoming work session.
In other business, the Council:
- Passed Resolution 2021-06, amending Resolution 2020-40 as it relates to the FPIA Board (Councilmembers John Smith and Phillip Smith opposed the measure)
- Passed Resolution 2021-07, authorizing an application for the Recreational Trails Program grant
- Approved an activity permit for Annlyle Johnson with The Vintage Sunflower for a special event at the Fort Payne Rotary Pavilion on Saturday, March 20
- Discussed the Independence Day holiday schedule with the possibility of a larger event than last year due to COVID-19
After debate on whether the City should even have the event, it was discussed that the Third Saturday in downtown would begin this month. With wider availability for COVID-19 vaccinations and the event being held outdoors, the Council agreed that preparations would begin immediately to hold the event as scheduled.
If a larger outbreak of COVID-19 occurs, the Council stated they cut the Independence Day event back to exclusively be a fireworks show, just like in 2020.
The next meeting of the Fort Payne City Council will be held virtually on Tuesday, March 14 at 12:30 p.m.