Council okays lighting measures

Lighting around the city in several forms held the attention of the Demopolis City Council at its meeting Thursday.

First, Council members passed a resolution giving Alabama Power the authority to consult with the Alabama Department of Transportation on three proposed projects along U.S. Hwy. 80: increasing the wattage of street lights to 400, extending street lights west to Maria Street and extending lights east to Springhill Road.

Then, Amy McGee with the Public Works Department got the go-ahead to purchase new lighted signs to be set up along U.S. Hwy. 80 welcoming visitors for Christmas on the River. The $5,000 approved by the Council will purchase eight signs displaying six different Christmas scenes.

The last lighting proposal came from projects director Mike Baker. He got the Council’s okay to spend $2,499 to install solar-powered push-button walkway lights for pedestrians crossing Walnut Street by Whitfield Regional Hospital.

“It’s imperative we do something to slow the traffic before something happens,” said Baker.

City Clerk Sam Gross presented the revised locations for city elections. She said letters will be sent to all registered voters telling them of the changes.

The voting sites are: District 1, Theo Ratliff Center; District 2, the old National Guard Armory on U.S. High 43; District 3, Church Aflame; District 4, Fire Station on U.S. Hwy. 80 West, and District 5, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

In other action, the Council:

• Reappointed Olen Kerby to a second term on the Demopolis City Schools Board of Education.
• Approved $330.30 in overtime for the Demopolis Police Department.
• Approved the VFW Buddy Poppy Drive May 23.
• Tabled the approval of the April financial statement.

Councilman Bill Meador said the Park and Recreation Department is organizing boat races June 13 and is working out how to do it safely in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor John Laney, acknowledging the action is a week late, read a proclamation setting May 10-16 as National Police Week.

He also urged Council members to “make sure that we are taking every opportunity” to encourage people to fill out their census forms. He said the city has had only a 44 percent response so far, and Marengo County lags at 29 percent.

Laney said anyone who needs help with the census may call City Hall for assistance.