LaFayette City Council holds Dec. 16 work session

BY KADIE TAYLOR

THE LAFAYETTE SUN

LAFAYETTE — The LaFayette City Council Members met in the new City Hall on Dec. 16 for a work session. They discussed when to officially move into the new space, raises for city employees, reorganizing committees and a possible water infrastructure project.

Council Member for District B, Kim Langley, said he would like to suggest the option of moving forward with a transition into the new City Hall. The council members discussed what would need to be renovated for functionality and safety, and the timeline for the possible move.

“Since we are having so much difficulty getting out of old City Hall and getting over here, and old City Hall is in such bad shape, I’m proposing that we go ahead and move City Hall only, over here,” he said. “No renovations other than the things we just have to do, like put up some doors, put some locks on some doors.”

Council Member for District E, Tammie Williams, asked Langley what the path towards establishing raises for city employees looks like.

“I’ve got a list of where the other cities are, so I’ll take a look at that too, as far as raises,” Langley said.

Council Member for District A, Emily Milford, said she would like to look at the current committees and ensure those who are members are active, and that new committee members are appointed to fill current vacancies or inactive member spaces. She went on to say her biggest concerns are committees that may have members that are unable to serve due to illness or other factors.

“Obviously, we’ll probably need to get a game plan together, and we may all independently need some time to go look over the people in our district and decide who we would like to ask to be appointed,” Milford said.

Collin Sharpe and Allen Tucker, from Harmon Engineering and Contracting, shared information from a meeting with Sen. Randy Price and presented the council members with a proposal detailing the needs of the city to replace a water pipe downtown before the Alabama Department of Transportation completes its downtown project.

“We met with Sen. Randy Price, and Bob Fincher was there — who’s the state representative — some grant writers and people with the Chambers County IDA, just because we feel that it’s an important project, but it’s also an expensive one,” Sharpe said. “So, going out and finding grant money, if there’s any available out there, we think is going to be pretty important.”

“That’s where we are right now, trying to work with the legislative delegation to try to identify what money [and] what grants might be there right now and then, if we do identify there is a fund somewhere, we can jump right on it and get this ball rolling,” Tucker said.

The council members discussed the need for the water infrastructure to be fixed, and the feedback many have heard from the community regarding frustrations with the water situation. A potential option was discussed where the project could be divided into two phases, with the first phase completing the downtown work before the Alabama Department of Transportation begins its project.

“So the ALDOT project [will go] from here, where we sit, North, is pretty much just paving,” Tucker said. “So, pretty much this water line replacement doesn’t mess up a whole lot of what ALDOT is doing from here North, from here to Stephanie’s. We’d have to go back and dig up some of these islands and sidewalks and stuff, curb and all they put in to tie back into some of these old things. So you’re right. If we have to, it’s entirely feasible to split the project and do that as phase one. Then it’d be a lot easier to come back later and go from here North.”

Grant writing was discussed as a way for the city to navigate the financial considerations of the proposed project, with a couple of grant writers being mentioned as possible options. Many of the council members expressed the desire to ensure the water infrastructure issues are mitigated for both residents and business owners.

“Our downtown area is one of the only areas we’ve got that generates revenue typically,” Milford said. “It’s not the only area, but it’s an attractive factor too, and we’re pouring into it — and when our businesses have to close once a week or two or three times a month because they have water issues — you’re gonna quit having businesses come in. You’re not gonna get new ones, the ones you’ve got are gonna close and then that dries up more of our money and our revenue.”

Council Member for District D, Charlene Story, proposed adding the Pledge of Allegiance to the city council meetings, and the council members discussed how to properly add it for future meetings.

To keep up with LaFayette city meetings, visit the city’s Facebook page.