By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Reporter
Atmore officials formally bid a fond farewell to one of the city police department’s longest-serving employees during the Monday, November 25, meeting of the mayor and city council.
Samantha Bennett, known throughout city government as simply “Sam” during her 26-year APD career, was honored by Police Chief Chuck Brooks, Mayor Jim Staff and city council members with a plaque commemorating her retirement.
Bennett not only worked as an executive administrative assistant to Brooks, but she also managed local activity and kept records for the Region A Drug Task Force, which includes local officers and those from Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Mobile, Monroe and Washington counties.
Brooks said Bennett, who had already been with the city for more than seven years when he was named police chief, became his “right-hand man” as he learned the ropes of departmental administration.
“When I took over as chief in 2015, Sam was instrumental in helping me through the transition,” he said. “She has worn several hats. She is one of the best dispatchers we could ever have, and she wrote grants that I would guesstimate at about $10 million dollars for radios and other new equipment for the police department. “
Brooks, who presented Sam with a plaque commemorating her quarter-century-plus service, admitted that her retirement marks a “sad day for me.” But, he added, “I’m glad to see her move on and enjoy her retirement.”
When asked what her retirement plans were, Sam assured everyone that the chief hit the nail on the head.
“I’m going to enjoy my retirement, that’s what I plan to do,” she said with a wink as she, her daughter Briana and her husband, retired Alabama State Trooper Ed Bennett gathered a cake made specially for the occasion and left city hall.
In other business conducted during the meeting, council members:
*Approved cost reports submitted by Codes Enforcement Officer Greg Vaughn for the recent abatement of grass and weed nuisances on several properties within the city. The amounts listed, estimated at an average of $500, will be attached to the property owners’ county tax bill next year, since this year’s tax bills have already been issued.
*Approved issuance of a retail table wine (off-premises only) for the Diamond Store located just north of Interstate 65, on Alabama 21.
*Approved the listing on govdeals.com of two obsolete city garbage trucks.
*Welcomed DragonFly Internet’s Butch Brock and David Hartin, who reported the company will activate its high-speed internet service within the city next Monday, December 2. DragonFly purchased Point Broadband’s network, and the company reps said the network’s speed has been increased ten-fold since then.
*Approved a proclamation designating November as National Care at Home Month in the city. Staff did not read the proclamation but presented a copy to Karen Carmichael and Roneka Gamble of Atmore Community Home Care.