BY DANIEL SCHMIDT
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE — The city of LaFayette could tap into tens of thousands of dollars for after-school and summer programs for local students following the LaFayette City Council’s meeting on Oct. 26.
Linda Crim, a retired educator from Roanoke City Schools, said Alabama’s After School and Summer Program grant offers up to $50,000 to a single applicant and $75,000 per partner when organizations apply together, while a group of three can receive as much as $225,000.
Crim said partnerships are also more likely to be funded because of how the state ranks applications.
According to Crim, the money covers nearly every program cost — except food — including staff pay, rented vans, fuel and educational field trips, which may now go to neighboring states. Programs can serve students from pre-K through 12th grade.
District D Council Member Charlene Story noted that local elementary schools already provide free summer meals, which could fill the gap left by the food exclusion.
Crim offered to write the application for free, saying she wrote Roanoke City Schools’ application last year and is writing for about 16 organizations this cycle.
She added New Mt. Sellers Missionary Baptist Church had agreed to partner with the city or to lead the application. District A Council Member Emily Milford also suggested PHYRE (People Helping YOUth Reach Excellence), a nonprofit led by Adrian Holloway.
Council members said they supported the idea but raised several concerns. Individual schools cannot apply, and LaFayette has no city school system, so any school partnership would have to go through Chambers County Schools.
Council members initially asked Crim to explore working with the church as the lead applicant this year so the city could consider applying next year with more time to prepare.
However, it appeared the city would take a slightly more active role in helping attract the funding.
Crim said the remaining work is mostly paperwork. Funding would begin in January, and her proposed schedule has three phases. After-school tutoring would run through May, summer programs would follow in June and July and after-school sessions would resume in the fall. All funds must be spent by September.
Following the discussion, the council approved a motion authorizing Crim to write the grant on the city’s behalf.
Should the city indeed lead the application process, it would receive and distribute the money, and the funds would fall under the city’s single audit. The required signatures are due by Friday, Oct. 30.
Lift station repair and concrete work
The council approved a resolution accepting a $105,044 bid from J.H. Wright to repair the Bowling lift station and authorizing the mayor to sign the related documents.
Wastewater Collection Superintendent David Allen Garrett recommended the low bid. The only other bid, from Jim House and Associates, was $155,970.
The project will install a new pump with variable frequency drives, replacing the current system, which draws full power as soon as it switches on. Officials said they expect the city’s insurance to cover the cost.
The insurer has accepted responsibility, and an adjuster is reviewing the bids. Officials said the pump is needed either way, and the expected lead time is four to six weeks.
The council also approved the lower of two quotes, from Charles Tamaro, for concrete work where a manhole is being replaced. Officials said Tamaro and the other bidder, Hicks, proposed the same work.
They added that the price could drop slightly because the area is smaller than the 40-by-40-foot space that was quoted. The new slab will be tied to the existing one with rebar drilled into the old concrete.
Business license contract
The council authorized Mayor Kenneth Vines to sign a one-year contract with Avenu, which administers the city’s business licenses, pending City Attorney Joseph Tucker’s approval. Staff said it was too late to switch vendors.
They added that handling licenses in-house would cost about $31,000 in the first year, roughly double what Avenu’s fee of $15 per license amounts to annually. Tucker said he is still reviewing the new contract, which differs significantly from last year’s.
Holiday plans and community house
Officials proposed a Dec. 1 tree lighting and a Dec. 12 Christmas parade, though neither date is final.
The council also discussed three changes for the community house: raising its $125 rental fee, tying its deposit to an inspection and paying for a one-time commercial deep cleaning. The city will field at least three bids from cleaners.
The council also approved the Oct. 12 minutes.
