Haleyville Council approves bidding for paving projects

HALEYVILLE - With all council members present except for Blue Russell, and final preparations for the 9-1-1 Festival underway, the Haleyville City Council met Tuesday, May 29, in the courtroom of Haleyville City Hall.
The council agreed to approve to bid for more paving projects, without releasing the list of the projects being considered.  The list will be released once bids are received for the paving.  Mayor Ken Sunseri noted that city engineer Calvin Cassady had compiled the list of areas that were in greatest need, and the city has estimated that $358,564 will be needed to cover the projects being considered.  Sunseri noted that $150,000 is currently available through the city’s alcohol tax fund, with another $200,000 in the construction fund available.  This along with an expected $60,000 reimbursement in grant funding from the playground, so the projects will be covered financially.  
It was also noted that where aging sewer lines are creating issues within the city, the Haleyville Water and Sewer Department will be making repairs and paying for paving issues created by the problems in those areas.
Council members approved bidding for the paving projects.
“This will not hit all the areas that need paving, but it will hit the worst areas,”  Sunseri said.
The council also approved the purchase of a pressure washer and chemicals for the street department in the amount of $1,995 for the pressure washer and $325 for the chemicals.
The mayor reported that he has hired Karlie Carroll, Katherine Mitchell and Devin Stewart as lifeguards at a rate of $7.25 per hour and Devin Knight as a lifeguard at a rate of $8.50 per hour.  Knight’s rate is higher because he has worked as a lifeguard before.
Jesse West was hired as a part-time employee within the street department at a rate of $9.50 per hour.  Jon Tate Lollar was hired as a seasonal employee in the street department at a rate of $9.50 per hour.
Sunseri announced that the Alabama Bicentennial exhibit has opened in the old Dixie Flower & Gifts Building downtown.  The exhibit contains multiple kiosks presenting Alabama’s diverse history, from prehistoric times to the present.  A display regarding Winston County history is also included within the exhibit.  Sunseri encourages the public to stop by to see the exhibit while it is in Haleyville.  It will be here through Friday, June 8, and will be open each day from noon until 6 p.m.
“It’s very impressive,”  Sunseri said.
Sunseri told the council that a number of federal and state officials are expected to come to Haleyville for the portions of or the entirety of the 9-1-1 Festival Friday and Saturday.  The keynote speaker for the Town Hall Thursday will be FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel.  Other speakers will include Craig Floyd, president and CEO of the National Law Enforcement Museum; Admiral Dave Simpson with Motorola Solutions and RapidSOS and Leah Missildine with the Alabama 9-1-1 Board.  A private banquet and awards ceremony will take place Thursday evening at the Joint Readiness Center.
On Friday, June 1, at 2 p.m., the first 9-1-1 call will be recreated, with Alabama Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon in Sunseri’s office, and U.S. Congressman Robert Aderholt will be in the police chief’s office on the other end.  The mayor noted that Aderholt and State Senator Paul Bussman are expected to attend events Thursday-Saturday at the 9-1-1 Festival.
The next meeting of the Haleyville City Council will be Monday, June 4, at 5:30 p.m. in the courtroom of Haleyville City Hall.