Feb 1, 2017 Alex City Outlook

Page 1

COMMUNITY COLUMNISTS INSIDE!!

WEDNESDAY

THE

SPORTS, PAGE 8

Graveman receives Game Changer Award

Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892

.5% of our sales tax paves local roads

February 1, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 22 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢

Audit reveals improper use of probate funds Archer repays funds that were paid to employee from discretionary fund By MITCH SNEED Editor

An audit by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts of the Tallapoosa County Probate Court Judge Leon Archer found that while most of the department’s finances were in order, there were instances of improper use of discretionary funds and delays in forwarding license fees. The audit report, which covers Oct.

1, 2012 through Sept. 30, 2015, states that in 2014 while Archer was serving in the position, $14,950 was paid from a “Special Indexing Fund” to several employees. According to the report, the payments were made with “no documentation as to the purpose of the expenditures. When the probate judge was asked about the expenditures, he indicated that the checks were for extra work the employees had done.”

That use is in conflict with state law and attorney general opinions on the matter, the report alleges. Information provided in the summary indicates that Archer has repaid the funds as requested. “These payments were not documented as to the purpose of the expenditures, and do not appear to be in compliance with Section 68, Article IV, Constitution of Alabama, 1901. A letter was sent to

Police deal with erratic animals

County schools purchase property

Potentially rabid raccoon and fox put down in Alex City

By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

The Tallapoosa County Board of Education agreed to purchase a corner lot adjacent to the Dadeville High School Football field for $84,500 Tuesday at an emergency meeting. “Possible uses in the future that I see for that property are additional parking that we could charge for, private parking that you pay for a year or for a future field house,” Tallapoosa County Board of Education Superintendent Joe Windle explained to the board. “We struggled when we had the site plan done for here. The topic of where to put a new field house was a big discussion because we don’t have a lot of usable room with a under ground stream that runs through there. But at this point there is no planned use for the property.” The property contains six apartment units, four of which are occupied and have current leases of $350 a See SCHOOLS • Page 11

Today’s

Weather

70 45 High

Low

Lake Martin

Lake Levels

483.90

Reported on 1/31 /17 @ 7:30 p.m.

LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443

laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL

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54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080

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the Judge of Probate requesting repayment in the amount of $14,950. After a meeting with the Chief Examiner, the Judge of Probate paid the charges in full,” the summary states. Indexing fee funds come from extra payments that are paid for some services provided by the office and collection funds for other agencies. Under state law, the funds “shall be See AUDIT • Page 7

By MITCH SNEED Editor Cliff Williams / The Outlook

First Presbyterian organist Seth Fuller practices for the upcoming dedication ceremony of the church’s new organ. The dedication will also feature the church’s choir and instrumentalists.

TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE First Presbyterian to dedicate new organ Sunday By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

Sunday the First Presbyterian Church of Alexander City will be dedicating a new organ. Choir Director Robert Lamborne is pleased the church chose to stay with a traditional organ to replace the 40 year old Allen. “There is nothing more majestic than

good organ,” Lamborne said. “It sounds like church. We are very fortunate here. A lot of churches are moving away from organs and putting guitars and electronic pianos in.” Lamborne said the old organ despite being advanced when it was installed in 1974 was beginning to show its age. “Our previous organ was 42 years old,” Lamborne explained. “It was one See ORGAN • Page 11

Alexander City Police Department officers have been forced to deal with two animals that were showing signs of possible rabid behavior over the last three days. According to Alexander City Police Department Interim Chief Jay Turner officers were forced to put down a fox on Sunday and a raccoon on Tuesday after residents reported erratic behavior. “Tuesday there was a raccoon that was acting erratic and showing signs of distemper near a home,” Turner said. “They attempted to catch it a number of times, but they ultimately had to use their weapon to put the animal down.” The raccoon was ultimately put down on Cherokee Road. Turner said that in the case of the fox, the animal was spotted acting erratically near a home and them was found on Airport Drive near Temple Medical when the animal ultimately had to be shot. “In cases like this, they are showing those behaviors and that is a concern,” Turner said. “You hate to do it that way, but sometimes you have no choice. When that process is over they are sent to Auburn University for a necropsy See ANIMALS • Page 11

Two Alex City natives earn AU doctorates Building Science profs Farrow, Holley earn Adult Ed degrees STAFF REPORT AU Communications Staff

Alexander City natives Paul Holley, left, and Ben Farrow pose for a picture at Auburn’s graduation prior to receiving their doctorates in Adult Education.

Ben Farrow, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and International Programs in Auburn University’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction, has an impressive academic pedigree, including engineering degrees from Duke University and the University of Texas at Austin, along with an MBA from Vanderbilt University. Now the Alexander City See DOCTORATES• Page 7

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