Rockford approves ordinances, other matters
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
The Town of Rockford is continuing its efforts to clean up and update town ordinances, having recently considered and approved multiple ordinances.
During its March meeting, two ordinances were introduced for consideration only. Those were ordinances R-MISC-2025-04-01 and R-ELE-2025-04-01.
After being introduced at the March meeting, the Council unanimously approved and adopted both ordinances at its April meeting.
Ordinance R-MISC-2025-04-01 repeals 12 town ordinances that were determined to be null and void, and as such were deleted in their entirety. The ordinances dated from 1923 all the way to 2008 and pertained to such things as males under 45 working for the town, fixing the fees of the mayor and justice of the peace, a garbage service fee, use of the town garbage truck, and the mayor as utility superintendent.
Ordinance R-ELE-2025-04-01 simply states that Ordinance ELE-2025-02-01 repeals six ordinances and that Ordinance ELE-2025-02-02 repeals one ordinance. All seven ordinances referenced among the three new ordinances relate to town elections and date from 1964 to 2015.
Also during its April meeting, the Council unanimously approved a motion to consider two more ordinances that were introduced at that meeting. Those are ordinances R-PO-2025-05-Gen-01 and PO-2025-05-Of-01.
Police Chief George Fanning explained that one of the ordinances for consideration would allow the option in some instances to write a ticket, or non-traffic citation, rather than make an arrest, such as for second-degree marijuana possession or drug paraphernalia possession, with it being at the officer’s discretion.
Also during the April meeting, the Council reviewed a presentation that had been redone and condensed relating to the Hyundai community grant. The matter was tabled at the Council’s February and March meetings, and ultimately was tabled again at the April meeting.
In the April meeting Mayor Scott White also reported that work would start on the sidewalk in front of the County Courthouse soon.
White also stated that the town is getting two more grants, that the town would be getting the deed for the County Road 18 school, formerly the Rockford Council of Arts and Crafts building, and that a new business is coming to town.
During its March meeting the Council unanimously approved Melanie Glover as a Library Board member, to replace Charlene Debardelaben and complete her last year of her term.
The Council also unanimously approved renewing Lena Johnston and Shannon Atkins to the Library Board for terms from April 1 through March 31, 2029.
While no action was taken as it was for informational purposes only, the Council was also provided a list of place numbers for each council position in light of the upcoming municipal election in August.
Current members and their respective place numbers are Lynn Anne Castleberry, place 1; Robert Smith, place 2; Shirley Ogle, place 3; Nieshia Whetstone, place 4; and Cordarius Lee, place 5.
Also at the March meeting, the Council heard from Debbie Phillips, sponsor of Central Coosa’s Jobs for America’s Graduates, or JAG. Phillips and JAG students attended the meeting to ask the Town of Rockford to consider making a donation for five students to attend the National Career Development Conference and Competition in Indianapolis, Ind., which would be a six-day trip.
During discussion, town attorney Tom Young said that he would match whatever amount the town decided to donate, if it approved a donation.
After discussion, the Council unanimously approved making a $600 donation for the JAG field trip. With Young’s matched donation, that amounted to a total donation of $1,200 for the six-day trip to Indianapolis.
Also during the meeting the Council heard from Jodi McDade with information relating to Manna Ministries, an outreach ministry of Rockford Baptist Church.
She reviewed information about the group and what it does, including monthly community suppers on second Tuesdays, food drops on third Mondays each month, an emergency pantry, and disaster relief.
The free community suppers are held 4-7 p.m. every second Tuesday, with upcoming dates being May 13, June 10 and July 8 at Rockford Baptist Church’s fellowship hall.
Food drops on third Mondays are from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the church, with upcoming dates being May 19, June 16 and July 21.
Those in need of food assistance can contact Manna Ministries of Rockford Baptist Church at 256-377-4900 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.
The next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Rockford Town Council will be held at 6 p.m. May 20.
Audio recordings of both the March and April meetings are available here.
