By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Four of five Atmore City Council members gave unanimous approval during the panel’s Monday (September 12) meeting to a pair of resolutions allowing the city to apply for airport improvement grants, as well as a resolution approving the purchase a new piece of equipment for the streets and sanitation department.
With District 4 rep and Mayor Pro Tem Shawn Lassiter absent due to a work conflict, the remaining members also approved a cancer awareness walk and the Escambia County High School homecoming parade, as well as the reappointment of two members of separate local boards.
Funds from the airport grants — one from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) Airport Improvement Program, the other from ALDOT’s Airport Infrastructure Program — will be used for unspecified improvements at the local airport during Fiscal Year 2023.
Mayor Jim Staff said the city would have to pay only 5 percent in matching funds for the grants, with the Federal Aviation Administration picking up 90 percent of the tab and the state picking up the remainder.
The council also gave the green light to the $71,000 purchase of a 2013 backhoe from ALDOT’s salvage yard, approved an October 22 breast cancer awareness walk that will be conducted by Women of Distinction. The walk and awareness program, set for 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., will begin at Atmore City Hall and continue to Houston Avery Park.
The ECHS parade, which is set to begin at 2 p.m. Friday (September 16), will begin at the former YMCA building on Pensacola Boulevard and continue along South Main Street to Lindbergh Avenue and to the school.
The council also accepted the reappointments of Vasaroy Johnson to the local housing board and Sydney McGhee to the library board. Staff said both women had agreed to serve.