BY DALE BARNETT
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS STAFF WRITER
The Wetumpka City held their second monthly meeting on March 21, 2022 at 6 p.m. City Council meetings are held on the first and third Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
Mayor Jerry Willis, City Council members Kevin Robbins (District 1), Cheryl Tucker (District 2), Lynnes S. Justiss (District 3), and Joe Brown (District 5) were all in attendance. Council member Steve Gantt (District 4) was not present. There was a sparse crowd in attendance, but the City has a web broadcast of the meetings that can be accessed through their www.Wetumpkaal.gov website. All Department heads were also present.
After a prayer and a review of items on the agenda for the public hearing and testimony from supporters of the items, the City Council voted unanimously to allow both motions. One item was to allow the City to vacate a 15-foot City easement between two properties owned by the same citizen to allow improvements. A special event license was approved for Ingram State Technical College Foundation to host an event on April 7, 2022 in Wetumpka to raise funds for buying tool sets for those students that graduate.
The Council also discussed the issue of $1.9 Million in federal funds allocated to Wetumpka through the America Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) passed by Congress in 2021. The City is required to submit a plan for use of the funds and had already been approved earlier this year for around $220,000 for raises to city employees.
The City Council heard from Development Services Director Justin Barrett, concerning a detailed report including written plan to submit for the allocation of around $1.7 Million of the remaining funds. The funds would be used towards city infrastructure improvements, paving city streets, repaying water works systems for work already done and to pay for future work, storm water system repairs, improving the water systems going to the ball parks, new trucks and equipment, new trailers for hauling equipment, new equipment for maintenance, and survey equipment improvements.
Mayor Willis commended Barrett for the detailed report that “gives the council a well laid out plan and guide for the City.”
Barrett reported that purchasing of equipment could be done immediately, and that other work could be started as soon as a schedule allows. He also said that some paving projects could begin as early as September in conjunction with some county paving projects.
Mayor Willis explained that since the amount to be considered for spending is above the allocated amount allowed for the council to approve when first presented, the matter will have to considered at the next council meeting in April.
The last item of the meeting concerned putting a new electrical power meter and power access at the Farmers Market for vendors to use. It was tabled until the next meeting for more discussion since there will be a reoccurring cost. The next meeting will be on April 4, 2022 and meetings are open to the public.
