THURSDAY
THE
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Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
April 18, 2019 Vol. 127, No. 76 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Radney says annexation no issue By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Alexander City municipal attorney Larkin Radney said he sees no issue with the city annexing lakefront property between Sturdivant Road and the Central of Georgia Railroad despite past Alabama Supreme Court rulings that cast doubt on the procedure.
The map city officials prepared for the Tallapoosa County Probate Judge’s Office to set up fee and tax collections, if the annexation request is approved by the Alabama Legislature, shows the proposed area unconnected to any property already annexed into Alexander City. In the 2012-13 term, the Supreme Court ruled Irondale could not annex property across the Cahaba River because
the only way for residents to get to the property was by traveling through Leeds. The City of Leeds filed suit saying it was improper to annex across a body of water because it would suffer harmful consequences. “I did some really in-depth research several months ago into the issue but not for this annexation,” Radney said. “The legislature can annex by constitutional
authority.” Radney said there is a difference in the Leeds case and Alexander City’s situation. “In that (Leeds) case, they would have to travel through another municipality to get there,” Radney said. “Here, no one would have to travel through another municipality to get there.” See ANNEXATION • Page 3
Municipal site ‘a jungle’
City BOE hears from children, backpack program
Crews begin cleaning property at complex
By GABRIELLE JANSEN Staff Writer
By JIMMY WIGFIELD Managing Editor
Workers pounced on Alexander City’s new municipal complex with chainsaws, backhoes and bulldozers Wednesday to begin the task of eradicating a forest of trees and overgrowth before renovations to the building start in August. “It’s a jungle,” public works director Gerard Brewer said. “We’ve taken probably 10 to 15 truckloads out of here already.” The city bought the former Russell Sales Office, Russell Guest House and 56 acres of property for $9.11 million and the loan is scheduled to close April 22, according to Alexander City Mayor Jim Nabors. Workers weren’t thinking about the mathematics of the financing Wednesday as they swarmed over the property and began clearing away years of unsightly growth encroaching on the building and the grounds. “Everybody’s been chomping at the bit to get in here and now that we own it everybody’s ready to go,” Brewer said. “They even put me on a mower today thinking I would wreck. I enjoyed it.” The crews will clean up the property each Wednesday until the work is done. “Every Wednesday it’ll be ‘Workday Wednesday,’” Brewer said. “We are See CLEANING • Page 12
Jimmy Wigfield / The Outlook
Small trees lie on the ground in front of the new Alexander City municipal complex Wednesday as work began in earnest to beautify the property. Landscaping work will continue at the site each Wednesday until it is completely cleaned, public works director Gerard Brewer said.
Tuesday’s Alexander City Board of Education meeting was all about the students with showcases from multiple Stephens Elementary groups and a presentation on the local Backpack Buddies program. The school board meeting was held at Stephens Elementary, and students said the opening prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. The show choir performed “Hallelujah” and “Set it Free” from the movie “Sing.” Media class students Molly Moncrief and Tariq Carter gave a presentation on wildfires. Science students told the audience about bacteria in the school and After the Bell art students gave their pieces to members of the school board. Students from the Beta class and the Peer Helpers Group also presented. After all presentations, Jamie Dark, who runs the Backpack Buddies program at Alexander City Schools, talked to the audience about the group’s work. Dark said the group started six years ago and now feeds 104 children. Dark said the program See BOE • Page 5
Construction begins on Daviston storm shelter
Today’s
Weather
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Theron Livingston and R.D. Pointer with Safe-T-Shelter of Hartselle install electrical conduit before pouring a slab at the Daviston storm shelter Wednesday.
Contractors are at work installing a community storm shelter in Daviston. Tallapoosa County EMA director Jason Moran said the shelter will have a capacity of 89 to service those in the Daviston community and most of the funding comes from a federal grant. “The total cost of the project is $108,352,” Moran said. “Seventy-five percent of the funding is federal and 25 percent is local funds.” A large concrete slab was being prepared Wednesday to accommodate the shelter to be installed later. The slab will be 12 inches thick and the footing is 24 to 26 inches and will be a monolithic pour. The shelter includes a generator and chemical toilets. Contractors with Safe-T-Shelter of Hartselle installed reinforcements Wednesday morning for the concrete to come later in the day and also installed wire to ground the benches and shelter. “It will take between 38 and 40 yards of concrete,” Moran said. “It will then have to cure See SHELTER • Page 9
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