By Staff
By: Brian Giles
Publisher
The Atmore City Council began its Monday evening meeting with a public hearing for a grant. Diane Burnett of the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission was on hand to explain how the grant would work. The grant is part of a community enhancement program thorough ADECA, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, and would be applicable to projects that address quality of life in Atmore. The city plans to use the grant to build a new senior citizens center on the vacant lot behind city hall. The current senior citizens center is located in the Atmore Armory. The grant the city has applied for is a $250,000 grant that would require the city to make a 10 percent match. The deadline for the grant is Sept. 1. Burnett asked that the city provide an estimate for the facility that it desires. East Brewton recently built a similar facility that cost in the neighborhood of $315,000.
In other business:
* The council read the Attorney General's opinion concerning the storm water drainage work to be done across the state line in Florida. The opinion relates to a grant that the city received to correct drainage problems in Atmore. The opinion states that monies can be spent on land across the state line in Florida as long as the work benefits the City of Atmore.
* CBC Crusade Ministry requested approval to hold a tent revival on Aug. 25-29 on Ashland Street. The council made a motion to carry over the request to the next council meeting in order to get more information about the revival.
* Wayne Grey of the Martin Luther King Little League requested that improvements be made at Houston Avery Park. Grey requested improvements are made to the baseball fields, which included putting sod on the infields and improving current lighting. Grey also requested that a new practice field be built. Council agreed to review Grey's requests.
* The People United Community Coalition requested use of Houston Avery Park on Aug. 9 at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a Back to School Bash. Motion was carried giving the coalition permission to use the park.
In other grant developments, late last week, County Commissioner Wiley Tait announced that the second phase of a block grant that will connect 65 homes along Martin Luther King Drive to the city sewer system.