By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Atmore City Council members approved the purchase of a heating and cooling unit for the city’s anticipated new office space and promised to consider an upgrade to the community’s storm warning system during their January 10 meeting.
Prior to those actions, the council approved the appointments of West Escambia Utilities (WEU) Manager Kenny Smith to the Atmore Industrial Development Board and that of Shaquanda Kyles to the city’s Board of Zoning Adjustment, while also giving the go-ahead to a survey to improve drainage at Rivercane.
Mayor Jim Staff said the Rivercane survey, which is to determine whether or not “the water (at the municipal retail and industrial park) runs where it needs to go,” would be conducted by architectural firm Goodwyn, Mills, Cawood.
Staff also talked about the need for the new heating-cooling unit in the city hall annex building used by police and firefighters for training. The city plans to begin storing its records there, requiring maintenance of a constant temperature.
“We need to have the temperature steady,” the mayor said. “We need to put the records there because they’re overflowing where they are now. Also, this will allow us to put another office over there.”
City officials have been relocating various offices and expanding others since WEU moved to its new headquarters, across the street from the city government building.
The final business item was introduced by District 4 rep and Mayor Pro Tem Shawn Lassiter.
“I’ve had several people call me, and they’re concerned that our storm siren isn’t loud enough,” Lassiter said.
Staff reported that city officials have been checking into such an upgrade to the local warning system.
“FEMA recommends that we have a siren with 70-decibel capability, but a 60-decibel one would reach all the way to the airport,” he said. “We’re checking to see if it’s on the state bid list. If not, we’ll put it out for bids.”
After the business session was over, Coleman Wallace addressed the council and the handful of people who attended the meeting.
Wallace, who was recently elected president of the county school board, expressed his excitement over the plans newly hired Superintendent of Education Michele McClung has for local schools, as well as the plans she has already implemented (see BOE article, this edition).
“These are the beginnings of the McClung Administration,” he said. “I pray for your support and your input as she turns this school system around.”
The meeting was adjourned after Wallace’s comments.