By By BILL CRIST, Publisher
The recent heavy rains have made flooding in some parts of town an everyday occurrence, and Tom Lane, of Lovelace Ave., asked the Brewton City Council to address the issue.
Lane showed the council pictures of his yard, as well as his neighbors' yards, where he said it's not uncommon to have six to eight inches of standing water after a heavy rain. He said there is also a problem with sewage backing up into houses during heavy rains.
Brewton Mayor Ted Jennings said he would meet the city's sewer superintendent and revisit the issue. Ray Madden heads the city's gas and sewer department.
The council unanimously accepted a bid for 80.8 acres that it had carried over at its last meeting.
Richard McConaughy bid $1,550 per acre for the 80.8 acres located in the north Brewton area. Along with a $1,760 bid for a lot in Lincoln Park, the total bid amounted to $127,000.
At its last meeting, councilman Mervin Huff questioned if the land was worth more than the bid. Local appraiser Mike Sasser appraised the land at a value of between $1,550 and $1,750 per acre following that meeting.
Among the contingencies the bidder asked for in his bid was that the city provide access from Dogwood Lane, that it would pave a road through the parcel and provide city water, sewer and gas as well as access to electricity.
Police Chief David (Mickey) Lovelace reported that his department had collected $6,898.58 in outstanding warrants and that there was a balance of $305,584.91 in the outstanding warrant account. Dewayne King, the city's code enforcement officer, reported that 58 of the warrants had been turned over to the Alabama Department of Public Safety so the individuals' drivers' licenses would be suspended.
City Clerk John Angel presented the city's new website, www.cityofbrewton.org and walked the council through its different features and links.
The council will not meet on Nov. 11, because it conflicts with Veterans Day. Instead, the council will meet on the first Tuesday in November.
Joe Watson was approved to take Mike Godwin's place on the Brewton Parks and Recreation Board. Dave Avant will serve another term.
In other business the council;
– heard a report from councilman Walter (Jake) Lewis for the dilapidated houses committee;
– carried over a discussion on animal control issues;
– introduced and approved an ordinance related to the electronic vote counter change that will take place in 2004;
– agreed to a resolution approving the airport project discussed at its last meeting;
– agreed to seek bids on three lots that have been ordered to be cleaned up by the city, but whose owners cannot afford that work;
– approved a $19,688 bid for an equipment and safety upgrade for the police department's dispatch radio system and
– heard the mayor's report.