Rockford Council considers rumble strips
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
In a relatively short meeting last Tuesday evening, lasting less than 30 minutes, the Rockford Town Council approved one item with all other agenda items being for discussion only or tabled to the next meeting.
With all members present, Mayor Scott White explained that he would like to add a second debit card for the town. He said this would enable Rockford Police Department to have its own debit card for fuel.
He added that having the extra card would also give the town a backup card to have access to if one of the cards is compromised.
After brief discussion, the council unanimously approved getting a second debit card on the town’s account.
Also during the meeting, White mentioned the 4-way stop in town at the intersection of U.S. Highway 231 and Alabama Highway 22 and the ongoing issues with people running the stop signs. He mentioned that there has been discussion about possibly replacing the current signs with 4-foot stop signs.
However, White also mentioned the possibility of utilizing rumble strips leading up to the intersection to help make drivers aware, noting that many drivers who have been pulled over said they did not know the stop sign was there.
During discussion regarding the matter, he said that the town would need to see if residents near the intersection would be impacted by noise from the rumble strips. He added that before making a decision they would need to make with those residents.
Police Chief Jamie Hammond mentioned that there had been three wrecks at the intersection recently. He added that the biggest problem seems to be drivers coming down the hill toward the 4-way stop, those traveling west on Highway 22.
After brief discussion, White suggested that the council table the matter and reach out to those the rumble strip noise might impact before taking action. The council unanimously approved tabling the matter until the next meeting.
In other business, the council heard from Robin Riggins, Olivia Nettles and Emily Mims with Accordia Health regarding updates and other information.
Nettles said that Accordia is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and stated that they want to help provide care to the town. Accordia is located in Rockford on U.S. Highway 231 at the corner of County Road 18, in the former Health Department building.
They mentioned that Accordia is offering free sports physicals through the month of July, which they have promoted through the month on social media and through other avenues.
They also noted that Accordia provides comprehensive medical care and offers services on a sliding-fee scale. Services offered include COVID-19 vaccinations, social services, sports physicals and sprains/strains, tobacco cessation, pediatric services, minor laceration repair, medical screenings and lab testing, primary care annual check-ups, wellness counseling, and women’s services.
Additional services include treatment for allergic reactions, flu, headaches, earaches, and sinus infections.
Accordia Health can also help with the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, obesity, and COPD.
Nettles mentioned that Accordia Health will be sharing space with the Alabama Department of Public Health once the Coosa County Health Department reopens in the near future.
Additionally, she said that they are willing to provide materials and talk to businesses, agencies, and others, asking the town or other agencies to contact them to coordinate that. Accordia Health can be reached at 256-377-8008.
Also during last week’s meeting, Rockford’s new attorney Tom Young was listed on the agenda and spoke briefly with the council and attendees. He stated that he is still reviewing the town’s information and ordinances, adding that it is a “government of law, not of men.”
He added that he is trying to find out more about the town and how money is handled. Councilmember Robert Smith said that the town clerk provides financial statements to the council for review and approval each month.
Smith added that the council also gets quarterly and yearly reports regarding financial accounts. He mentioned that anyone can ask for and get the town’s financial information at anytime, adding that the town “is not hiding anything.”
Young said that he is still looking into things and going through everything regarding the town after being approved as the new attorney at the June meeting.
Also during the meeting Chief Hammond provided an update to the council, stating that the radios the council had approved purchasing were on back order. He said the other approved equipment had been ordered and was already installed.
Hammond also mentioned that he had met with the insurance representative and reviewed the standard operating procedures. He said that everything Rockford Police Department has is now updated for 2022.
In other business during last week’s meeting, the council unanimously approved tabling the bid from Gary Ingram Grading and Paving for the paving project of County Road 18 until next month’s meeting.
The next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Rockford Town Council will be held at 6 p.m. August 16.