Randy Garrison

Hartselle Enquirer

During the Town of Falkville Council meeting held on Tues., June 7, 2016, the council approved city attorney Larry Madison contacting the Corps of Engineers about flood risk management and flood plain management. Several residences in the town are located in the flood plain areas and have received damage from flooding in the past, particularly in the Robinson Creek flood plain.

This action was taken since the new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) updated flooding maps have been released. Most flood prone areas in the town have increased. The FEMA maps address 100-year flood issues. Those affected by the updated map will be contacted.

In other action, the council approved the reappointment of Mayor Bob Ramey to the Morgan County Economic Development Association (MCEDA). The mayor will remain in this position until a new mayor takes office.

The council approved paying Southern Arial $3,000 for professional services for the Town Branding Video.

For the upcoming 2016 municipal elections, the council approved contracting with Ed Sims for election counting machines, approved Town Clerk, Dawn Estes to serve as Election Manager and Absentee Election Manager.

The council also approved Councilman David Carroll to procure survey cards and postage up to the amount of $1,500 to send out to the citizens of Falkville. The survey will seek to procure the interest of having a grocery store in Falkville. This information will then be passed on to prospective grocery retailers.

During the reports from the mayor and council, Councilmen Alton Hill shared softball had finished for the year. The program had 100 kids involved in baseball and softball this year with 10 teams. The town had two county champions and r teams that played for championships.

Mayor Ramey shared with the council that the Culver Rd. project was well under deadline to be finished. He also mentioned forming a committee to work with NARCOG on downtown revitalization.

Ramey also shared that after meeting with John Cooper in the Huntsville office of Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) that more drawings will be needed for the Buster Rd. project. During an earlier work session, Ramey and Carroll shared that ALDOT did not think the traffic at Buster Rd. warranted the state paying for round abouts.  Cooper suggested realigning Buster Rd. and Douglas Rd. Also a four-way stop or traffic light was mentioned. Negotiations are under way for the right-of-way land in front of Loves.

Ramey also mentioned the water situation in Falkville was straightened out and calmed down. The town is no longer purchasing water from West Morgan East Lawrence, but instead all of the town’s water is coming from Hartselle Utilities.