Scholarships awarded, business venture announced at Lanett council

BY JOHN BRICE

THE LAFAYETTE SUN

LANETT — Graduating high school seniors were announced as winners of Energy Southeast Scholarships at the Lanett City Council meeting on Monday, April 20. Council Member for District 2 Krisse Story made the announcement about the recipients before the council and attendees. 

“It is with great pleasure that we congratulate you on your achievement in earning an Energy Southeast Scholarship awarded on behalf of the city of Lanett,” she said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to help support your educational journey through this program. We are currently working with your city and school counselors on arrangements for presenting your scholarship certificate. The Energy Southeast Scholarship provides an award of $2,500 made payable to a four year university, community college and/or vocational school of your choice within the state of Alabama.”

Story went on to provide details on the structure of the scholarship. 

“The funds can assist you with your college tuition associated with lab fees and books,” she said. “You must use the scholarship within sixteen months of your high school graduation date. It is your responsibility to request scholarship money prior to the beginning of your college semester. Again, we extend our congratulations on this achievement. Best wishes for a bright and successful future. Our first recipient is Thomas Arnold Patillo. Our [other recipients are] Chloe Elise Jones, Evan Bautista and Carington King.”

Later on in the meeting, local business owner Valerie Gray announced industrial development that her family business is undertaking in the city. 

“I wanted to come and address you all,” she said. “Over the past six months, I have been talking with Mayor Heard, and then, a couple of weeks ago, I asked Council Member Story to meet me at our business in Lanett. As you all know, I have transitioned from public service to now private. It is a lot of different hats that I am wearing now. I am here to give a report on what our family has been doing to improve our presence in the city of Lanett. We have one manufacturing firm and Ms. Story and Mayor Heard visited with us. We are currently under expansion. It is a certified USDA clean facility.”

Gray provided further details on how this business venture will develop over time.

“Our plans are to become the largest producer of ice in the entire state of Alabama, if not the Southeast,” she said. “It will take us about a year to ramp up all of that productivity. I appreciate the street department for helping with an extremely large pothole that you guys took care of. We hope to be able to apply for some state funding for that to help offset any future city costs for that street work.”

In other business

• Four separate resolutions were approved where each was a determination on a public nuisance and abatement authorizing action on properties in the city that will be demolished with the cost of that effort being the liability of the respective property owner.

• The resolution was approved for acceptance of the 2025 fiscal year financial audit provided by Philip Morgan, CPA.

• A resolution was approved regarding items belonging to the city located in the old barn at the recreation center to be declared as surplus.

• There was a resolution approved for the mayor to execute an agreement with Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood for a review and response to actions taken against the city by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for violations of water quality standards.