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VALLEY — The City of Valley has agreed to be a sponsor of Leadership Chambers County.

In Monday evening’s council meeting, the Valley City Council unanimously approved a resolution to be a Griffin Level sponsor for the 2025 program. Named for the well-known symbol of WestPoint Pepperell, Griffin Level sponsors each contribute $1,500 to this countywide program.

“I would like for us to be part of it,” Mayor Leonard Riley said. “It’s similar to Project Leadership, a program the Chamber of Commerce sponsored back in the 1990s. That was a good program.”

“It was a good program,” agreed Council Member Jim Jones. “I participated in the program, and it was beneficial for me.”

Leadership Chambers County’s goal is to train, educate and inspire existing and future leaders of Chambers County. The program will consist of seminars, networking opportunities, programs and projects to continue growth in the community and to foster leadership.

To participate, an individual must be a resident of Chambers County and be at least 21 years of age by January 1, 2025. They must attend all sessions in order to graduate.

The application process began in mid October and extends to mid November. Those accepted into the first class will be notified by the middle of December. There will be quarterly meetings, the first one on January 30th and 31st, the second one on April 24th and 25th, the third one on July 25th and the final one on November 6th and 7th. For those participants who have been to all the meetings, graduation will take place on November 7th.

To apply, contact Ansley Emfinger at ansley@chambersida.com or Andie Roberts at andie@chambersida.com. Anyone who’s eligible and who wants to participate may submit an application, resume or headshot.

In other action, the council sold some land and approved a lease agreement with the Fifth Judicial Circuit Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force. The rules were suspended to approve both ordinances on a first reading.

The land being sold is Lot 3 on 26th Avenue. Tony and Shawn Jarrell have offered to purchase the city-owned lot for $11,000, which is considered the fair-market price.

The lease agreement with the drug task force is the renewal of an existing annual lease. It allows them to have approximately 3,000 square feet of space in a city-owned building on Fairfax Bypass. The task force pays $300 a month for use of the space.

The council approved a 12-item consent agenda. These items included the determination of public nuisances and authorizing action to clean up dilapidated properties at 141 GI Street, 6501 20th Avenue and at 504 Harmon Street, the imposition of weed liens on lots located on Wellington Street, Highway 29, 22nd Avenue and on Boulevard in Fairfax, permission was given to allow the public consumption of alcohol at a birthday party at Lakeview Cabin on Saturday, October 19th and at a baby shower at Valley Community Center on Saturday, November 2nd. the Public Works Department was authorized to dispose of some surplus property (an asphalt patcher) and two budget amendments were approved, one for an insurance recovery and another for the Valley Arts Council.

The next council meeting will take place at 6 p.m. EDT on Monday, October 28th. That meeting will be preceded by a public hearing to consider abatements of properties located at 141 GI Street and 104 Patton Hill Road. Due to the November holidays, the next council meeting dates will be Monday, November 4th and Monday, November 18th. City hall will be closed on Monday, November 11th in observance of Veterans Day.

Valley Parks & Recreation Director Laurie Blount told the council that this year’s fall festival has been moved up a few days. It will be taking place on Tuesday evening, October 29th instead of October 31st.

Opening day for the Christmas Merry Go Round will be Saturday, December 1st and the annual Valleywide Christmas Parade will take place at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 12th.

Council Member Jim Jones reminded everyone that a public meeting will be taking place at the East Alabama Fire Station No. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 29th. Plans will be discussed on how the former site of Fairfax Mill can be converted into public use. The site is now owned by the city and plans have been under way to make it into a park. A landscape architect has been designing plans to do this. The architect will be there to discuss his proposal and to display renderings of what can be done.

Council Member Marquetta Madden asked everyone to keep the victims of recent storms in their thoughts and prayers. Hurricane Helene did massive damage on its path through the Florida panhandle, eastern Georgia, western portions of South Carolina and North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Hurricane Milton did extensive damage across the Florida peninsula.

Council Member Jimmy Gilson made a complaint on behalf of residents of his district in Fairfax. He said that attendees in a new church in the community had been taking their religious fervor to an extreme with loud music on multiple nights. “They do it four nights a week,” he said. “Their loud drumming can be heard all over the neighborhood. There’s a way to worship and a way to be seen. What they are doing is to be seen.”