LaFayette City Council makes decisions on water
BY KADIE TAYLOR
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE — At the March 9 LaFayette City Council Meeting, a proclamation was read, an event was proposed, residents shared concerns and decisions were made regarding the water line.
The organizers for Valley Haven LaFayette Day were unable to attend the city council meeting, so LaFayette Main Street Executive Director DeAnna Hand said she was asked to accept the Valley Haven LaFayette Day Proclamation read by Mayor Kenneth Vines on their behalf.
“Whereas Valley Haven School provides a valuable service to our area individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” Vines said. “Whereas the whole community combines effort each year to support the Hike Bike Run at Valley Haven School, whereas the Annual Hike Bike Run is the most important fundraiser event for Valley Haven School each year. Whereas this is the 50th Annual Hike Bike Run and the 30th Annual LaFayette Day of Valley Haveny. Therefore, we hereby proclaim the week of April 5 through April 11, 2026, as the LaFayette Day for Valley Haven School in the city of LaFayette. We call upon all citizens of our city to join with 1,000s of other individuals in generously helping to provide the funds for support of our Valley Haven School. We ask everyone to please support the LaFayette Day, Saturday, April 11, and Hike Bike Run on Saturday, May 2.”
Austin Harmon of Harmon Engineering and Contracting presented information on a Highway 431 Waterline Tie-In Proposal and a 10-Year Comprehensive Plan.
“We’ve put together two proposals in front of you, the first of which is a plan regarding a half step in the right direction to give us some access to the water line under 431,” he said. “Our hope is to tie-in, basically put two isolation valves in front of Krave Korner and in front of Renfroe’s, so we will have options moving forward. We’re going to try to do this before the ALDOT paving starts. We’re hoping to put together a plan and get multiple prices from different contractors locally, keep it under the bid law, and something that the city can negotiate directly, and try to push this through before ALDOT starts. So that’s the first proposal you have from us. The second proposal is a 10-year Comprehensive Water Plan. We want to look at the fire data we have now and some of the history, and kind of try to put things in a priority state and put some budgets together on us moving forward.”
The council was presented information by City Attorney Mac Tucker regarding the new contract with 121 Disposal. Tucker said there was a need to discuss the collection rate at a budget discussion, suggested an additional charge for additional cart and authorized small approved commercial customers that are eligible to use 121 Disposal at the same rate as residential customers if their waste is under two carts.
Multiple constituents shared their perspectives on the water line, garbage collection, cemetery perpetual care and other items on the agenda during the time for public comments.
“The Water Department is an economic engine for the city, but if you look at the operational margins for the water department over the last five years, it’s about negative point 8%, which means that it’s not making any money,” said Paul Nunn. “If you take out the grants from that, we’re at a negative 60% operating margin, and our rate of increase will never catch up with that. One of the things I’m recommending is that — and this is for all businesses — is that we go and understand what our operational costs are really going towards with this plan. And the reason for that is that, as an economic engine, it should be driving at least a profit for the city across the year.”
In Other Business
• The council approved the minutes from the Feb. 23 Regular City Council Meeting.
• The council approved the Valley Haven LaFayette Day Proclamation.
• The council voted to approve the planning of a Downtown Celebration for the Chambers Academy and LaFayette High School basketball teams.
“We would like to propose hosting a downtown community celebration,” Hand said. “Jason Kelley reached out to me and asked for our assistance in planning this incredible event to honor the basketball seasons of our two local school teams. This event will celebrate the student athletes and will allow us to come together and showcase the pride and spirit that make LaFayette so special. We are very excited for LaFayette High School Bulldogs and their successful season, as well as the Chambers Academy basketball team and their successful season.”
• The council voted to table the Chambers County Detention Facility Agreement.
• The council voted unanimously to approve the following regarding the water line:
- A Highway 431 Waterline Tie-In Proposal
- A 10-Year Comprehensive Water Distribution Rehab Plan Proposal
- Authorize the mayor to sign the two water line contracts
• The council voted to table the Electric Department and Police Department pay discussion led by Finance Committee Chairman Council Member for District B, Kim Langley.
• The council voted to approve Mayor Kenneth Vines as Voting Delegate, District C Council Member Toney Thomas as First Alternate Voting Delegate and District E Council Member Tammy Williams as Second Alternate Voting Delegate for the Alabama Municipal Insurance Corporation Voting Delegates for the 2026 Annual Business Meeting at the Alabama League Convention from April 28 to May 1.
• The council voted to approve the Alabama Municipal Insurance Corporation Proxy Authorization or authorize Sean Duke, President of AMIC, to vote on behalf of the city or to cast the ballot on the ballot form.
• The council approved the account audits.
• The council voted to convey the Transfer Cemetery Deed # 1834 from Paulette W. Morse to Doris Brown — Handy Cemetery.
• The council voted to convey the Transfer Cemetery Deed # 1835 from Paulette W. Morse to Shasta K. Darden — Handy Cemetery.
A city of LaFayette Comprehensive Plan Meeting will be held on March 10 at 5:30 p.m. at the Alfa Insurance building.
