A house fire at 4321 County Highway 48 in Marion County Tuesday at 4:40 a.m. took the life of Kevin Pickens, age 40. His wife Leigh and 9-year-old child managed to escape the early morning fire. Haleyville, Bear Creek, and the newly formed Craft Fire Departments responded and quickly extinguished the fire. Reportedly, the fire started in the kitchen area but the actual cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal. This was the first official call for the Craft Fire Department which will be responding along with Haleyville to all calls in the newly designated Craft fire area until December 31. On January 1, Craft will be primarily responsible for its designated area on Thorn Hill Road, Highway 129, and parts of County Highway 48 and Highway 241.

The Haleyville City Council met Monday, November 6, with Jonathan Bennett absent. The Council approved a contract for various paving projects awarded to Mallory Burkhalter Paving for $39,476.40. The low bid for $38,153.00 by Shoals Paving was rejected because Shoals Paving is presently not current in paying occupational taxes to the City of Haleyville. The resolution also authorized the purchase of asphalt from the Bunn Asphalt Plant in Guin through the Winston County Road Department totaling $39,900.00.

A change was made to the City’s retirement program.  Presently City retirees with over 25 years of service are covered for health care for 3 years or age 65, whichever is shorter. The change is anyone retiring with 25 years after June 30, 2018, will only be funded for 18 months or until age 65 when Medicare should begin to cover the individual.

Because of the lack of air conditioning, a request was made to change the polling place at the 21st gym to the Senior Citizen Center, located on the bottom floor of the of the old elementary school, now Head Start building on 13th Avenue.

Mayor Sunseri announced he had hired Megan Lovett as Assistant Accounts Payables Clerk. Starla Watts was recommended by City Judge Jonathan Lowe to be appointed by the Administrative Office of Courts as Court Clerk effective January 1.

Four members of the City Planning Commission were re-appointed. Beverly Donaldson, Tim Nolen, Kevin Thompson and Don Posey.

The next scheduled meeting of the Haleyville City Council will be Monday, November 20.