Kellyton hears presentation about SBA disaster loans
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By Christa Jennings
Senior staff writer
During its meeting Tuesday evening, the Kellyton Town Council heard a presentation regarding personal and business loans to assist those recovering from storm and tornado damage.
With Mayor Johnny Sharpe unable to attend because of illness, Mayor Pro Tem George Camp oversaw the meeting. He welcomed Ruben Morales, a public affairs specialist with the Small Business administration, to the meeting and turned the floor over to him.
Morales thanked the council for allowing him to come and present information to the council. He explained that he has been in the area assisting with the tornado disaster and recovery efforts from the January 12 tornadoes.
Morales said that he has been trying to get information and knowledge out to area citizens regarding what the Small Business Administration, or SBA, has to offer concerning both personal and business loans.
He further explained that they offer decreased interest rates on loans approved by them to help people be able to recover from these natural disasters. He added that they are currently working alongside FEMA to assist the survivors in the impacted areas.
Morales stated that in times of disaster SBA provides assistance in the form of low-interest and long-term disaster loans to homeowners, renters, business owners, and non-profit organizations. The typoes of disaster loans available include business physical disaster loans, economic injury disaster loans and home disaster loans.
The application filing deadline for physical damage loans is March 16, and the application filing deadline for economic injury loans is October 16.
Additionally, SBA disaster loans can be used to relocate, whether the relocation is voluntary or involuntary.
Morales provided Town Clerk Karen Keel with some informational sheets that can be given out to individuals to help make them aware of the options SBA offers to help in this time of need.
For more information on SBA’s disaster assistance loans, visit www.sba.gov/disaster. To apply for a loan through the SBA, apply online at www.DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov or call 800-659-2955 to request a paper application to complete and mail.
Following Morales’ presentation, the meeting continued as usual. The council unanimously approved the minutes from its November 1 meeting as written.
The council had been unable to meet in December and January for various reasons, including last month’s meeting being canceled because of the threat of severe weather. As such, the council unanimously approved recording those two missed meetings in the town’s records.
In other business, Mayor Pro Tem Camp stated that the renovation project has been completed for the town clerk’s office, filing room, mayor’s office, and conference room being utilized in the old school facility, now the Kellyton Civic Complex. He said that everything “looks really good” now that the work has been completed.
In related business, Camp had Town Clerk Keel share information pertaining to the Alabama Surplus Property in Montgomery. Keel said that Mayor Sharpe had met with another local mayor regarding how they had furnished their clerk’s office and town hall and that he was advised they had completed an application to the government surplus program.
That information was forwarded to Kellyton, and Keel proceeded to receive an application for the town to complete so that Kellyton can participate. She added that she will get the application completed with all the necessary paperwork to submit it.
Once the town’s application is approved then representatives for Kellyton will be able to go to Alabama Surplus Property in Montgomery to pick out what they need and may be able to furnish the entire office space at a discounted price.
In other business, Keel stated that she has tried numerous times to secure a CPA to perform the town’s Annual Review Report for the period of October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022. However, as of the meeting date she has been unsuccessful in finding an accountant who is willing to perform that task for the town.
Keel explained that she has kept a log with the dates and individuals she has contacted about performing this task. She also called the Public Examiners Office to make them aware of the problem she was having and said she was advised that they would check into it and let her know something.
In the meantime, she has continued seeking for someone to complete the report as needed for the town.
Town attorney Lydia Waters notified Keel that she had found a CPA office in Montgomery that could conduct the report, but that it would be in the summer before they could perform the task.
As of Tuesday’s meeting, the council said it would make plans to move forward with getting the report completed as soon as the CPA office in Montgomery can get to it.
In other business, it was mentioned that the council is still looking into a noise ordinance. During brief discussion it was stated that many individuals are complaining about loud vehicles all hours of the night, as well as speeding on County Road 50 and Church Street.
The council will be looking into drafting a noise ordinance for review and consideration, as well as checking into trash pickup within the town limits.
During the meeting, Keel also provided a report from the animal shelter, stating that she and Council members Gwen Rich and Missy Kohls had attended the Coosa County Animal Shelter’s open house.
Keel stated that Dennis Hill gave Kellyton recognition for being the first to step up and contribute to the shelter by making a $5,000 donation. She further stated that the shelter is “very nice” and that “a lot of hard work” has gone into the shelter.
She encouraged each of the council members to go over and look at what has been accomplished there. Additionally, Keel encouraged the council to perhaps consider making donations periodically to the shelter to help with any needs they might have.
The next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Kellyton Town Council will be held at 6 p.m. March 7.