By Sherri Blevins
The Fort Payne City Council met on April 5, 2022. After calling the meeting to order, Councilmember John Smith objected to the agenda. He stated that two items he requested to be on the agenda were omitted. After a brief discussion, Councilmember Brewer made a motion to add one of the items to the agenda, and Attorney Watson planned to speak on the other issue. The Council approved the motion.
Before moving on to other business, Mayor Baine gave his report. Baine spoke in regards to the SeeClickFix App. This app is a 311 request and work management bridging the communication gap between residents and their local governments. It provides a means for citizens to make requests or state complaints. In October, the Council agreed to have the app added to the revamped City website updated by Julie May. Councilmember Smith questioned if the app had been added to the site for citizens to use. And Mayor Baine confirmed that it was on the site. Smith said he was still receiving calls of complaints about problems in the City. Mayor Baine said he would talk with Julie May to see if they could improve communication about complaints and responses to them through emails.
Mayor Baine reported on several other items. First, he updated the Council on the progress of the police department. He stated they are now actively working out of the former Williams Avenue School building while mold remediation and demo are taking place at the police department. Concerning the comprehensive master plan, a steering committee has been put together of community members. Its purpose will be to carry the project from start to finish. The Mayor spoke about the work at the sports complex. He said the piping has been installed to correct the drainage issue, but they still have to add five catch basins. The soccer renovation will start about the middle of May and be finished by the first week in July. Reno on the softball and baseball fields will start the second week of June and be finished by late fall or early winter. The work on the bathrooms on the softball side is finished, but the baseball bathroom reno will not start until June. He then said the work on the old hospital site is nearing completion. He announced that anyone wanting to have an original brick from the hospital might come to City Hall and receive one in exchange for a donation of any size. The proceeds from the brick sale will go to the Patriots Park project. The Mayor also spoke with ALDOT concerning the Airport Road, Jordan Road, and Highway 35 project that has been on the table. ALDOT says that now May 1 is when they are supposed to approve the money to acquire the right of ways needed for the project. Once the money is approved and they obtain the right-of-ways, they plan for the construction to start in May 2023. On the other end of Highway 11, they propose extending the right lane before considering other possible traffic solutions.
Emily McCamy, the Director of the Council on Aging, updated the City on the agency’s activities. She expressed her appreciation for all the help the City provided for the food distribution program. She then explained several of the senior programs.
After the reports, the Council approved the following actions:
• Resolution 2022-13 accepting the lowest qualified bid for the turn lane project at YS, Inc.
• Resolutions 2022-13, 14, 15, 16, declaring vehicles as surplus
• Resolution 2022-17 authorizing financial matters relating to the Marathon Realty (Food City) project
• Resolution 2022-18 authorizes the issuance of a Limited Obligation Certificate of Indebtedness Series 2022-A as it relates to the Marathon Realty (Food City) project
• Resolution 2022-19 authorizing the City’s participation in a retail Memorandum of Understanding with Marathon Realty (Food City)
• Approval to purchase the old Gas House property for $750,000.00 (Method of payment will be determined later)
• Additional appropriation of $20,000.00 to Main Street for the purchase of an ice skating rink
• Accepting applications for the expired term of Jimmy Durham to the Fort Payne City School Board until April 13, with the appointment to be made at the April 19 meeting
• Curb request from Angus Glover on 811 2nd Street NE
• Forwarding the City’s Notice of Complaint regarding the City’s deal with Marathon Realty to the City’s insurance carrier
The next meeting is scheduled for April 19, 2022.