Local News
Colony hires clerk
By Tiffany GreenCOLONY — The Colony town council has hired Karen McCombs as the new town clerk.
The Hayden native and will be working part-time in her first position as a town clerk. McCombs has 30 plus years of clerical experience.
Her pay will be $8 per hour. She also works for the Hayden Headstart.
The town also brought attorney Lucien Blankenship from Birmingham to meet with the council.
Currently the town has no attorney, but hopes to find one soon.
“One of the main roles (as a town attorney) is to make sure everything is done in the correct form,” he said. “I will help to make sure whatever steps you take, they will be accurate.”
Blankenship has been practicing law for 15 years and works for Blankenship and Associates. He has worked with many smaller municipalities, in particular the town of Brighton.
Mayor Morris Fitts was impressed with the work Blankenship has done in Brighton and hoped he could help the town of Colony.
“Just because you are a small town doesn’t mean you don’t have opportunities,” Blankenship said. “There are opportunities out there, but it’s not going to happen over night.”
Fitts said he wanted to find someone that will be able to work together with the town and sees that in Blankenship.
Blankenship said as he drove into the town, he envisioned the opportunities of the town by seeing all the land near Interstate 65.
“The only way you will improve the quality of life for citizens is to build and expand the town,” he said. “I saw all that land and just imagined what could happen with this town.”
Blankenship said if the council decides to hire him, his first step is to do an evaluation of the town.
“I would want to evaluate and put a plan together,” he said. “You have to be realistic as to what you can and can’t do.”
Council members shared their concerns for the town and what issues they would like Blankenship’s assistance with.
Council member Edward Webb voiced his concerns of the roads and hopes if Blankenship is hired, he would point the council in the right direction in maintaining and improving the roads.
Another concern is tax revenue and what the town currently received from the Shell gas station. Some members of the council believe the town should be getting more tax revenue from the station. Blankenship said that is something that needs to be looked into soon.
In addition to practicing law, Blankenship also owns a sports management business.
In other business:
‰ Council member Patrick Ward told the council he wanted to look into getting a fire hydrant at the volunteer fire department.
‰ Fitts announced the Cullman County Sheriffs Deputy who patrols the area will begin attending the meetings.
‰ Fitts said the auditor will give the audit report on May 1.
‰ The town is currently looking to hire a maintenance person for the town on an as needed basis. Applications will be accepted and the dates for the application will be posted on the town hall door.
‰ The council announced a community Fun Fest will be held on July 4. More details about the event will be discussed further at future meetings.
‰ Tiffany Green can be reached by e-mail at tgreen@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 221.
- Local News
-
-
Baileyton receives grant for electrical problems at park
The town of Baileyton has received the Land and Water Conservation Grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA).
-
Smith Lake residents split on water plans
Residents on Smith Lake seem to be spilt which secondary water source would be best for Cullman County.
-
Signing on
Four local water authority representatives signed contracts Tuesday to join with the city of Cullman’s Duck River dam reservoir project.
-
Couple arrested for chemical endangerment of children
Cullman County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two Berlin residents Saturday for allegedly keeping meth and syringes near two children.
-
Accreditation answer coming by early 2010
The Cullman County Board of Education took a step closer to district accreditation this week, though it will be next year until they know if their request is approved.
-
Robots fight to win
Holly Pond High School freshman Jordan Dover was excited when she had the opportunity to get involved with the Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology (BEST) robotics competition.
-
ServSafe Program becomes mandatory Jan. 1, 2010
The Cullman County Health Department is sponsoring a ServSafe food safety class Nov. 17-20 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Grumpy’s Pizza.
-
Holly Pond trying to save students from addiction
If Karen Rowell can reach just one student, she will be satisfied.
-
Water on the brain
The City of Cullman and the Cullman County Commission have their own proposals for a second water source for the area, and neither group has shown signs of relenting to the other’s plan.
But after Monday, that could change. -
City OKs junk rules
Cullman residents with very high grass and “junked up” property could soon be fined, as the city council has now adopted a revamped nuisance ordinance.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Baileyton receives grant for electrical problems at park
