Alamo City Council Begins Preparations to Turn Police Department Over to Wheeler County

The Alamo City Council voted to have city staff begin preparations to turn over the Alamo Police Department to the Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office during their monthly meeting on Nov. 17 in the Alamo City Hall.

A discussion regarding the police department was not originally on the meeting’s agenda, but was added at the beginning of the meeting at Council Member Steve Jones’ request. He argued that while the Council had put off the decision regarding the police department in favor of receiving residents’ input, recent elections showed low engagement with the council’s actions.

“What I’m saying is they are not interested in what we’re doing,” said Jones. “We need to do what we need to do for the city of Alamo, saving money if we can. We can use it somewhere else, and I just think we need to move on with it, start the process.”

During public comments, Jones said prior research estimated the merger would save the city $51,000 annually when asked by an attendee.

Council Member Dondrea Geter argued against Jones’ proposal, calling the move “tasteless” and “classless.” Jones offered a motion to begin the process, which passed 3-2.

The council also considered a TIA contract sent by East Coast. According to City Manager Jeffery Floyd, the contract had been updated, and the additions would be beneficial to the city “as far as insurance.”

Council Member Laura Brownley offered a motion to accept the contract, which passed unanimously.

Council Member Patricia Woodard delivered recommendations from the administrative committee to the Council. First, the committee recommended the council alter and refine its internal scoring system for determining raises for city employees.

Woodard, in accordance with the recommendation, offered a motion to alter the scoring system so employees would receive a 4 percent increase with a score from 100 to 96, a 3.5 percent increase with a score from 95 to 90, a 3 percent score if they score from 90 to 86, a 2.5 percent increase with a score from 85 to 80 and a 2 percent increase with a score from 80 to 75. The motion passed unanimously.

The committee also recommended implementing a $500 annual year-end bonus for all employees, excluding council members. Woodard offered a motion to accept the bonus, which passed unanimously.

According to Floyd, the city also owed Phillips & Jordan, Inc. $36,702.20, but FEMA had delivered the funds to pay the bill. Council Member Woodard offered a motion to pay the company, which passed unanimously.

The council reviewed the $10,673.74 bid it received for repairs to the fence beside the city’s shop. As it was the only bid received, Council Member Bobby Cox offered a motion to accept the bid, which passed unanimously.

Council Member Jones also offered a motion to spend $3,000 to purchase new Christmas decorations for the city, which passed unanimously.

The council also voted to move their December meeting to December 8, when the Council’s newest member Angela Wright will be sworn in following her victory in the November 4 election.

The Alamo Police Department reported receiving 84 calls in the month of October, including 32 traffic stop calls, 25 tag calls, four security checks on buildings, four lockouts, four driver’s license calls, three informational calls, two commercial alarms, one property damage call, one domestic violence call, one open door call, one medical call, one juvenile complaint, one motor vehicle accident, one GCIC NCIC check, one suicide attempt or threat call, one suspicious person call and one threat call.

The Alamo Fire Department reported receiving 11 calls between Sept. 16 and Nov. 17, including six brush fires, one gas leak, one call to brakes overheating, one fire alarm, one motor vehicle accident with injuries, one power line down and one call cancelled en route. The department also held six 3-hour trainings during this time period at the Alamo Station and taught fire prevention at the Wheeler County school.

For bank balances as of Nov. 17, the city reported the general fund balance totaled $852,636.17; the water and sewer account balance totaled $222,151.98; the fines and fees account balance totaled $9,943.77; the SPLOST account balance totaled $211, 289.43; the school safety account balance totaled $639.82; the TLOST account balance totaled $113,484; the general fund savings CD totaled $78,726.90; the water and sewer savings CD totaled $210,126; the bond and sinking CD totaled $280,559.20; the ARP savings account balance totaled $20.40; the Eastside Park project account balance totaled $23,863.15 and the new city hall account balance totaled $884.28.