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Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 Tigers try to bounce back with September 30, 2015 Vol. 123, No. 195 www.alexcityoutlook.com region win over Munford, see B1.
Council ponders pay study Auburn University officials give presentation on the merits of compensation uniformity By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
Pay for city employees has been under an microscope in recent months, with unapproved raises debated and other inequities unearthed during the budget process. With that fresh in the minds of the Alexander City City Council, the Center for Governmental Services at Auburn University was called in to present a service that will study the pay, grade and responsibilities of all city jobs and give a recommendation on how they will be paid to assure fairness to all concerned. The
council was so impressed, they plan to have it on their agenda as soon as possible. “What we do is recommend a system that aims to avoid lawsuits, avoid discrimination issues and avoid inequities,” said Human Resources Program Manager Maria Tamblyn. “That can impact the compliance aspects. The system that we design will have all those safeguards built in it, but the way the city implements it can have an impact on the compliance aspects. But what is designed will have those aspects that will help you avoid many of those issues.” Tamblyn said that the key is to establish equities, assuring equal pay for equal work.
The plan should also help the city with recruitment and retention, Tamblyn said. The cost of the study couldn’t be computed exactly until its completion, but Tamblyn estimated the cost at about $49,000. AU Human Resources Program Specialist Davis Cooper said that the study would likely take nine months to a year to complete, with interviews conducted with employees in each of the 180 jobs that the city currently has on its personnel list. Each interview would take about an hour, Cooper said. “It is a time-consuming and labor
See STUDY, Page A5
BRHS Art students study color theory
Children’s Harbor Thrift Store getting a new home
By Cliff Williams Outlook Staff Writer
One would think that art students who have only been in class since the beginning of the school year would not be doing much, but that is not the case for students in Peggy Adamson’s Art I class at Benjamin Russell High School. Tuesday, Adamson’s students quietly walked in and went to work with color paint. “We are studying color theory right now,” Adamson said. “They are learning about shades and values and complimentary See ART, Page A5
Today’s
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By David Granger Outlook Staff Writer
Alexander City and Lake Martin area shoppers who want to help Alabama’s seriously ill children and find a bargain in the meantime will have a better option when the Children’s Harbor Thrift Store opens at its new facility early next year. Passers-by on Alabama Highway 63 should start seeing the frame work going up soon at the new site just south of the entrance to Lake Martin Amphitheatre, according to Kathy Symonds, manager of the thrift store. The Children’s Harbor Thrift Store has been in operation since 2003. Currently, it is located in a two small buildings near the entrance to the See THRIFT, Page A5
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Makayla McVay,above, an 11thgrader at BRHS, works on the color part of her guitar that she is painting in Peggy Adamson’s Art I class. Right, Travenski Edwards, a senior at BRHS, goes over his plans for his painting with Adamson before putting paint in his palette to use Tuesday.
RMC’s Second Tutu 2.2 Fun Run set for Thursday By Corey Arwood Outlook Staff Writer
Lake Martin
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Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Auburn University Center for Governmental Services’ Maria Tamblyn explains how a pay study would work and what it would mean to employees.
Russell Medical Center will start off Breast Cancer Awareness Month by hosting its second Tutu 2.2 Fun Run. The run will begin at 6 p.m., on Thursday, Oct.1, at the RMC Cancer Center. Registration is $15 and the proceeds will go to the Russell Medical Center Foundation. A postcard that says, “I ran a 2.2 in a Tutu for you,” is included with the registration. The card will be sent to honor a cancer survivor chosen by the participant. Additional postcards can be purchased for $5. Children ten-years-old and under can attend free of charge. The Tutu 2.2 is about awareness and camaraderie, Jessica Sanford of RMC community relations said.
Sanford helped pitch the idea of the initial Tutu 2.2 Fun Run which was held last year. She said that last year’s run had around 300 participants and they are already on track for nearly that many expected at Thursday’s event. Running is optional at the Tutu 2.2, and even the speed of the walk is up to the person. “We just welcome everybody,” Sanford said. At last year’s event, she said that there were participants in wheelchairs, some pushing strollers, children and a lot of dogs. She encouraged people to bring their pets. “Last year I don’t know how many people brought their dogs out in tutus,” said Sanford. Registration at the event will be See TUTU, Page A5
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Runner Wade Jones completed last year’s Tutu 2.2 Fun Run wearing a pink Tutu and work boots and ran in honor of his ‘Nanny.” The race returns this Thursday.
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