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The Atmore City Council presented longtime employee Samantha Bennett a retirement plaque, thanking her for her many years of service.

Bennett, who recently retired, served 26 years, not only to the citizens of Atmore, but also to the entire county, Police Chief Chuck Brooks said.

“When I took over as chief in 2015, she was very instrumental in helping me transitioning from the previous chief,” Brooks said. “She taught me a lot about how the department operated.”

Brooks said Bennett wore several hats during her time with the department.

“She’s one of the best dispatchers you’ll ever have,” he said. “She was also instrumental in writing grants for the department. I guesstimated about $10 million was secured for the city. It helped a lot in getting equipment for officers and their radios. It’s a sad day for me, but I’m glad to see her move on and enjoy her retirement.

“From the bottom of my heart, hope you have the best retirement ever,” he said.

When asked what she plans on doing during her retirement, Bennett said just to enjoy her retirement.

In other business, the city:

• approved cost reports associated with the abatement of grass and weed nuisances. City Code Enforcement Officer Greg Vaughn said the council adopted two resolutions regarding the grass and weed nuisances. The first one addresses the problem, and puts notices in the newspapers, putting signs in the affected yards and sending formal letters, he said. Vaughn said the second resolution adopted on Oct. 15 gave the city the authority to abate the properties, adding that 10 properties were abated, or the yards were mowed. Vaughn said the cost to the property owners was around $500 per property. He said prior to the cost report approval, the city posted the properties the cost for each last Wednesday;
• approved a retail table wine license for off premises only at Diamond 24;
• approved a government deals auction for two obsolete garbage trucks;
• approved the closing of the intersection of Trammell and Ridgeley Streets on Dec. 7 from 4 p.m. until the concert concludes. This item was added to the agenda during the meeting;
• proclaimed National Care at Home Month; and,
• heard a presentation from representatives from DragonFly Internet, a new Internet service in Atmore. Chief Operating Officer Butch Brock said the company is excited to come to Atmore.

“We’re coming to Atmore with some fixed wireless Internet, and we’re going to cover the town and do a good job,” Brock said.

CEO David Hartin said the goal is to do two things with Internet in Atmore.

“In the short term, we’ve reached a deal with Point Broadband to take over their customers,” Hartin said. “We’re updating the technology that’ll offer 10 times faster speeds than Point offers. Our long term plan is to build fiber to the home.

“We have a strategic partnership with Alabama Power Co.,” he said. “They’re building fiber to connect their substations, and we’re asking them to build more to offer to citizens.”