COMMUNITY COLUMNISTS INSIDE!
THE
SAVE TIME & GASOLINE!
WEDNESDAY
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 March 9, 2016 Vol. 124, No. 49 www.alexcityoutlook.com
BATTLE OF HWY 49 Rebels top Tigers, page 8.
City alerts residents about pipe mailer LACK OF QUORUM PREVENTS COUNCIL FROM MEETING The Alexander City City Council was unable to meet Tuesday night because there was not a quorum present. Four members are needed to make any action official. Councilmembers Jim Spann, Tony Goss, and Sherry Ellison- Simpson were unable to attend Tuesday. No definite time was set for the meeting to be rescheduled, but Councilman Bob Howard said they hoped to do it on Thursday.
Even though insurance offer looks official, it’s not from city By MITCH SNEED Editor
Some Alexander City residents have been seeking answers after receiving a mailed advertisement from a private firm that offers residents protection for its pipes for a price. Officials want to make it clear that it is not from the city, and the maintenance of pipes leading to the meter of residenc-
es is handled by the city at no charge. A number of residents have called city hall about the mailer that comes from Connecticut-based HomeServe USA. The header on the ad has a title that could alarm uninformed citizens. The document is titled “Alexander City Water Service Line Responsibility” and tells the resident that “Response Requested Within 30 Days.”
United Way to wrap up ‘Heroes’ campaign
Alabamians pay nation’s 2nd lowest property taxes
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
While taxes may be a way of life, people in Alabama should consider themselves lucky when it comes to property taxes. According to a study by WalletHub, Alabama property owners shell out the nation’s second lowest tax rate, averaging just $538 a year, according to the study. The average American household spends $2,127 on real-estate property taxes each year, and residents of the 27 states with vehicle property taxes shell out another $412. Considering these figures and the debt-fueled environment to which we have grown so accustomed, it should come as no surprise that roughly $11.8 billion in property taxes go unpaid each year, according to the National Tax Lien Association, according to
“We have had a number of calls here at the mayor’s office about these letters,” said Fran Harvey, administrative assistant to Mayor Charles Shaw. “Unless you look closely, it could appear that it is something from the city. We just want to let people know that it is from a private company, one that is not affiliated with the city in any way. See MAILER • Page 5
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Alexander City Police Department officers arrest 25-year-old Brian Hardrick on drug charges Tuesday morning on Maple Street.
Tuesday traffic stop on Maple Street turns into drug arrest By MITCH SNEED Editor
What started out as a routine traffic stop by Alexander City Police Department officers Tuesday morning resulted in the arrest of a local man on a myriad of drug and weapons charges. According to Sgt. Fred White and Investigator Chad Jones of the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force, 25-year-old Brian Hardrick of Alexander City was arrested and See ARREST • Page 5
See TAXES • Page 6
The Lake Martin Area United Way will announce the results of its 2015-16 annual fundraising campaign at its 2016 Campaign Celebration & Annual Meeting set for Thursday, March 10, at USAmeriBank, located at 200 Aliant Parkway. The goal of this year’s campaign was $530,000, according to Sharon Fuller, executive director of the Lake Martin Area United Way. “We are excited,” said Fuller. “Even over the last few weeks, our number has been changing daily. See UNITED WAY • Page 5
2 programs can help United Way By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
You can currently help out the United Way of the Lake Martin area in two different ways. “We have the book drive for the fifth annual children’s summer reading program,” United Way’s Scott Hardy said. “And we have a partnership with H&R Block for this tax season.” The reading program is to help children become better readers. See VOLUNTEER • Page 5
The window in front of The Lake Martin Area United Way Office shows exactly how the agency feels about its donors who have pushed this year’s campaign toward its goal.
Ed Collari’s no nut, but he carries one
Today’s
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New Chamber president carries love for his alma mater in his pocket By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Thirty-six hours into his tenure as president and chief executive officer of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce, Ed Collari revealed a secret. He’s an Ohio State Buckeye, a bona fide graduate of the Columbus, Ohio, school. But that’s common knowledge. Not the secret, although the secret is a buckeye, too. The lucky buckeye Collari keeps in his pocket. “You’ll never catch me without my lucky buckeye,” Collari said, smiling. “My dog’s named
High
Brutus, too.” So how does a native of upstate New York become such a nut-in-the-pocket fan? Collari was born and raised in Dunkirk, New York, about halfway between Columbus, Ohio, home of his beloved Buckeyes, and Syracuse, New York. He grew up following the Buckeyes’ athletic teams and grew tired of people asking him why he was an Ohio State fan. So, even though his family had moved to Lilburn, Georgia, in the interim, Collari was determined to earn David Granger / The Outlook his degree from The Ohio State University. Ed Collari, left, chats with Kenneth Boone as Collari preps for his first board meeting See COLLARI • Page 6 as president and CEO of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce.
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
484.88 Reported on 3/8/16 @ 8 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
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