TIME IS NOW TO SIGN UP FOR FALL LEAGUES, SPORTS, PAGE 8.
THE
FRIDAY
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 July 8, 2016 Vol. 124, No. 137 www.alexcityoutlook.com
ROOFTOP ROLLOVER Crash slows traffic on South Central, Page 2.
Extensive report on city funds expected next week By MITCH SNEED Editor
A volunteer working at the request of State Auditor Jim Zeigler has finished a preliminary probe into allegations of financial irregularities in Alexander City governmental operations. Zeigler confirmed Wednesday that he received an estimated 1,000 pages of information from Linda Hilyer, a volunteer that he asked to investigate a complaint filed late last summer by Alexander City City Council member Tony Goss. Zeigler said while the initial complaint was over pay raises granted to some employees without council
approval as required, he instructed Hilyer to look into other areas as findings warranted. “To call it an audit wouldn’t be accurate,” Zeigler said. “Ms. Hilyer completed a very extensive report on complaints about city government operations in Alexander City. I am completing a summary, but I certainly think it’s safe to say that there were things found that at least need further, in-depth investigation if not more serious action.” Zeigler would not talk about specific findings, but The Outlook has filed a request under the Alabama Open Records Act for a copy of the report and additional findings. Hilyer said she worked through Alexander City City
Clerk Harriett Scott and City Attorney Larkin Radney through a series of requests to obtain information and documents during her investigation. “I sought information related to issues raised in the original complaint, issues that had been raised previously and irregularities that came to light during the process as well as those that were uncovered by reports in the media,” Hilyer said. “There were items that I requested which I felt were necessary to give a complete picture, but some of those items were not furnished.” Examples of information that was denied was information on vendors and spending related to grants the city has received from state and federal funds, Hilyer See REPORT • Page 2
Alabama sales taxes rank fourth highest in country
Chamber clears board member to run for office By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
The Board of Directors of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce has cleared the way for an employee to run for public office. The board voted 11-1 to allow employees to run for office if the executive committee votes unanimously it. “We have a staff member, Jacob Meacham, who is interested in running for public office,” Chamber President Ed Collari explained at Thursday’s board of directors meeting. “He has not put his name in the hat officially.” Prior to the vote, the chamber’s bylaws and policy manual would have required Meacham to resign his position at the chamber to run for office. “Any officer, director or employee shall resign that office upon becoming a candidate for public office,” Collari read from the policy manual. Kenneth Boone, chairman of the board of directors of the Chamber presented See CHAMBER • Page 2
State trails only Louisiana, Tennessee and Arkansas By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer Cliff Williams / The Outlook
TRAINING DAY Rescue squad
Above, onlookers observe as Ken Cowart, right center, goes over the safety procedures for the training session at a recent exercise at Church of the Pines. Left, Jerry Whetstone attaches his regulator to an air tank while getting ready for dive training.
trains for rainy day By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
For years Ken Cowart and Jerry Whetstone have been volunteers with the Alex City Rescue Squad. In that time they have responded to many calls, often after disasters. But the pair of men have a set of skills that sets them apart. They are part of the rescue squad’s diver team. Recently, they went to the Church of the Pines to train. “Anytime we don’t have anything going on, we get together See DIVERS • Page 3
Alabama has the fourth highest combined state and average local sales tax in the nation and the second highest average local sales tax, according to a recent report by the Tax Foundation, an independent tax policy research organization. Alabama’s combined state and average local sales tax rate is 8.97 percent, ranking it behind only Louisiana (9.98 percent), Tennessee (9.45 percent) and Arkansas (9.30 percent) among the nation’s highest. The state’s average local sales tax is 4.97 percent, ranking it behind nly Louisiana (4.99 percent) as highest in the nation. What makes Alabama’s combined state and local sales tax rate so high is high local rates. Alexander City’s 10 percent sales tax rate is a good example. While several cities in the state share the 10 percent rate with Alexander City (including Birmingham, Montgomery and the portions of Huntsville in Madison County), only four have higher rates – portions of Arab in Cullman County at 13.5 percent, Brookwood in Tuscaloosa County at 11 percent and Fort Deposit and Hayneville, both in Lowndes County at 10.5 percent.
Big changes coming to WAXC morning show lineup By MITCH SNEED Editor
See TAXES • Page 3
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
489.63 Reported on 7/7/16 @ 7 p.m.
Some big changes are coming to the local television scene as the five-year run for Good Morning Lake Martin will end after Friday morning’s broadcast and a familiar face will be back on the morning airwaves. WAXC-TV will end the morning show that began in 2012 and will bring back “The Front Porch” with Kenny Dean in the 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. time slot. Dean will bring back the show that he did in the mornings for 15 years and WAXC’s evening show “At Home with Kenny Dean” will end after Monday night’s show. Station owner John Kennedy said Steve “Cubby” Culberson had an opportunity to start a new chapter in his life working with a cluster of senior living communities in the Auburn area. Kennedy said with his departure, the time seemed right to change direction. “Cubby is everything you want in a morning show Submitted / The Outlook anchor, but more importantly he is everything you Sean Bland, Doug Roberts and Steve “Cubby” Culberson will say goodbye for the last time today want in a friend,” Kennedy said. “Cubby announced as ‘Good Morning Lake Martin’ will sign off for the last time to make way for the return of ‘The Front See TV • Page 3 Porch’ and Kenny Dean beginning Monday.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
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256-329-1313 Free Consultations 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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