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SOUTHERN TORCH THE SOUTHERN TORCH
/ THURSDAY JUNE 18, 2015 / VOL. 1, NO. 4 / $1.00
HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION DEONTAY WILDER
TORCH TREAT OF THE WEEK
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Fort Payne City Council Discusses Sales Tax Increase By Zach Moore FORT PAYNE, Ala. — “Tax is a bad word.” “Amen!” responded several members of the audience. Thus was the mood at Tuesday night’s city council workshop in Fort Payne. Though there doesn’t seem to be a vote in Fort Payne’s immediate future, over 75 people packed the council chambers for a special workshop which started the conversation of a possible sales tax increase and what to do with it. The last revenue adjustment in Fort Payne’s history took place over thirty years ago, in 1984. The workshop, as stressed numerous t i mes by the council, was not to find a conclusive solution to the issue, but to open a public dialogue for the council and citizens to work together in order to find a long-term solution. “One thing we talked about before we even thought about a tax increase was reducing spending,” reassured Councilman Randall Ham. While many solutions were discussed, the most popular adjustment proposal was that of a 1% adjustment in sales tax revenue. This increase has been estimated to adjust
Fort Payne’s revenue by $2.2 million. “You say the word ‘sales tax increase’ and politicians get worried because they may not get re-elected,” added Councilman Walter Watson. “I’m not one of them. When I spend a dollar in my city, I give an extra penny so that my city stays healthy.”
N o t a l l mem b er s o f the council were equally enthusiastic. “I’m not sure about a sales tax increase,” said Councilman Red Taylor. “Alabama is third highest in the nation in sales taxes. I feel like, if anything, it would be more fair to put it on a property tax. The state is about to have a special session.
They’re trying to raise $540 million. We don’t need to do anything until we see what Montgomery is going to do. We might go up one cent, but the state may go up two.” “If the state goes up two cents, what does that do for our city?” argued Ham. “Nothing.” “When I ran, I made one promise,” said Mayor Larry
Two councilmembers walk into a meeting By Jordan Doufexis jordan@southerntorch.com
RAINSVILLE, Ala. — The Rainsville City Council prepped for Freedom Fest on Monday night with their own fireworks show. There’s been tension between Council members Melissa Ledbetter, Joey Graham and Mayor Nick Jones from day 1. That tension was on display Monday night when the City Council held it’s regularly scheduled meeting and the topic of new hirings and appointments for the City of Rainsville came up. “The interviewing of the Officer that Chief Centers brought to us,” said Graham. “My understanding is that that interview did not take place.” “Typically how this works is I’ll checkout the applications and we will schedule interviews. Chief Centers has not given me all the applications. I’ve asked for that twice,” said Jones. “We are down four police officers right now,” said Graham. “And it’s to the point where it’s critical that
you bring in people to fill this staff. We can’t compel you to hire an officer...but as a citizen of Rainsville I would hope that you would adequately staff the police department for the safety of the whole community.” Jones fired back, “I’m glad we’re finally having a conversation about staffing our public safety departments...two part time people staffing the fire department is not kosher. That’s not a good thing. The Mayor and council before us made a decision to staff the fire department 24/7...and pay those folks. Which means, we’re telling the citizens of Rainsville what we’re doing with that tax money is we’re gonna have 2 fully trained, full-time professional firefighters...and there hasn’t been a whole lot of concern at this table about the understaffing of that department.” Jones finished, “I’m with you, we need more police officers...but, I can only work with however much Chief Centers will meet me there in the middle of the road.” ACT II - Ledbetter makes a motion to appoint Glenn
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Shedd to be the City Judge. “I have no issue with Glenn Shedd,” said Jones. “What I have an issue with is the process and how we arrived at the selection. Who were the applicants? How did we arrive at the selection of Glenn Shedd?” “I called all three applicants and I discussed at great length with each applicant and then Joey had told me that that was Tammy’s recommendation,” said Ledbetter. Jones responded, “There’s just no process to talk with the applicants or interview or select them? You guys just all...decided?” “I’m not going to talk about this anymore,” exclaimed Ledbetter. “We just had a discussion about rules in the meeting... and we don’t want a bunch of rules. Me and Mr. Holt do... we don’t want a bunch, we just want some structure. I’m just asking how we’ve landed at this selection.” Ledbetter refused to discuss the matter further and stated, “This is who we’ve selected. I have made my motion, there is a second on the table. I’m going to request that
Chesser, who had remained mostly silent throughout the conversation. “That I would veto a sales tax increase… and a property tax would have to be voted on. All of the property tax increases in Alabama have been voted down left and right.”
CONTINUED > PAGE 2 THIS WEEK IN POLITICS Recap of the 2015 Alabama
the Mayor Pro-temp please Legislative Session approve the motion and the second on the table so that What laws were passed in 2015 PAGE 2 we can we move on from this meeting and not hear this June DeKalb BOE Meeting debate any longer.” Personnel decisions take center “Let the record show that stage....................................... .....PAGE 2 we’re ending this debate before all of the issues were flushed out,” said Jones.” I’m THIS WEEK IN SPORTS asking a simple question with how we’ve arrived at this selection with no formal Deontay Wilder process.” The champ resides in Alabama.PAGE 7 The motion was passed and Shedd is now the new City Judge in Rainsville. DeKalb loses a coaching icon The process seems to have Collinsville lost a coaching legend last a similar feel to the debacle Thursday morning ..................PAGE 7 that was the hiring of a City Clerk at Rainsville City Hall in early February. Fort Payne student wins 1st Place In that instance, longtime in Junior Amateur golf tournament City Clerk Judy Lewis had ...............................................PAGE 7 announced her retirement and assistant City Clerk Debbie Lanier seemed to be the obvious choice. Overwhelming THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS support from the general public, Mayor Jones, and CounTorch Treat of the Week cilman Brandon Freeman led to speculation that Lanier was Vintage 1889 Spiked Tequila Chicken Soup......................................... PAGE 6 the homerun hire.
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THIS WEEK IN COMMUNITY DeKalb Animal Adoption Center................................PAGE 3 German Giants come bearing gifts..............................PAGE 3 Shave and a Haircut
Hanks last ride through Fort Payne...........................PAGE 5
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