City discusses telehealth costs, firing range

By John Brice
Correspondent
The LaFayette City Council met on November 28th of 2022 at the Chambers County Farmers Federation Agricultural Center at the ALFA building in LaFayette. In attendance were Mayor Kenneth Vines, Councilman Terry G. Mangram, Councilman Toney B. Thomas, Councilman David Ennis and Councilman Michael C. Ellis. Police Chief George Rampey, City Clerk Louis T. Davidson, and City Attorney Joseph M. Tucker were also present. The meeting began with an invocation led by Chief Rampey and standard procedures such as roll call.
Prior to the meeting there was a brief Public Hearing in regards to a Formal Amendment to the Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Aid and Relief Economic Security Act Program (CDBG-CV) Application.
Hollie C. Cost, Ph. D. who is the Assistant Vice President of University Outreach & Public Service at the Auburn University Office of Public Service addressed the attendees about anticipated increasing costs of construction due to inflation for the Rural Health Project’s OnMed telehealth station being built at the old medical building next to the Chambers County Department of Human Resources office in LaFayette. There were no questions or statements from anyone present and the hearing was quickly adjourned.
With the regular meeting underway the first order of business was the East Alabama Regional Planning Commission Senior Center Grant Agreement for 2022-2023. After a short discussion the motion was swiftly approved.
Clerk Davidson then took to the podium to lead a Utility Software Program RFP Discussion. Davidson stated that at the December 12th council meeting the bidder proposal would be up for a vote and he hoped for its approval so it could be deployed in January 2023.
Mayor Vines asked how many bidders there had been to which Davidson answered that there had been three who had responded to an advertisement that was run by the city. This new accounting software is expected to resolve many outstanding issues that occur due to data being entered manually from handheld devices by employees as opposed to the new automated system that will collect information.
Next up on the agenda was a Right of Use and Hold Harmless Agreement for Firearms Activity on County Property. This arrangement with Chambers County would set guidelines for LaFayette Police Department officers and personnel to use the firing range for target practice that they need to be certified as law enforcement agents.
Councilman Ellis asked about any potential costs for usage of the facility to which Chief Rampey replied that there would be none. Rampey clarified that there is always at least one certified firearms training instructor present at the range for new hires and other police department employees who are required to qualify at least once a year.
Councilman Ennis asked about possible impacts caused by members of the public using the firing range on the arrangement to which Rampey reassured the council that neither his department nor the city would carry any liability for private citizens and their activities there. He remarked that off duty officers are required at times to undergo qualifications at the range as well as visits by members of the junior police program who are present only as observers and there have not been any accidents in any form. The council approved the motion.
Davidson returned to the podium to announce a Town Hall hosted by the City of LaFayette on December 5th at 6pm CST in which citizens will be given the opportunity to provide feedback regarding the decision by the Chambers County School District to select the location in Valley for the new consolidated high school. Attorneys from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund will be present at the event which will take place at the ALFA building in LaFayette to receive input on the matter.
Councilman Thomas inquired about the overseeing Judge’s hearing on December 14th to which Attorney Tucker responded that the legal process was being continuously worked through by the parties involved.
Discussion moved on to the proposed reallocation of portions of city funds currently being held in multiple checking accounts into a single Certificate of Deposit bank account that would accrue interest which in turn would generate additional revenue for the city. With interest rates steadily increasing due to actions taken by the Federal Reserve there exists a prime opportunity to assist with meeting the budgetary needs being faced by the city by pursuing this fiscal approach. Councilman Ennis asked for clarification in regards to the CD account to which Davidson responded that he had spoken to Farmers and Merchants Bank President Stanley Tucker about a six month term. Ennis expressed his firm confidence in the city clerk and the motion was approved.
As the meeting proceeded topics ranged from an upcoming finance meeting for budgetary concerns, rental arrangements between the city and the public for the community house and senior center that are being considered and usage of the city dump for yard waste created by residents made necessary due to ongoing mechanical issues with the city’s limb truck which has been intermittently out of operation. At that point the business of the day was concluded and the meeting was adjourned.