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LANETT — The City of Lanett acquired two new vans for its senior center program this year, and two more new ones are being sought for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

The Lanett City Council approved a grant request at its Monday meeting. Should the grant be approved through the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), the city’s senior program would have a complete fleet of four new vans.

These grants are available through the Federal Transit Act Amendments of 1991. They are provided on an 80/20 matching basis with the federal government putting up 80 percent of the cost and the state and local governments 10 percent each.

The city’s code enforcement officer, Johnny Wood, presented a resolution for the council to adopt at the Monday meeting. Two 2024 Ford Mobility high-roof transit vans are being sought. They are valued at $93,417 each or a total of just under $187,000. The federal government would cover close to $150,000 of this amount with the local share being in the $37,000 range.

Council Member Ronnie Tucker asked Wood if the vans being sought would have the handicap-accessible ramps or extra seating. The vans acquired this year have the ramps. Wood said the new ones would have extra seating.

In other action, the council approved a resolution authorizing Mayor Jamie Heard to sign an agreement for Lanett to be a party in a settlement with pharmaceutical companies who have been distributing legal opioids. The state of Alabama and the pharmaceutical companies have reached an agreement on this suit, and cities and counties are entitled to a fair share of it.

Diane Perry received a proclamation from the council in support of this year’s Chambers County Day of Prayer, which will be taking place on the east side of the Chambers County Courthouse in LaFayette on Friday evening, August 2. This one will be the 23rd Day of Prayer for the county. The first one took place a few days before the 9-11 terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.

“We were praying together before that day,” Perry said. “Many more people were praying after September 11th.”

Council Member Angelia Thomas read aloud the proclamation and Council Member Tifton Dobbs presented Perry a copy of it. 

“We must continue to work together in unity in praying for Chambers County and our nation,” the proclamation reads. “We urge all citizens to join together in praying for our leaders, our nations and our state as a whole, so that in the spirit of trust, cooperation and goodwill we may all beseech God for the strength and wisdom to make Chambers County a better place to live.”

The event usually takes place near the start of a new school year. Prayers will be going out for a safe year for the students, their teachers and staff. Free school supplies will be given away.

Heard presented a certificate of appreciation to Travis and Angela Hargett for the outstanding citizenship they have shown in providing breakfast on numerous occasions to fellow residents in their West Shawmut neighborhood. The Hargetts were there for the presentation along with their teenage daughters Ka’lyn and Kennadi.

“I want to thank you for the many meals you have provided in your home,” Heard said. “I have had my share of them and have enjoyed your hospitality. I know many of your neighbors do, too.”

“You have set a standard others in Lanett should follow,” said Thomas. “It’s always better to be part of a solution than it is to be part of the problem.”

Dobbs thanked the city’s Street Department for the work they’ve recently done in addressing a drainage problem in the city’s Crystal Springs area. “The runoff from rains hasn’t been backing up there,” he said. “It’s draining as it should. That’s a big improvement over the way things have been.”

Fire & EMS Chief Johnny Allen asked local residents to make sure they are well hydrated when they are doing any outside work in the high temperatures we have been having lately. “We have been very busy lately,” he said, “and some of the calls have been heat-related.”

Anthony Brock thanked the council for the support extended by the city in a recent summer camp in the L.B. Sykes complex for children in the Lanett Housing Authority area. “We started a summer camp program last year and we had around 20 kids,” Brock said. “We had 65 this year and we hope to have over 100 next summer. I believe we are taking a step in the right direction in having this kind of program. Anything that keeps kids off the street is a good thing. I believe kids will grow into good people if you do things like this when they are young.”

The summer camp started on June 3 and will extend through July 25, just before the start of a new school year.

Sessions take place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. every Monday through Thursday. The children have taken part in a learning center, have taken up arts and crafts and have been in lots of recreational activities.

Heard wished Dobbs good luck with an event center he’s planning to open in the Cherry Valley Shopping Center. A ribbon cutting will be taking place there at 11:30 on Tuesday, July 23.