COLONY, Ala. – The Town of Colony on Tuesday issued certificates of election for its entire town council, since no candidate- incumbent or otherwise- is being challenged in the Aug. 25 Municipal Election. Only the mayor’s seat is being contested, with incumbent Donnis Leeth facing a challenge from Councilman Curtis Johnson.
The councilman and mayor had been at odds, both personally and professionally, for some time before Johnson’s announcement. At Tuesday evening’s town council meeting, Leeth invited Johnson to schedule a debate, but Johnson declined, saying that he would share his platform via paid advertisements in local papers.
Colony Town Council
- Place 1 – Eric Carwell (In place of incumbent Melvin Hammond, who is stepping down for health reasons)
- Place 2 – Samuel Ashford, incumbent
- Place 3 – Mary Parker
- Place 4 – Jasmine Cole (In place of Curtis Johnson, who is challenging incumbent Mayor Donnis Leeth)
- Place 5 – Ethel Alexander, incumbent
The new council will officially be seated in November.
The council also approved the following election officers:
- Inspector – Gwendolyn Purifoy
- Clerks – Earline Johnson, Margaret Dimbo, Mary A. Hall, Evelyn Timmons
CARES Act grant funds supplying COVID-19 safety and sanitation materials
Town Clerk Patricia Ponder told the council the Town has spent approximately $14,000 of nearly $39,000 in grant funding available to Colony under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), making facility modifications like adding plexiglass shields, sanitizing facilities, and supplying masks, gloves and sanitizers to local residents. She also cautioned that the Town will have to wait to make its next round of purchases until it receives reimbursement from the State for the purchases already submitted.
Council discussion items
Councilwoman Ethel Alexander told the council that Desperation Church, which came to Colony’s gym for a day of service in July, will return the second Saturday in August to continue cleaning and painting. The church team will arrive at 8 a.m., and Alexander said she hopes to see the town’s children and youth come out to help.
Alexander also shared that she is working on application for two grants, one for the community garden and another supporting community historical preservation.
Councilman Melvin Hammond presented a letter that he will send to TSN Construction concerning continuing roof leaks at the Educational Complex that the company was supposed to have repaired. In the letter, the Town gives the company until Aug. 10 to complete repairs.
Ponder told the council that three air conditioning units at the Educational Complex are not working; two can be repaired, but one will have to be replaced. Due to a shortfall of Town funds until CARES reimbursement arrives, she said, in order to make repairs now, the Town will have to borrow approximately $10,000 from the Capital Improvement fund, then reimburse the fund when CARES reimbursement arrives.
Leeth talked about an act of vandalism at the gym, in which windows to the women’s restroom were broken. He said he has contacted the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office and the incident is under investigation. He said he is considering offering a reward for information leading to whoever broke the windows.
The mayor added, “He will be found.”
Leeth also circulated a letter of thanks to Desperation Church for the council members to sign, and noted that work on local roads is currently on hold until CARES reimbursement arrives and some pressing needs are met.
The Colony Town Council meets for a work session at 5 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at Colony Town Hall, with its regular meeting following immediately after the session. The public is invited to attend.
