By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Atmore City Council, sitting two members short, officially accepted a grant to help finance a rail spur and transload yard near the Coastal Growers peanut processing facility and agreed to issue bonds to pay off previous bonds and gain a more favorable interest rate.
The three-person panel (District 1’s Webb Nall and District 5’s Chris Harrison were not in attendance) first voted unanimously to appoint Tawana Parham to the city’s Historic Preservation Commission. The appointment was to fill a vacancy created when Carolyn White stepped down from the commission.
Next was the $300,000-plus grant awarded to the city recently by Delta Regional Authority to help finance the rail spur and transload yard, additions that are expected to draw other businesses that support or enhance operations of the peanut mill and other area businesses to Atmore or to draw customers that will use the rail facility.
Finally, the trio of council members approved the refunding of $1.65 million in general obligation warrants, which will retire the remaining balance on 2011 bonds and save the city money through lower interest.
Councilwoman Eunice Johnson and her brother, local businessman James McNeil, each gave brief updates on the local recognition of Black History Month, then the meeting was adjourned.