LANETT — At its Monday evening meeting, the Lanett City Council awarded a paving contract to Chris Clark Grading & Paving, Lanett at just over $300,000 with an $80,000 deduction for the use of Permaflex.

This will allow for nine paving projects to be handled this summer. They include:

•The portion of South 8th Avenue from the intersection of South 12th Street and South Jennings Avenue (approximately 1,770 linear feet);

•The portion of South Jennings Avenue starting at the intersection with South 8th Avenue (approximately 440 linear feet):

•The portion of South Jennings from Highway 29 past CVS Pharmacy (approximately 260 linear feet):

•South 14th Street, from South Jennings Avenue to Highway 29 (380 linear feet);

•South 15th Street, starting at the intersection with South Jennings (260 linear feet);

•South 8th Street (680 linear feet);

•South 3rd Street, from the intersection with South 15th to Highway 50 (230 linear feet);

•North 12th Street, from North 6th Avenue to Lanier Avenue (1,420 linear feet with a two-inch overlay);

•North 4th Avenue, from North 12th Street to North 4th Avenue (approximately 440 linear feet);

These streets will be getting one-half inch of Superpave wearing surface, four inches of patching where needed along with manhole risers and utility valve risers for water and gas.

The council approved a resolution from the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority (AMEA) recognizing Monday, June 4 as Alabama Lineman Appreciation Day.

“Without them, we’d be sitting in the dark, freezing cold or unbearably hot,” the resolution reads. “We wouldn’t be able to charge our cell phones, make our morning coffee, use our computers or watch a favorite sporting event on TV. When we are safe in our homes amidst a big storm, they are braving the weather to do their work, and when there’s an electrical emergency, they are the first responders who risk their own lives to serve our communities.”

Receiving certificates were David DeLee, department head, John Ellis, Kirk Lauderdale, Jonathan Lowery, Andy Lamar Oliver, Allen Summers, and Glenn Templeton.

The council approved a resolution determining some abandoned houses to be public nuisances and authorizing action to deal with it. The properties are located at 1113 16th Court, 510 North 4th Street, 116 North 13th Avenue and 107 North 2nd Avenue.

These houses will be torn down and the lots cleaned up. The city can then impose liens on the properties to recover its cost of abating the site.

The council authorized Mayor McCoy to negotiate the purchase of some property along North Lanier Avenue and North 2nd Avenue. The land is currently owned by James McArthur Wood.

The council heard from Todd Rauch, Republican candidate for the District 38 seat being vacated by Isaac Whorton.

“I’m running for office because of people like the ones in this room,” he said. “We need younger people active in public service.”

A U.S. Army veteran, Rauch was wounded while serving in Iraq in 2003. He’s an Auburn graduate with a degree in psychology. He said that he had been to a total of 88  public meetings while campaigning.

“I want to be your voice in Montgomery,” he said. “I will let you know what’s going on there. Citizens need to know more about issues like the gas tax. It has been discussed and will affect you.”