LaFayette City Council approves 3% raise for employees

BY KADIE TAYLOR

THE LAFAYETTE SUN

LAFAYETTE — At the June 8 LaFayette City Council Meeting, the council approved a 3% raise for city employees and approved regular business.

Alesha Presley of Krave Korner reminded residents of the upcoming Juneteenth Event on June 19, with a parade beginning at 3:30 p.m.

“This is something we started three years ago, and we are in prayer and hope that the city continues to support us and stand behind us with this every year that we have planned it,” she said. “We've had huge support from Council Member Tony Thomas, Superintendent George Green, Chief Trice and Chief Doody, who have been behind us 100%. So we want to say thank you, and how much we appreciate all the support that we've had thus far going forward, and we are just asking that you stand behind us as we continue to push this together for not just us at Krave Korner, but for the entire city.

The council announced the city of LaFayette Comprehensive Plan Meeting on Monday, June 15, at 5:30 p.m. at the Alfa Building.

City Council Member for District D Charlene Story announced the American250AL Award Notification.

“We were granted this grant for the America 250 Alabama,” she said. “I am projecting that we have a citywide cleanup date. Also, I would like [to work with] the local high schools where local students within the community can write an essay about what America means to them."

With the granting of a 3% raise for city employees, many of the city council members expressed their appreciation for the employees and shared the hard work the council members have done to approve the motion.

“It's not easy at all when you're balancing a large budget like this, and you've got the revenue that we have, and the expenses that we have,” said Council Member for District A Emily Milford. “It’s not easy, and there's been some conversations we've had that I liked, conversations we've had that I didn't like. Just know that we are actively working together to try to resolve some things. It may cause some changes down the road; it may not. Rome wasn't built in a day, and we can't change everything in a day, but we are working on it.”

“We really worked hard at this, and we're not really where I want to be, but I'm just one of five of us, and we're trying to work together and find a consensus, so you know this is a start,” said Council Member for District B Kim Langley. “We really appreciate all the hard work, and we are unanimous in saying that we have a fine group of people. Every time we can sit down this week, that has been the recurring theme of how proud we are and how much we appreciate you.”

“This has been in discussion phase for a year and a half, since the last administration,” said Mayor Kenneth Vines. “It’s great working together, regardless of our differences, we can still come together and be on one accord... I just want to personally say thank each and every one of you.”

“I'm glad we're going to make a difference to our employees,” said Story. “I'm excited about this, and more so, like this is not it. As a whole, we feel like we need to start doing something every year. We do not need to go backwards, like how we were in the years before. We are trying to make a plan so that each year the employees will receive some type of compensation for their hard work.”

In other business

• The council approved the minutes from the May 19 Special Called Council Meeting.

• The council approved the Juneteenth Proclamation.

• Langley made a motion to lower the number of employees in the electric department from five to four and redistribute funds for the department in accordance with Superintendent Sandar’s recommendations. The motion was passed unanimously.

• Langley made a motion to raise the salary of city employees, except the city council and mayor, by 3% beginning on Thursday, June 11. The motion was passed unanimously.

• Langley made a motion to make an amendment to the previous motion to exclude probationary employees until they complete their probationary period. The motion was passed unanimously.

• The council voted to approve Resolution No. 2026-06-08-01 Amending the 2025-2026 Line-Item Budget.

• The council voted to convey Cemetery Deed #1842 for Tania Ellis at Handy Cemetery.