Rockford adopts ordinances for municipal election
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
During its February meeting the Rockford Town Council approved and adopted one amended ordinance and two new ordinances relating to the upcoming municipal election.
With all members present, the Council reviewed ordinances to be adopted in order to meet the state deadlines for the municipal election. As with the majority of the state, Coosa County’s municipal elections will be held August 26.
While candidates may not begin qualifying until June 10, there are other business items the Council must decide on ahead of the election to meet the state’s deadlines.
February 26 was the last day for a council to change the salaries for officials who will be elected in August, the last day for a council to decide whether to elect council members at large or from districts and the last day when, in municipalities with a population of less than 10,000, a council may provide for a procedure for the appointment of additional election officials to receive, count and return absentee ballots cast at the election.
Ordinances adopted at the February 18 Council meeting related to the pay increase for the mayor and Council positions, the use of voting machines and establishing the qualification fee, changing the voting location and more.
The amended ordinance, ADM 2023-04-01, reflects action taken at the December 17 Council meeting to raise the pay for Rockford’s mayor and Council positions. The amended ordinance reflects that the mayor’s salary shall be fixed at $1,000 per month and that each Council member will be compensated $150 per month.
Ordinance ELE 2025-02-01 establishes that the Council positions are at large rather than in districts, with the “places” on the Council being numbered Place Number 1-5. Each candidate running for Council will need to designate their Place Number when announcing their candidacy.
The ordinance further changes the town’s voting location from the fire station to the Rockford Event Center, where county elections are also held.
Additionally, the ordinance increases the town’s qualification fee from $25 to $50, which applies to mayoral and Council member candidates alike.
In accordance with state law, the ordinance also states that the election will be held the fourth Tuesday in August and that municipal officials elected will assume the duties of their respective offices on the first Monday in November.
Ordinance ELE 2025-02-02 establishes that the town will use DS200 Poll Place Scanner and Tabulator, a system that complies with Section 17-7-21 of the Code of Alabama, for its municipal elections. Additionally, the ordinance states that the town will use The Express Vote Universal Voting System to assist disabled voters.
With a roll call vote, the Council unanimously approved and adopted all three ordinances after having unanimously approved introducing each of them.
In other business, the Council revisited a previously tabled item relating to giving a property owner a key to the entrance of Magnolia Trail.
It was stated that access has not been given, meaning no key given to a property owner with adjoining property, in about 30 years. Mayor Scott White said that there were concerns with liability issues and the safety of the town, stating that the Council is “here to take care of the town.”
Town attorney Tom Young spoke up advising the council against granting the key, stating that he thought it would be unwise and dangerous to do. White said that he would talk to the property owner about it.
Councilmember Lynn Anne Castleberry made a motion to “not allow any public entity or public person access to the key to the property,” and the motion was unanimously approved.
In other action items, the Council reviewed its contract with Avenu, which helps handle the town’s business licenses. The contract is reviewed annually, and the Council unanimously approved renewing its contract with Avenu for another year.
Also during the meeting, the Council heard from Dr. Shannon Davis, Coosa County Extension coordinator, with a detailed presentation relating to a proposed park expansion project and proposing the Coosa County Extension, Chamber of Commerce and Town of Rockford possibly working together to submit for a grant for the project.
Specifically, she said they would be applying for a Hyundai Giving Grant, which is done monthly, with applications being submitted on the first of each month. Applicants are notified by the end of the month whether they will be awarded the grant.
Davis reviewed a packet of documents that provided a detailed overview of the potential project with the Council, stating that it would be a park expansion and looking at having it include a 9-hole golf course, a parks shop and future gaming center with interactive gaming arcade stations, a park deli and eatery to be a pilot store in the proposed Coosa Food Network, all of which are various options that could be considered.
Davis also provided an overview and cost estimates for each option and said that she prefers and would suggest the option that would include the golf park with the shop and local town eatery.
That option has an estimated project total of $458,500, which the grant application would be for if the town and other involved entities choose to move forward. Davis said there is no match for the grant, and it is open ended.
In reviewing information, Davis said that the project could start with the grocery store and deli then go from there. She said that they would want to have the deli early on in the project because it would generate revenue back into the town.
In ongoing discussion, Davis said that the park deli would be a pilot store and then hopefully expand to a local chain with the Coosa Food Network. She stated that the food network would have to start somewhere, adding that Rockford is central to the county and has through traffic so she thought it would be a good pilot location.
The deli shop and Coosa Food Network would ideally allow locals such as farmers, the Extension, school, and residents to contribute meats, produce, sundries, canned goods, and more to the local grocery store, allowing Coosa residents to have local access to healthier food options.
In reviewing information relating to the grant and the proposed project, Davis said if the timing is not right for having the county and communities support it, then they do not have to go to the next step. She said the town could just have a “really nice park and golf course” and that other things can be done and incorporated.
While the grant is available to apply for monthly, Davis said each entity can only apply once per year.
Following her presentation, White said that it was a great deal of information to take in and would take time to review everything. He said the town could apply in April after its next meeting to give the Council time to review the packet of information.
Following discussion, the Council approved tabling the matter until its next meeting, with Councilmember Nieshia Whetstone, who is a member of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, abstaining from voting.
In other business, the Council dismissed into executive session for six minutes to discuss the good name and character of an employee. Upon returning to open session, no action was taken on the matter.
Audio of the February meeting of the Rockford Town Council is available here.
The next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Rockford Town Council will be held at 6 p.m. March 18.
