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VALLEY — The Valley City Council on Monday approved a new three-year service agreement with the Chambers County Emergency Communications District. The current agreement expires on Sept. 30.

The new agreement will allow the newly elected council in August to act on it in 2023. 

Police Chief Tommy Weldon told the council that the only change from the current agreement to the new one is that there will be a 2 % cost increase. This will enable the Communications District to hire another dispatcher, giving them four full-time employees.

The Chambers County Communications District serves portions of the county covering the cities of Valley, Lanett and LaFayette, the Chambers County Sheriff’s Department, the East Alabama Water, Sewer and Fire Protection District, the Huguley Water District and the Chambers County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association.

The council approved another resolution appointing City Clerk/Treasurer Cathy Snowden to oversee this year’s municipal election. Under state law, it’s a task the mayor would handle were he or she not seeking re-election. Since Mayor Leonard Riley has announced plans to run for re-election, those duties had to be assigned to someone else.

Chief Weldon informed the council that he still hasn’t heard anything about the three new Ford Interceptors that have been purchased by the city for the police department. Delivery has been delayed because the Ford plant that makes them was shut down for a period due to the coronavirus. It is back in production now.

They hope to receive the new SUVs by the end of the summer.

Planning and Development Director Travis Carter said that clean-up work had been going on at the Fairfax Mill site.

Public Works Director Patrick Bolt said that he’s gotten complaints about trash being at the boat ramps in Shawmut and Langdale. It appears animals are coming there during the night, foraging through the trash cans and leaving debris on the ground. He’s ordered some new cans that are harder to break into.

“We will see if that helps,” he said. “For now, we’d like for people to carry their trash out with them when the cans are full.”

New cans are expensive.

“They cost between $500 and $600 each,” Bolt said.

Bolt added that mosquito spray had been ordered and that mosquito spraying would begin soon.

The mayor asked for an update on street paving, and Bolt told him that it had been completed on 31st, 33rd, 48th and 15th Streets.

“Hopefully, we can get on Columbus and Hopewell roads soon,” Bolt said.

Councilman Randall Maddux asked what the dumpster was for at Shawmut boat ramp.

“It’s for people who use the boat ramp and not for household items like old mattresses,” Bolt said.

Councilman Jim Clark said that East Alabama had been doing some water line work on 29th Boulevard in Shawmut this week and that it had caused some delays in garbage pickups for some residents who lived in that area.

“They will be coming back on Saturday,” he said. “If anyone is having trouble with trash pickups, contact their council member, and they will get it straightened out.”

Council Member Marquetta Madden thanked Travis Carter and Patrick Bolt for work their departments had recently completed in her district.