SYLACAUGA, Ala. – At Wednesday’s council meeting, the second in the last month, Sylacauga’s newest elected officials approved several items including Sylacauga Board of Education funding and changed the schedule of meetings and work sessions.
At Monday night’s work session, Sylacauga City Schools Superintendent Dr. Todd Freeman spoke to the council about improvements he saw fit not only the school system but for the City. A request for $838,750.00 from the 18.5 Ad Valorem Tax Fund for capital improvements was made in November. On Wednesday it was unanimously approved.
In a letter from Dr. Freeman to Mayor Jim Heigl and Council President Lee Perryman, the superintendent stated the school system has been engaged with athletic renovations since 2015 starting with Legion Stadium. While new visitor bleachers and bathroom renovations are still to come, in his letter, Dr. Freeman addressed the next phase of the project including massive upgrades and improvements to the baseball, softball, and soccer facilities including:
- “New softball and baseball field and irrigation
- New softball and baseball concession stands
- New baseball bathrooms
- New softball, baseball, and soccer seating
- New softball lights
- Soccer drainage correction around field”
Work is expected to begin summer 2017 and will be completed by spring 2018.
Monday night, the second-to-last regularly scheduled work session was held. During the meeting, Perryman reintroduced a motion to consolidate work sessions and council meetings into the same day allowing for less confusion and an easier schedule for Sylacauga residents.
“Most municipalities operate this way,” said Perryman. “It will allow everyone to be more focused.”
In January, a work sessions will begin at 5:00 p.m. with the council meetings following at 6:00 p.m.
Mayor Heigl made his opening remarks bringing attention to Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and what it means to Americans. He said the City has been working with Hutton Development on the ongoing retail development slated for Hwy. 280 in 2018. According the mayor, a new website for the City of Sylacauga is also on the horizon, something the City has done without for the last four years. The mayor said the Civil Service Board also approved the application process for a new fire chief. Chief Jon Williams will retire next month. Heigl also mentioned he has been conducting regular meetings with city department heads and that those meetings have been successful.
Other items discussed and approved:
- Approval of resolution consenting to the issuance by Noland Health Services, Inc. of up to $60,000,000.00 in bonds for use at its facilities including those located in Sylacauga (Sylacauga Health and Rehab and Spring Terrace).
- Approval of request made by Police Chief Kelley Johnson to authorize paying an office for 42 hours of vacation taken in advance from Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016 through Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016.
- Approval of request made by Chief Johnson to authorize change of status for Officer Huel Love, III from Pay Grade PS-1; Step 1 to Pay Grade PS-1; Step 3 due to successful completion of the Police Academy and holding a Juris Doctorate Degree.
- Approval of reccomendation made by City Attorney Edwin Livingston to authorize settlement of insurance claim against A-1 Tree Service for damages at Marble City Cemetery ($1,000.00).
- Approval of travel/expenses for Mayor, City Council, and City Clerk to attend the Municipal Leadership Institute to be held in Montgomery.
- Approval of travel/expenses for City Clerk, accountant, and court clerk to attend Municipal Intercept Services User Training in Millbrook.
- Approval of payments totaling $89,018.18 for additional FY2016 accounts payable invoices received.
- Approval of payments totaling $84, 217.75 for accounts payable invoices received to date for Nov. 2016.
Michael Brannon for SylacaugaNews.com | © 2016, SylacaugaNews.com/Marble City Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.