City Council honors Kaitlyn Sweat as Crimestoppers’ Officer of the Year

Malia Riggs

Elmore Autauga News

Photos by City of Prattville

The Prattville City Council met Tuesday evening and honored the accomplishments of two officers within the Prattville Police Department that serve the community diligently.

Mayor Bill Gillespie recognized Central Alabama Crimestoppers during his mayoral report. Crimestoppers honored Prattville Police Investigator Kaitlyn Sweat who is currently assigned to the Criminal Investigative Division (CID).

Sweat was awarded the 2023 Central Alabama Crimestoppers Officer of the Year for her investigative work involving multiple cases related to theft from the Alabama Power sites last year. Sweat followed multiple leads for months, conducted hours of research and surveillance as well as interviewing witnesses, which ended in multiple search warrants.

Sweat’s hard work and dedication resulted in locating the stolen property from Alabama Power, but also recovered over 30 firearms. A total of 24 arrest warrants were obtained involving six suspects involved in this case. Crimestoppers stated that Sweat’s dedication to the victims in these cases embody the service and promise of law enforcement to the Prattville Community.

Also, during the mayoral report, the Prattville Police Department honored officer Brandon Potter who was promoted to Sergeant. Potter is currently assigned to the Traffic/Accident and Homicide Investigations office and will continue to serve in the same office as a supervisor.

“This is always a good way to start off a mayor’s report. I’ve seen them both move up the ranks. Thank you for an excellent job,” Gillespie said.

The Council passed several rezoning ordinances for requests that were approved at April’s Planning Commission meeting, all from the same petitioner Goodwyn Mills Cawood. The properties to be rezoned will have a public hearing held June 4th at 6 p.m. in the Council chambers.

The two properties off McQueen Smith Road and Jay Street are looking to be rezoned from R-3, using family residential to INST, institutional. The third property on South Memorial Drive is looking to be rezoned from FAR, forest, agriculture and recreation to B-2, general business. The owner of these three respective properties is HD&D Land Company.

The long agenda Tuesday evening had 16 resolutions passed in regard to improvements around the city, necessary purchases for the Public Works Department for the City of Prattville and many project bids were awarded for exciting projects around the city.

Many improvement projects will be coming to Prattville, such as Hilltop Sewer Improvements for the Wastewater Division of the Public Works Department, at a cost of around $860,460.00. The Creekwalk Sewer Improvements Project for the Wastewater Division of the Public Works Department, will be a cost of around $786,715.00.

Modifications and architectural engineering improvements will be coming to the City Council Chambers with a cost of around $42,000.00. The Council approved survey services for the Fay Branch Sanitary Sewer Project for the  Wastewater Division of the Public Works Department, at a cost of around $101,700.00.

The council also approved the purchase of a used Peterbilt 337 truck for the Sanitation Department at a cost of $137,457.00, and a Ford F-250 Truck for the Urban Management of the Public Works Department at a cost of around $48,778.00. Lastly the Council approved the purchase of a Ford truck for the Urban Management of the Public Works Department at a cost of around $29,409.00.

The city has many park projects in progress throughout Prattville. The Council approved Chambliss King, LLC for design services for the Spillway Park Project under the Parks and Recreation Department at a cost of $186.975.00. Along with Chambliss King, the Council approved Civil Southeast, LLC for engineering design services for the Spillway Park Project at a cost of around $116,300.00.

In regard to Newton Park, the Council approved the purchase of new playground equipment from GameTime Inc. at a cost of around $33,303.66. The Council also approved engineering design services from Larry E. Speaks and Associates Inc for services to the Vista Pointe Park Project at a cost of around $106,600.00.

In closing comments, all council members wished Gillespie a happy birthday, thanked first responders, teachers and nurses for teacher and nurse appreciation week.