By Sherri Blevins
The Fort Payne City Council proclaimed the week of September 17-23 as Constitution Week during the September 6 Fort Payne City Council meeting. Mayor Baine read the proclamation during his Mayor’s Report. 2022 marks the 235th anniversary of the framing of the United States Constitution.
Mayor Baine also updated the Council on the progress at the sports complex. He reported that the grass had been torn up at the big fields in preparation for the turf installation, which is scheduled to begin in late November or early December. He said the renovation project at the police department should be ready to bid out by October. Mayor Baine said that representatives of the Highway 55 Restaurant project said the building should be ready by November, and the restaurant hopefully would open by the first of the year.
Mayor Baine reported that an interested party contacted him about purchasing three to six acres of the Carden property the City owns, which is the site for the new sports complex. The Council discussed the issue and agreed to look at it further. Before an agreement can be reached, the property will have to be declared as surplus.
The Council then moved on to official business. It took the following actions:
• Approved Resolution 2022-30, accepting the lowest bid for sewer piping for the Airport Road sewer rehabilitation project. The bid was from Ferguson Waterworks. James Payton, Ladd Environmental, recommended accepting the bid.
• Approved the $24.9 million FY2023 budget, including a two-step cost of living adjustment for all employees and an increase in pay for staff holding a commercial driver’s license, with $1.2 million put aside in a savings account
• Tabled a motion to make a $50,000.00 one-time appropriation to the Fort Payne School System for school supplies
• Tabled a motion to authorize the purchase of lighting from Musco for the baseball and softball fields for the Sports Complex renovation project
• Tabled a motion to authorize a contract with Warner for the Sports Complex renovation
• Approved contracting with Van Scoyoc Associates in Washington D.C. for grant consulting and grant procurement services and Gray Matter Consulting for grant writing ($140,000.00 to $150,000.00 yearly)
• Approved $45,000.00 from the D.C. Gas profit share to be spent at Patriots Park and for the purchase of an ice chest for use at City functions
The Council members did not oppose the tabled items, but they wished to wait and gather all the information related to the motions before making a decision. The Mayor reminded everyone to be sure and come to Boom Days this weekend for free entertainment and fun.
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