Closing Date Announced for Sale of City Hall

By Sam Poe
Tuesday, October 7, 2014 | 12:10 AM
https://hbtv.us/news/?story_id=2330

The Haleyville City Council met for the regularly scheduled council meeting Monday evening at Haleyville City Hall. The following items were approved.

• Regular council minutes from 09-15/14
• One bid was opened and approved for the property in Forest Park Subdivision. The property is valued at $3,500, and the sole bid from Hugh Clayton Benefield was received in the amount of $4,101. The city had previously invested $4,670 in the assessments for methamphetamine, demolition of the previous residence, and back taxes owed on the property.
• Replacement of one culvert and repair of another at the intersection of 6^th Avenue and 5^th Street near the Marshall Durbin Feed Mill- The current state is a danger to the area, and the road is at risk of collapse due to the state of the culverts. The estimate on these repairs is $5,500.
• Full-time employee for the Haleyville Street and Sanitation Department- Christopher Bryan Yealock was hired as a regular, full-time employee.
• Full-time employee for the Haleyville Park and Recreation Department- Matt Kelly was moved from seasonal employee to regular, full-time.
• Appointment of James Caldwell for a 6 year term on the Water and Sewer Board (Drew Thrasher abstained from this vote.)
• The following appointments to the Airport Board: Heath Banks, Chester Barber, Russ Eason, Harold Bearden, Keith Hicks, and Dan Lakeman.

The council also hear from Mr. L.G. Sutherland who lives on Alabama Ave. Mr. Sutherland voiced concern about people walking along Alabama Avenue and the heavy flow of traffic in the area, especially 18 wheelers traveling to/from the Feed Mill. It has also become a more prominent problem since the closure of the railroad crossing in the area. Mr. Sutherland noted past accidents on the street including the death of one person who was struck by a passing car on the street. Mr. Sutherland stated he does not wish to close of the street to traffic but would like to see a sidewalk in the area for people to use safely. Haleyville Police Chief Kyle Reogas also noted Alabama Avenue is currently designated a truck route for the plants in the area, and it is illegal for wheelchairs to be used in the roadway. Mayor Sunseri stated he will have the city’s engineer to look into a possible solution and will report the findings in a future work session and/or council meeting.

The final highlight of the meeting was the announcement of a tentative closing date for the sale of Haleyville City Hall to CVS Pharmacy. Unless further complications arise with the contract, the closing is set for Friday, October 10, 2014.