COLONY, Ala. – The Colony Town Council on Tuesday evening shared that it is restructuring payments on its two outstanding debts in order to save the Town money. A debt to Compass Bank for a 2012 court judgement has been cut almost in half in less than six months, and since that debt came with no interest, the Town will now reduce (but continue) monthly payments in order to increase the amount of its monthly payments toward the original loan that led to the court judgement, a loan which has been accruing interest.
The debt stemmed from a loan taken out to finance the construction of bathrooms at the town’s park.
Town Clerk Patricia Ponder explained, “Morris Fitts- he took office in 2012- refused to pay the debts of the Earline Johnson administration. Compass Bank froze the bank accounts. He sued them and lost. This is the judgement for the amount of the debt plus their legal fees that’s been hanging on since 2012.”
The 2012 court judgement left Colony with an outstanding debt of more than $50,000 in addition to the original defaulted loan. In May 2019, the outstanding balance of the judgement sat at $47,712.04. By December 2019, the Town had paid $23,000 toward the debt, bringing the total to only $24,712.04, just over half of the amount from May.
Former Mayor Vernon Fields, who served before current Mayor Donnis Leeth, renegotiated the original loan during his administration to a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage on which the Town pays approximately $571 per month. Ponder reported that, with the restructuring of payments, she was able to make a $5,000 payment toward the principal on that loan. The council has not determined a specific amount that will be paid each month, but will determine that amount on a month-by-month basis based on available funds.
The council also undertook a detailed discussion of the town’s summer feeding program for community children. Members chose to put off making decisions about specifics such as naming a coordinator/director and planning a summer enrichment program until the next meeting. Ponder shared instructions about the program’s new site application process, while Leeth talked about another possibility for procuring hot meals on a daily basis during the summer.
Leeth and Ponder noted that children did not respond well to the cold cut sandwiches that were often served last year, and Ponder said, “I would think that a warm meal served would be better than the cold sandwiches that the children got, but food is food. If they’re hungry, we need to do, in my opinion, we need to do our best to get them some food.”
After the discussion, though details are still up in the air, the council voted unanimously to continue the program.
Pay raise starting next council session in November
The council voted increases to both the mayor’s salary and council members’ per-meeting stipends, starting with the new council session that begins after the conclusion of the election cycle in November. The mayor’s new salary will be $300 per month, and council members will receive $20 per meeting.
Roofing contract and plumbing
Long-needed repairs to the town’s Educational Complex roof will get underway after this week’s rain. The council signed a contract with Tim Nash of TSN Construction and Lawn Care for more than 800 square feet of roof in need of repair, with $5,645 in materials and $1,755 in labor, for a total of $7,400.
Councilman Curtis Johnson reported that plumbing repairs to the community center and gym are underway now.
Road conditions
The council also discussed two reports made to the county school board by a local resident concerning potholes on Ward Hill Road and Twitty Lane and their possible impact on county school buses. Mayor Leeth received a report that six loads of gravel had been taken to the affected site on Ward Hill Road where buses turn around, to fill in a large pothole there. The council did not confirm whether work has been done on Twitty Lane.
Leeth admitted that a complete repaving of the road would be the best solution, but said that the Town simply does not have the funds to do so at present. He directed Ponder to draw up a letter to residents inviting them to contact town hall about any concerns they might have about local roads.
Colony Day
Leeth reported that, since the publication of preliminary plans for a “Colony Day” celebration later this year, he has been contacted by several people from outside the community, asking if they can come and be part of the event. Councilman Melvin Hammond, who is heading up the project, announced that a second planning meeting will be held at town hall Saturday, Feb. 29 at 2 p.m.
The Colony Town Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at town hall, with work session at 5 p.m. and regular meeting immediately following. The public is invited to attend.
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