GARDEN CITY – It was discussed and voted on Monday night for the Garden City Town Council to consider getting a credit/debit card for town business.
This was part of the regular meeting of the council Monday night at the Garden City Town Hall.
Having a credit card for business purchases is vital, Mayor Tim Eskew and council members Scott Arnold, Gene Norman, Butch Bradford, Patsy Chaffin and Teresa Goodwin discussed.
The proposal passed with plans to obtain one for the town as soon as possible. It was not specific on how many people would have involvement in this, but the mayor and the town clerk, Pam Leslie, would be at the top of the list.
Minutes from the April 18 meeting were approved along with invoices by the council from last month's agenda.
Those who will be employed by the Garden City for the summer only will be paid $10 per hour. That was approved unanimously by the mayor and council.
The mayor and council also decided they no longer need a second cell phone in operation for town usage. The cell phone and its service will be discontinued as soon as possible.
With municipal elections coming up in August, the council approved the qualification fees to remain the same amount as from the previous election four years ago.
All current members of the Garden City Library Board were voted to be re-appointed for another term.
Council member Goodwin reported an open house for the library will be held on June 26 starting at 2 p.m.
Council member Arnold gave the date of Sunday, July 3 for the town’s Independence Day celebration at First Baptist Church of Garden City. The festivities will get underway at 6 p.m. with food, games and fireworks included. The public is invited to attend.
Mayor Eskew recently spoke with Cullman County Schools Superintendent Shane Barnette about playground equipment at Garden City Elementary School. There has been no decision on what will happen with the equipment, now that the school is no longer in existence.
Barnette informed Mayor Eskew the power for the school will be cut off in early June. Mayor Eskew and the council discussed their intentions of getting class photos that are inside the elementary school out and placed in a climate-control room inside the town hall as soon as possible.
The Garden City Fire Department addressed the council about their desire to create a junior firefighter department. Two kids, under the age of 18, are currently interested in this becoming a possible career in their future.
The kids can ride with the fire department to an emergency, but have to remain by the fire truck until the emergency is completed. The department wants this to cover the areas of Garden City, along with Hanceville, Bangor and Johnsons Crossing.
Paperwork and other information will be made available at the next council meeting, the fire department reported.
In the finale of the meeting, the Garden City Rescue Squad presented a plaque to the mayor and council for their involvement during the April 1 funeral of Mother Mary Angelica.
Mother Mary created the Eternal Television Worship Network (ETWN) and passed away on Easter Sunday at the age of 92. She was buried at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville.
ETWN expressed gratitude for everyone's assistance during the funeral, providing a plaque to each organization involved with a photo of Mother Mary on it.
The council will have it on display inside the town hall.
The meeting was adjourned around 6:30 p.m. with the next scheduled meeting to be held on Monday, June 20 at 6 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.
