WEDNESDAY
THE LOCAL, PAGE 6 Radney drama wraps up fall semester
SPORTS, PAGE 10
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
Benjamin Russell goes 4-1 at McClint Duals
December 19, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 249 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Director says Alex City on solid ground Tapley says city doesn’t need debt By JIMMY WIGFIELD Managing Editor
Alexander City finance director Sandy Stanbrough said Tuesday the city won’t be overextended if it spends $9 million to buy and renovate the former Russell Sales Office and surrounding property and turn it into municipal headquarters. “I would say having this opportunity at this time while we are in the financial position we’re in, it behooves us to take advantage of it,” Stanbrough said. “The fact we’re talking about $9 million, for us common folks, we can’t comprehend it. But the way the debt is spread out over a number of years, there’s no big requirement to repay it all at one time.” Stanbrough said the city’s financial underpinnings are strong enough its debt repayment will steadily decrease during the next 20 years, even adding $9 million in spending for the Russell project. According to Stanbrough, who has served as the finance director for 18 months, the city’s 2017 and 2018 debt repayment was $2.8 million each year. It is expected to drop to $2.3 million in 2019, even with the additional $9 million loan to finance the Russell project. Thereafter, it will peak at $2.7 million in 2021, steadily decrease to $2.5 million by 2026 then to $661,000 annually from 2027-2039. Stanbrough said Mayor Jim Nabors wants to pay down debt by doing as many capital projects as possible based on available funds. “The city, with the leadership of this mayor, is doing everything we can do paying as you go,” she said. “We will never be up there at $2.8 million like we were in 2017 and 2018 with the new debt. The fact that we are not increasing annual debt repayments above the 2018 level gives us an assurance the new debt is manageable. “From a budget perspective, the city is not going to spend revenue that we don’t have.”
’Tis the season
Surplus and deficit
Setting aside capital expenses, Stanbrough said the city projects a $3.4 million surplus in operational funds during the 2019 fiscal year. That surplus is based on what she said is a conservative projection of $52.8 million in See FINANCES • Page 3
Photos by Cliff Williams / The Outlook Top: Martha Holloway leads the New Cannan Baptist Church choir in Christmas carols before the Camp Hill Christmas parade Saturday. Above left: A child picks up candy along Main Street thrown from floats. Above right: Joyce Gooden waves to the crowd gathered along Main Street. Gooden was the grand marshal.
DARE offers county school students valuable education
$6.3 million grant Weather funds victim 59 48 service officers Today’s
High
6
Low
54708 90050
8 USPS Permit # 013-080
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
483.78 Reported on 12/18/18 @ 1 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of profiles on the 28 agencies that receive funding through the Lake Martin Area United Way. Currently, the United Way is holding its 2019 fundraising campaign, “Be a Lifesaver of Hope.” To learn how to help, contact the United Way at 256-329-3600 or at www. unitedwaylakemartin.org.
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Victims in the Fifth Judicial Circuit now have help to understand the process of bringing their case to trial thanks to a grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA). “It has allowed us to staff two full-time certified victim service officers,” Fifth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jeremy Duerr said. “We already had one but she was investigator and part victim service officer. She covered the entire four-county See GRANT • Page 12
We Care About You
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Fifth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jeremy Duerr, left, poses with Gov. Kay Ivey, Kara Hall and Erin McWaters in Montgomery recently. The governor announced a grant to fund vicitims’ advocate services in the district attorney’s offices across the state.
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With so many dangers in today’s society, it can sometimes be difficult to resist and avoid negative situations. Whether it is dealing with a bully, being offered illegal drugs or encouraged to join a gang, the need See DARE • Page 12
Submitted / The Outlook
217 Madison Street, Alexander City, AL “We are a Debt Relief Agency. We help people file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 under the Bankruptcy Code. Alabama State Bar requires the following in every attorney advertisement, “ No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.”
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