By By SHERRY DIGMON
Advance Staff Writer
A high spot in Monday's Atmore City Council meeting was the presentation of the Chamber of Commerce Spotlight Award to city employee Mark Elkins.
In making the presentation, Chamber Executive Director Emilie Mims said that Elkins not only makes a significant contribution to Atmore, he also makes a daily contribution.
Mims and Spotlight Committee Chairman Carolyn Crane presented the award to Elkins.
Prior to the beginning of the meeting, a public hearing was held on property at 124 Martin Luther King Avenue, belonging to the Eddie Mae Sims estate, and property on Scott Street, belonging to the Estelle Bradley estate. The property falls under the city's weed abatement ordinance. Since no one was at the meeting on behalf of the owners, the public hearing was ended, and the council meeting was called to order.
Councilman John Watkins was absent due to illness.
The council adopted two resolutions that declared the property a public nuisance, giving the city the authority to have the property cleaned up and charge the owner with the expense.
In other business, the council
heard a presentation from Dr. Harry Moore on behalf of Cities of Character. Mayor Howard Shell is attending a conference for government officials in Flint, Mich., this weekend, at Dr. Moore's urging.
Cities of Character was developed for leaders and involves businesses, schools, civic organizations and governments.
noted the death of part-time city employee Roland Dailey, who died last week. Dailey was employed with the city for 23 years. He also drove a school bus and worked at Rachel Patterson Elementary School.
approved a request from Eagle Country Radio Manager Rocky Burch to hold an Easter egg hunt Saturday, April 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Tom Byrne Park.
Burch assured the council that he has already obtained liability insurance to cover the hunt.
He plans to have 4,000 to 5,000 eggs hidden. Prizes will be redeemable at the businesses which contributed them.
Shell asked Burch to coordinate traffic and crowd control with Atmore Police Chief Danny McKinley.
granted a request from the Atmore Fire Department to hold an Easter egg hunt Friday, April 13, 1 p.m., at city hall, for pre-schoolers (children up to age 6).
granted a request from Judy Pylate to hold the Relay for Life overnight event in Tom Byrne Park on June 8. Pylate is chairing Atmore's Relay which is a fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society.
awarded a bid for a new air conditioning and heating unit for city hall, replacing the current system that was installed in the 1960s.
Two bids were submitted. JLS International of Robertsdale was the apparent low bidder at $32,269. The other bid was submitted by Coley Air Conditioning of Atmore.
The bid was awarded to JLS, provided the bid meets engineering standards.
heard a report from Councilman Louie Turner on improvements at the fire stations.
heard a report from Councilman Webb Nall on the work in city parks.
heard a response from Shell to an inquiry from Councilman Garrard about the possibility of the Mediacom office leaving Atmore.
According to the previous lease, Mediacom could not move the Atmore office. However, the lease was redone about a year ago.
Shell said the company is no longer required to maintain an office here.