Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

LANETT — The City of Lanett has adopted a budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year, which starts on October 1st.

The spending plan for next year was unanimously adopted at Monday’s meeting of the city council. It’s based on anticipated revenue of more than $10.9 million.

Capital expenditures in the new budget include $633,000 for a grant-funded jet fuel system, $300,000 for a derek truck for the Electric Department (in the form of a five-year lease purchase), and $205,000 for a sewer system study to be done by Goodwyn Mills & Cawood.

“We will be paving eleven streets next year,” said Mayor Jamie Heard. “Every council district will get at least one street paved.”

The mayor thanked city employees for their good work. He had a special note of thanks to those in the Fire & EMS Department, who recently lost their long-time leader with the death of Johnny Allen.

Heard said that Allen would be proud to know that his department is still operating in good shape under the interim chief, who by coincidence has the same name (Jamie Heard) as the mayor.

Interim Chief Heard said the opening prayer for the meeting.

The best news for employees is that there is a three percent cost of living adjustment for them in the new budget. “It’s my goal to have raises for them with each passing year,” the mayor said.

The city is expecting to receive more than $4.7 million in sales taxes, $650,000 in business license fees, $610,000 in administrative utility costs, $750,o00 for emergency medical services and $730,000 in garbage fees.

Mayor Heard thanked the city’s beautification committee for the work they are doing. “On their own, they are out there seven days a week doing what they can to make this city a beautiful place,” he said. “All residents should follow their example and pick up litter when they see it. Also, remember to have your trash can in front of your house on the day the garbage truck comes by and behind your house for the rest of the week.”

The mayor recognized the city’s new building inspector, Mark Crowder, who was present for the meeting. He also announced that the city is again looking for an airport manager. The position had tentatively been accepted by a man who lives in New Mexico, contingent on being able to sell his house. He’s had no luck in doing that for several months now, and new applications for the opening are being accepted. “We got two of them on the first day,” Heard said.

In action taken at Monday’s meeting, the council approved a resolution to update the pay scale for police officers and firefighters. Two years ago, the city adopted a pay scale for employees of other city departments to make their pay compatible with other similarly-sized towns. This new action puts police and firefighters on the same scale.

The council approved an ordinance to permit the use of electronic vote-counting devices for the 2025 municipal elections. This is a routine matter that’s approved prior to an upcoming city election.

A first reading was held on an ordinance to annex some city-owned land at the airport site. There are several small parcels that have yet to be officially brought into the city. Since the city is the sole owner of these sites, this will be brought into Lanett following a second reading next month..

Resolutions were approved to agree to the costs of the cleanup of two dilapidated properties in the city, one on North 10th Avenue and another on South 12th Street. The cost of the cleanup at one site was approximately $7,100 and an estimated $7,400 at the second site. These amounts will be placed as liens on those properties.

Another resolution on the council agenda was denied. This would have authorized action to proceed with water line repairs to the historic Fraternal Hall & Stores building in downtown Lanett. The building’s owner, Carmen Davis, had asked the city to do this at its own expense. This would involve running water lines to five meters on the back of the building.

The city has a longstanding policy not to work at its expense on private property. The property owner should do this at their own expense.

Prior to the meeting, City Attorney Stanley Gray informed the council that a claim had been filed against the city to do this. This is the first step in a possible lawsuit against the city.

The Alabama attorney general ruled earlier this year that Lanett could legally pay for the repairs to the building without violating the State Constitution, but the action was left up to the city to decide if it wanted to do it or not.

In council member communications, Tamalita Autry encouraged people of faith to keep Lanett in their prayers. “A lot is going on in our community and in the world,” she said.

On a lighter note, she said this is a big week in Lanett with the annual cross-county rivalry between the Lanett Panthers and the LaFayette Bulldogs set to take place on Friday. “I represent the real black and gold,” she said diplomatically. Both schools have those colors, and Autry likes both of them. She lives in Lanett and represents a district on the council. She also has a grandson who plays football for LaFayette this year.

Council Member Ronnie Tucker said he was planning to have some Neighborhood Watch meetings in his district. He also thanked Water Superintendent Richard Chapman and his department for recently taking care of a water problem in his district.