Hanceville council remembers fallen officer Donald Hamby, approves donation of fire department tools to Garden City

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Hanceville Councilman Jimmie Nuss speaks during Thursday night’s meeting of the Hanceville City Council. (Christy Perry for The Cullman Tribune)

Updated 9-21-20 at 12:03 a.m.

HANCEVILLE, Ala.- The Hanceville City Council began its meeting Thursday night by remembering fallen Hanceville Police Officer Donald Hamby. Hamby was killed Aug. 31, 1985 while he was assisting the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office in a pursuit. He was killed instantly when his patrol car was struck by the suspect’s car. Hamby was a 10-year veteran of the Hanceville Police Department and left behind a wife and three children.

Councilman Jimmie Nuss, who responded to the scene that night 35 years ago, spoke at Thursday’s meeting, reminding everyone of the sacrifice Hamby made that night before observing a moment of silence.

The Hanceville Fire Department, which was recently awarded a grant from Firehouse Subs to purchase new rescue tools (HURST Jaws of Life), asked the council to allow the department to donate its older tools to the Garden City Volunteer Fire Department.

Hanceville Fire Chief Roger Green said, ‘We had talked about surplussing those tools out, but we thought it would be beneficial to us to donate those to Garden City. If we have a mutual aid call down there, we know they have a good set of tools that we know how to operate.”

The council approved the request.

Councilman John Stam was appointed to the water and sewer board to replace a board member who recently resigned. Stam’s term will begin immediately and end as the new City administration is sworn in in November. At that time, Stam will be reappointed to the water and sewer board. 
 
Explaining the need for the reappointment when typically a term on the board is six years, City Clerk Tania Wilcox explained, “As a council member, their term ends when they go off the council.”
 
Councilman Charles Wilson, who was defeated in last month’s Municipal Election for his council seat, disputed Wilcox’s explanation, saying, “We’ve never done it this way in the past.“ 
 
Following the meeting, Wilson was asked, based on the rules regarding city council appointments to the water and sewer board if his term would end when he leaves office. He said, “Look’s that way.” 

 

A public hearing will be held Sept. 24, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. regarding the City’s comprehensive plan. This is an opportunity for Hanceville citizens to provide input to City leaders and planners. The meeting will take place at Hanceville City Hall.

Kids’ Night Out is scheduled for Sept. 26 from 6-8 p.m. There will be sandwiches, hot dogs, ice cream, bouncy houses and more. Masks are recommended and encouraged and inflatables will be sterilized every 30 minutes. This year’s event will end with a fireworks show.

Public Works Director Rusty Fields reported that the prep work for the new Hanceville Senior Center is almost complete and the drainage ditch project in front of Warehouse Discount Groceries on U.S. Highway 31 is complete.

A blockage in a pipe under Commercial Street near Hanceville High School will require the street to be torn up in order to fix. Mayor Kenneth Nail said he expects the repairs to take place in the coming weeks but not during the school hours.

“We will around 4 p.m. close Commercial Street and hopefully by morning time, be able to open Commercial Street back up,” he said.

The next Hanceville City Council meeting will be Sept. 24, 2020 at 5:30 p.m.

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