Firefighters honored

Three officers with the Demopolis Fire Department received a rare honor at the City Council meeting Thursday when they were recognized for saving the life of Harris Hurst.

Capt. Alex Morris and officers Leslie Sewell and Jaylon Ruffin were awarded the Life Saving Award by Fire Chief Keith Murray for their rapid and successful efforts. Hurst, a member of the Demopolis City Schools Board, gave an emotional thanks to the firefighters and to the Council for supporting the training that saved his life.

Capt. Morris also was recognized for his 10 years of service with the DFD.

The Council accepted a bid from Trustmark Bank for a $1 million loan to benefit Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital. The bank will charge 2.8 percent on the loan, the lowest of the three bids received from local banks.

Reluctantly the Council approved a resolution submitted by building inspector Julius Rembert to demolish a house at 506 S. Commissioner. The home, which burned some three years ago, has not been repaired or torn down by the owner, and Rembert said the owner appears not to be able to take care of it. Residents of the area have complained about the nuisance property.

“It’s a tough decision,” he said, but added, “I feel like we owe the community.”

In other action:

• The Council approved the recommendation of Police Chief Rex Flowers to set a $12-per-year fee for registering golf carts that will travel on city streets.
• Parks and Recreation director Walker Reynolds received the okay to lease a John Deere 7-foot-wide reel mower for $955 per month. The lease will overlap that of the 5-foot mower now being used, but both will be available during the Babe Ruth World Series in August.
• The lease on the DFD rescue vehicle was continued, as was the replacement of four vehicles for the DPD, already in the budget.
• The Council voted to allow an entertainment district in the cordoned area of the boat races June 8-9 to allow coolers and alcoholic beverages.

Chief Murray told the Council that plans are underway to offer firemanship courses at Demopolis High School for juniors and seniors interested in the field. The DFD would be the host agency, and students would interact with firefighters on a weekly basis.

Once they complete the courses, students would be eligible to test for Firefighters I, receive college credit and be eligible for employment in the field of public safety or in industrial health and safety.

Recruitment for the firemanship curriculum will begin in the fall, with expectations the classes will begin in January 2020, said Murray.

Even though the Alabama legislature has ended its session, Demopolis will continue to pursue annexing the Airport Industrial Park, excluding the intermodal complex, to be in a position for future industry to pay taxes to the city.

City attorney Hunter Compton said the work has to be done in advance of the next legislative session to be ready to take advantage of the law allowing areas not adjacent to the city limits to be annexed as soon as it is passed.

Discussion continued on several issues, including the proposal to tear down the old water tower and estimates on upgrading the city’s weather sirens.

Councilman Bill Meador said the Public Safety Committee will have the first of a series of meetings on Tuesday, June 11, at 1 p.m. to begin planning for any emergency the city might face.

The Council meeting originally set for July 4 will be Monday, July 8, at 5:15 p.m., with a work session beginning an hour earlier.