Sand Mountain Reporter

The Boaz City Council adopted a resolution Monday asking the Alabama Department of Transportation to perform a study on a stretch of U.S. 431.

Mayor Tim Walker said he thinks the 65 mph speed limit from the Sardis City limits through Mountainboro to the south end of Boaz city limits is too fast. He would like the limit reduced to 55, citing safety concerns. Mountainboro annexed into Boaz on Aug. 14.

Walker also said he would like the council to appoint a recycling committee at the next meeting Sept. 14. The mayor said he knows three citizens interested in serving on the five-member committee and hopes to have two more names by meeting time.

“We’ve got to get busy,” Walker said, adding the city needs to establish drop-off points and a plan for curbside pickup. “I appreciate the folks in Albertville, We have sent folks to help on Fridays and Saturdays (at the recycling center), but they have really shown great leadership. Neither one of us could’ve done a program without their diligent efforts to get us a recycling center because we wouldn’t have anywhere to take it.”

The recycling center in Albertville is a joint venture between the two cities. However, each city is responsible for setting up its own drop-off points or coordinating any future curbside pickup services.

In other business:

• The council annexed property owned by Randy Milam on Willow Road into the city limits.

• The council hired Sammy Scott as a paid on-call firefighter; Chad Moore as a jailer/dispatcher; Jacob Dodd as a jailer/dispatcher; and Jennifer Jacobs as a dispatcher.

• Councilman Billy Faucett, who chairs the police department committee, asked the council to support his recommendations for hires, saying he and Chief Terry Davis had spent 3 1/2 hours in interviews the past two Fridays in an effort to select the right personnel. He and the chief are working hard to improve morale in the police department, Faucett said.

The council unanimously hired his three recommendations Monday. Faucett said nothing sparked his comments. He simply wanted to voice his thoughts on the matter and welcomed other council members to participate in the interview process.

• Councilman Tim McRae, who chairs the parks and recreation committee, said Paradise Park hosted Independent Softball Association and National Softball Association state tournaments on Aug. 15 and Saturday. A total of 20 teams participated.

McRae also said basketball registration was held Aug. 15 and Saturday for ages 6-and-younger and 7-8-year-old girls. Enough registered to have six or seven teams, he said.

• Councilman David Dyar asked parks and recreation director E.R. Brown why people are charged $2 admission to attend youth basketball games but nothing for youth baseball. Brown explained the $2 is to cover the cost of officials.

Baseball is the department’s largest program and concession sales help cover the cost of officials, Brown said Tuesday. Baseball concession sales may be $800 to $1,500 in one day, he said, compared to basketball, which may be $20 to $30.

Brown researched a sampling of figures Tuesday, which showed the basketball program paid significantly more to officials than what concession sales generated.

• Walker updated the council about purchasing a new digital sound system to eliminate recording lapses during meetings. He said five new mics would cost about $90 each. The council is using a cassette recording system now.

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Serving Albertville and the Sand Mountain region

Publisher: Ben Shurett

1603 Progress Drive
Albertville, Alabama 35950

Tel: 256-840-3000 | Email

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