The Colony Town Council met on Tuesday night. / W.C. Mann
COLONY – At its regular meeting Tuesday evening, the Colony Town Council heard about plans for a repeat of last year’s summer programs and moved forward on matters of community improvement.
At the request of Councilwoman Mary Parker, finance committee chairwoman, discussion of Colony’s proposed budget was once again tabled. The budget, which would normally have been passed by the end of October, was delayed by the departure of two council members (including the finance committee chairwoman) and subsequent lacks of quorum.
Councilwoman Ethel Alexander, sanitation and utilities committee chairwoman, announced that she would be purchasing garbage bags for distribution to local residents, for use during a PALS-sponsored community cleanup in April.
Councilman Curtis Johnson, parks and recreation committee chairman, reported that Colony plans to repeat last year’s successful summer feeding program. The 2017 program, which ran from the first week of June until the end of July, was commended by the North Alabama Food Bank. Though several other entities around the county took part in the federally-funded two-month program, Colony was the only site in the county that fed kids for the entire period.
The council passed a resolution to locate the feeding program in a classroom at the town’s Educational Complex, and to relocate certain resources to other locations in the complex in order to make room for both the feeding program and other activities.
Johnson also reported that the town gym will be open one day per week during the summer, in conjunction with the educational programs that accompany the feeding program. He also pointed out that repairs to the educational complex roof appear to have been successful, as recent rains did not produce any leaks.
The council passed a resolution to take bids on a community storm shelter. According to Mayor Donnis Leeth, the shelter project will be coordinated through Cullman County Economic Development.
The council passed a resolution to attend the Cullman Regional Foundation Gala at the Cullman Civic Center on April 21 and to purchase a table at a cost of $300.
Leeth announced that Colony will hold a public meeting at the Educational Complex on Thursday, March 15, to talk about the town’s outstanding debt. According to the mayor, the town defaulted on a loan at Compass Bank after a previous mayor failed to sign necessary paperwork. The council will present and discuss ideas about how the town can get its finances straightened out. Leeth said that he will also talk to local residents about efforts through Cullman County Economic Development to locate a Dollar General in Colony.
The mayor also announced that the community will have a fish and chicken wing fry at the Colony Senior Citizens’ Center on Saturday, March 24.
The Colony Town Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, at 6 p.m., in Colony Town Hall. The public is invited to attend.
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