By By SHERRY DIGMON
Advance Staff Writer
Mayor Howard Shell expressed his disappointment in Atmore's 2000 census figures at Monday's City Council meeting.
Referring to a story in Sunday's Atmore Advance, Shell said he just couldn't believe that Atmore's population is only 7,676. Brewton's count was 5,498, and Flomaton's was 1,588.
Shell said he felt the census was more accurate when census takers went door-to-door.
He was particularly skeptical of the fact that the census shows that Atmore's current census, 7,676, is down from 1990's census of 8,046.
According to the census, Brewton and Flomaton also lost people, 387 and 233 respectively.
Judy Pylate, who was at the council meeting, worked with the census bureau in the Atmore area.
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Emilie Mims added that the chamber had sent out circulars to area businesses, explaining the importance of an accurate census count.
Councilman John Garrard also worked on the census. He said part of the problem may have been with the elderly who didn't understand the forms.
Shell said that some communities are protesting their figures, but there is no recourse that he knows of.