Rockford adopts election-related resolutions

By Christa Jennings

Senior Staff Writer

 

In a meeting that saw little action, the Rockford Town Council adopted two resolutions and approved other matters related to the town’s upcoming election.

Resolutions related to “Elected Without Opposition” were unanimously approved for each Council position, with all current Council members being elected without opposition as no one else qualified to run.

In part, the ordinances for each of the five Council seats read, “Whereas, Section 11-46-26 of the Alabama Code of 1975, as amended, provides that if only one person has filed a statement of candidacy or has been nominated for an office for an election to be held… at the time the deadline for qualification has passed, then such person shall, for all purposed [sic], be deemed elected to such office, and the mayor or other chief executive officer shall not cause the name of such person or the office for which his/her candidacy was declared to be printed on the ballot…”

As reported previously, this means that the ballot for Rockford’s election will only have one office appearing on it, and that will be for the mayor seat as two individuals filed statements of candidacy, incumbent Mayor Scott White and Randall Lewis.

Certificates of election for each Council member were also approved, with those going on to be filed with the secretary of state, Alabama League of Municipalities and judge of probate.

In other election matters, the town approved and adopted Resolution 2025-07 6, relating to poll workers.

The resolution names the following town residents as election officers for the August 26 election and the runoff election on September 23, if needed: Katherleen Larmon, inspector; Angela Phillips, registration list clerk; Lucretia Chappell, poll list clerk; and Melvin Larmon, ballot clerk.

The Council also approved the appointment of absentee election officers for the municipal election.

In other business, the Council unanimously approved the purchase of a new lawnmower.

The Council also once again tabled an agreement with the American Red Cross. The proposed agreement was brought up at the June Town Council meeting as a facility use agreement with the Red Cross relating to the Event Center, with the intended use being for emergency situations.

At that time town attorney Tom Young and White mentioned having concerns with a few things in the agreement, and the Council unanimously approved tabling the matter until its July meeting.

When it came up at the July meeting, Young still had questions about some items in the agreement that needed to be addressed. As such, the Council once again tabled the matter until its next meeting.

In other business, Young provided a report to the Council regarding wording on the deed for the Arts and Crafts building on County Road 18 that had been finalized late that afternoon.

White also reported that he had received notification of the town being awarded a grant and said he would have more information at the next meeting.

The next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Rockford Town Council will be held at 6 p.m. August 19.