Water line relocation, extension programs top LaFayette Council agenda

BY KADIE TAYLOR

THE LAFAYETTE SUN

LAFAYETTE — The LaFayette City Council met on Dec. 8 to hear from a variety of community entities and approved items of business.

Dr. Hollie Cost, Assistant Vice President for Outreach and Public Service at Auburn University, and Rachel Snoddy, Chambers County Extension Director, shared information on the impact of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System in LaFayette.

“We started the Rural Health Initiative here because we looked at this community, and first and foremost, we have beautiful leaders,” said Cost. “We had the mayor here, we had the city clerk, we had our fire chief — and they were wonderful leaders who wanted to partner with us. And we had a great tool that we found, which is the care station — the telehealth station, and so we wanted to launch the initiative here as a pilot site for the entire state.”

Ansley Emfinger and Andie Chambley of the Chambers County Development Authority recognized DeAnna Hand, Kelsey Barnes, Narfunda Ross, Charlene Story and Amy Tucker, who are all 2025 graduates of Leadership Chambers County.

“I just want to thank this class, because it was our first class, so they really had to trust us,” Chambley said. “They had no idea what they were getting into, but they trusted us, and I think they learned a little bit out of it. So we're very thankful for you guys and for taking a chance on us.”

Collins Sharpe of Harmon Engineering shared information on the developing plan to relocate the Highway 431 water line.

“So the project we're proposing is to relocate the water main that runs up [Highway] 431 North from the intersection of Avenue A, where the theater is — starting there [and] going North up to the Y and 77,” he said. “Then also making two cross connections, picking up from the larger mains crossing over 431 to the one that we're running North. So all together, running about 5,000 linear feet of new eight-inch pipe to replace the old six-inch cast iron pipe.”

In Other Business

• The council voted to approve the previously tabled downtown speaker system as presented by LaFayette Main Street.

• The council voted to deny the claims of Joyce Davis.

• The council voted to deny the claims of Wanda Hollenquest Peoples.

• The council voted to table the CWSRF Supplemental Loan Application for the Wastewater Improvements WWTP until the full information is submitted.

• The council approved a motion to make Dec. 26 and Jan. 2 city holidays, and city employees can choose to take an unpaid day off or use a paid vacation day for said holidays.

• The council voted to approve the suspension of the second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 491, regarding the 2026 Back to School Sales Tax Holiday, on the first reading.

• The council voted to convey Cemetery Deed No. 1827 to Annie Story at Handy Cemetery.