by Justin Rudolph

Mayor Eugene Shannon called the February meeting to order at 6:30 Monday night in the conference room at town hall. He opened with a word of prayer, followed by roll call.

Present at the meeting were Councilmen Ricky Mitchell, Mary Hobbs, Melody Duffey, and Billy Shannon, as well as Town Clerk Darla Daly, Police Chief Doc Oliver, and Street Superintendent Terry Barkley with distinguished guests and media.

With a unanimous approval of last month’s minutes, the mayor announced the needed approval of the 05-06 Audit Report. Councilman Mitchell made a motion to approve the report and Councilwoman Hobbs seconded the motion that passed 4/0.

The council then discussed joining the Alabama Retirement System, which would hold the taxpayers of the city liable to pay, or buy back for the city employees, their 10 or more years invested in the city. This would entitle a plan to pay just under $700,000 over 10 years into the retirement funds of 12 city employees who would also have to pay 5% of their own income into the system. If the city joins the retirement plan, any employee that has 10 years vested with the city is eligible to draw retirement as soon as the plan is accepted. Councilwoman Hobbs said she could not vote for this plan, and Councilman Shannon said, “I’d hate to meet that citizen on the road that knew what I’d done.”

After much discussion, Councilwoman Hobbs made a motion to table the Alabama retirement plan and get the figures for the Tennessee retirement system and consider pursuing it. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Duffey and passed 4/0.

The council took a short recess before the commencement of the Joint Council Meeting.

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