By Sherri Blevins
For the past three years, Rainsville’s Mayor and Council have discussed possibly relocating the Rainsville Public Works Department out of the City Park and onto land on Horton Road purchased by the City close to the Rainsville Waste Water Treatment Plant. Mayor Lingerfelt discussed this project during January 16’s, 2023, Rainsville City Council Work Session.
Lingerfelt explained the need for this move. He said that moving the Public Works Department out of the City park and out of the middle of Rainsville would allow the City to use the land for its intended purpose: to provide a recreation area for visitors and residents.
Lingerfelt said the City is at the point where it is ready to proceed with the project if the Council wants to move in that direction. He explained that the state had finished the new road project in the City, and a turning lane off the new road had been added. The next step would be to prepare the road to the property, pour the building pad, and then build the building. He said he had discussed the budget with the City accountant, and she said there was money coming that could be put toward the project. Lingerfelt said he estimated the cost of the building to be approximately $650,000.00. It will be big enough to store twenty trucks and three washing bays. There will also be room for expansion. He added that for a project this size, the City would need to contract with an architect to continue with the project, and he said he would begin searching for one now.
The Council favored moving forward with the Public Works Building Project and voted to empower the Mayor to proceed.
During the regular meeting, the Council approved the following measures:
• $1,000.00 sponsorship for the Children’s Advocacy Center Play
• Setting February 22 as the date for the second meeting in February
• Promoting Sara Barnard to Sewer/Sanitation Clerk II
• Posting a Sewer/Sanitation Clerk I position until January 31, 2023
• Posting a full-time position at the Parks and Recreation Department until January 31, 2023
• Posting a full-time position at the Public Works Department for bush hogging until January 31, 2023
• Travel /Training Requests for Firefighters Michael Leath, Joey Walden, Chief Willimac Wright, Thomas Blizzard, and Jake McClung
• Empowering the Mayor to sign the Assistance to Firefighter’s Grant Application
• $2,750.00 for an Automated External Defibrillator at the Tom Bevill Center (Senator Livingston and Speaker Ledbetter provided $2,500.00 for the equipment)
• $1,700.00 to purchase infield material from Southern Red Rock
• Four $500.00 sponsorships to the Bull Bash
The next regular meeting is scheduled for February 6, 2023.