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The council members in the city of LaFayette heard from LaFayette Main Street’s director on Monday night about some upcoming events in town. On Monday, Jan. 20, the organization will be hosting an MLK Day celebration at the ALFA Building in LaFayette.

From 12 to 1:30 CT, those who reserve a seat will be served lunch and enjoy a service by guest speaker Robert Gary Dixon.

Love LaFayette Day is another event that the city’s downtown community will be hosting on Feb. 7. More information can be found in Tuesday’s edition of the Valley Times-News.

The city council also approved a motion on the Human Trafficking Awareness Proclamation.

The city of LaFayette received two grants this cycle, one for personal protective equipment and another from FEMA. The PPE grant was for $30,000.

The AFG (Assistance to Firefighters) grant, awarded by FEMA, is for $315,000 and will fund the purchase of a new ambulance for the LaFayette Fire Department.

Fire Chief Jim Doody told the council members of a plan to do a HDAC cooperative contract for an available ambulance purchase for a total amount of $390,400. This would allow the fire department to save time in receiving an ambulance. It would be an investment from the city of about $75,000 to make up the difference.

Doody said it will save the city 18 months of waiting time for this ambulance.

The city council also approved a motion to approve the off premises retail beer and off premises wine license for the owner of the Piggly Wiggly.

The city council then approved a motion after having received the Rebuild Alabama FY24 Transportation Report. According to city attorney Mac Tucker, the funds collected were $40,001.27, and they were used to reimburse the general fund.

The fire hydrant replacement project will be starting up soon. Harmon Engineering has set the official start date for the project for January 20.

The city will be notifying the public of any outages in their area and letting neighborhoods know when work will be going on near them.

One of the last points of business before adjourning, the city announced the retirement of Judge Calvin Milford, who has served the county for many years. Milford’s retirement will be on Thursday afternoon at the county courthouse.