2 weeks Ago By Story by Donna Thornton [email protected]
The Fort Payne City Council approved an amendment to an ordinance for sanitation and roll-off collection rates. Council member Johnny Eberhart said the change will simplify issues with sanitation by requiring up-front payment for roll-off containers. “Any contractor or business that desires to rent a roll-off shall be required to hold a current business license with the City of Fort Payne and place a credit card on file at City Hall.
There shall be two (2) rental terms only; Seven (7) day and Twenty-One (21) day. Any additional empties also shall be pre-paid,” the ordinance now reads. There had been problems, city officials said, with contractors or others who rent the larger garbage containers leaving bills unpaid.
The rate for a 10-yard roll-off is $250 for seven days; $365 for 21 days, and additional empty containers are $115. The rate for a 20-yard roll-off is $350 for seven days; $500 for 21 days, and additional empty containers are $215. The rate for a 30-yard roll-off is $450 for seven days; $600 for 21 days, and additional empty containers are $315.
The rate for a 40-yard roll-off is $550 for seven days; $700 for 21 days, and additional empty containers are $415. Mayor Brian Baine told council members paving work should begin in June on Gault Avenue through downtown Fort Payne. The Alabama Department of Transportation will do the paving work, from the south Y to the north Y.
Baine said that he’s been told the work will be a night project – something that will likely make it less intrusive to the business flow during the day. Baine told council members asbestos removal will begin May 10 in the old Forest Avenue school building next to city hall, a necessary step before the city can look at eliminating the building, considered by insurers to be a great liability. Baine said the work should be done in 14 days.
Absentee ballots are available now at city hall for the May 6 special election in Fort Payne. The vote is whether to renew a 7.5 mill tax that funds Fort Payne City School, the mayor said.
The voters must decide whether to continue the tax that’s been in place for some 30 years; it will not result in any increase in taxes for residents. Absentee ballots are available 8 a.m.
-4 p.m., Monday-Friday, the mayor said.
Voters will have to provide valid ID, and the ballots must be returned by 12 p.m. May 6.
Fort Payne City Attorney Rocky Watson announced a clarification at Tuesday’s meeting. He said at the last regular council meeting, he’d said the city had sent a letter to notify a company about damages caused by one it’s trucks at the city airport and received no response. Watson said he’d learned that while the city sent the letter, and it was never returned to the city, the party never received the letter.
When the city received no response, legal action was taken. Watson wanted to clarify that party had not been notified, and to apologize for any problems it might have caused. Watson said he’d learned not to rely on the United States Postal Service for delivery.
In other action the council: Held a public hearing and received no comments on the rezoning of the Howard and Terri Babb property from C-1 Highway Business to R-1 Low Density Residential and approved the rezoning. Approved a bid for chemicals for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Approved Myrtle Jane’s/Tonya Johnson Vintage Market permit for use of the Rotary Pavilion Oct. 1-4 for a for-profit event.
Approved Stephanie Higdon’s permit request for the Run Domestic Violence Out of Town – second annual 5K run Oct. 25, from 7 a.m.
-1 p.m. Called for a work session at 12 p.
m. April 23.
