Workshop scheduled for Monday, March 27
The Flomaton Town Council approved some money expenditures and tabled others until after holding a workshop to go over finances and “other things” with the council setting the workshop for 4 p.m. Monday, March 27 at Flomaton Town Hall.
Councilman Roger Adkinson said he had requested the council hold a workshop but noted it was not on Monday afternoon’s agenda. Adkinson said the council needed to discuss some finances and other issues.
During Monday’s meeting the council voted to table or postpone votes on $5,200 for gutters at town hall; $3,390 to replace a table and chairs at the Flomaton Community Center, which houses the SAIL center; $2,000 to pressure wash the entire library; resurfacing Martin Luther King Drive until costs were determined; and $2,800 to install gutters at the library.
The council did approve spending $6,700 for a new radio repeater for the police department’s communication system, which was in the budget.
The council did vote to proceed with taking down the planters on the sidewalks downtown, with the exception of those in front of AmeriFirst Bank, but tabled any action to proceed with replacing the utility poles along Palafox Street and move those utilities underground.
Ken Jernigan, who has purchased and is remodeling buildings downtown had requested the poles be taken down and the utilities be run underground. Estimates to put Alabama Power, AT&T and Spectrum lines underground were about $214,000.
Town Attorney Chuck Johns said he had talked with Jess Nicholas, director of the Escambia County Industrial Development Authority, and said there could possibly be financial help in that project. Johns suggested the council table any decision and get everybody in the same room to discuss the plans.
The council said it would try to get Jernigan and representatives from AT&T, Spectrum and Alabama Power to attend the workshop.
Police vehicles
The council did vote 4-1, with Councilman Jim Johnson absent, to approve an additional $12,000 expense to purchase two vehicles for the police department.
The council had previously approved spending $108,000 for two Ford Explorers with the police package from Stivers Ford in Montgomery. Police Chief Johnny Wilson told the council the dealership said they had the vehicles in stock and the price came from the state bid list.
A purchase order was issued to purchase the two Explorers but Wilson told the council the two vehicles that had been reserved for the town has been sold.
“They lied to us,” Wilson said Monday afternoon.
Town Clerk Carrie Moore said she reached out to Donohoo Chevrolet in Fort Payne which had two police pursuit vehicles (Silverado four wheel drive crew cab trucks) in stock. The cost of moving from the Explorers approved by the council increased by $12,000 at a total of $122,000.
Moore said she issued the purchase order to hold the trucks until Monday’s council meeting.
“I had no option ladies and gentlemen,” Chief Wilson said Monday. “The only other option was to keep driving the old vehicles into the ground.”
Wilson did note that the Ford Explorers were going to have a 36,000 mile warranty and the Chevrolet Silverados come with a 100,000 mile warranty.
Mayor Dewey Bondurant Jr., asked for a motion to purchase the two Chevrolet trucks.
Wilson said while he wasn’t particularly looking for four-wheel drive vehicles they would be beneficial for officers to respond to the area around the railroad trestle on Railroad Street and at the boat ramp on Big Escambia Creek.
“We can’t go there now without getting stuck,” Wilson said.
Wilson also added that Donohoo Chevrolet had the trucks in stock and they were ready.
“We’re looking at spending more than $100,000 for two vehicles and other things,” Councilman Adkinson said. “We haven’t seen a financial statement in two years. It’s like going to buy a new vehicle without knowing how much money you have in the bank. If ya’ll know we have this kind of money, why didn’t we have it on a piece of paper?”
Councilman Charlie Rearden said the council couldn’t make decisions without having figures.
“So, we keep paying high repair bills?” Mayor Bondurant asked.
“Not, $100,000,” Adkinson answered.
Moore said the lack of financial statements were her fault but noted the vote Monday was to spend the additional $12,000 since the council had already approved the $108,000.
Adkinson said he was personally against it but understood the situation.
“But if we’re worried about $12,000 we are too far gone anyway,” Adkinson said.
Council members voiced concerns of putting the truck purchases in the works without them knowing anything about it.
Moore said the purchase order was issued to simply hold the trucks and the council still had to approve the expenditure.
Mayor Bondurant said the financial statements have been delayed because Vance Kilgore couldn’t complete the audit without more information. He also said every time he comes to town hall somebody is in Moore’s office “chewing her out” and it slows the process of getting the information.
Bondurant did tell the council the town has the money to make the truck purchases.
Councilwoman Kay Wagner asked if the town could buy one now and wait to get a car instead of a truck.
The council voted 4-1 to approve the purchase of the two trucks with Wagner voting no.
