BERLIN, Ala. – The Berlin Town Council on Monday evening approved Tony Duke to be its newest councilman, filling the vacancy left by the death of Bruce Bentley. Duke will be sworn in and assume duties at the November meeting. Mayor Patrick Bates said that he had spoken to the Bentley family to ask if any member had an interest in seeking the position, but that family members had declined.
The council also named Councilman Donald Gunter as the town’s new Mayor Pro Tem, a position vacated by Jimbo Quick on his departure from the council in September due to a change in residence.
Road work progressing
Mayor Patrick Bates told the council the resurfacing has been completed on county roads 1600, 1615, 1625 and 1626, along with 600 feet of County Road 1623. The council expects $150,000 in work on county roads 1600 and 1625 to be reimbursed by the state, while approximately $100,000 for work on the other two roads will come from town funds.
The council also approved a request from the Cullman County Board of Education transportation department to remove brush and overhanging limbs from the sides of County Road 1612. According to the CCBOE, the foliage hinders views down the road and makes passage of school buses difficult. The council also voted to change the loop at the end of that road to one-way traffic flow, following the direction typically used by the school bus. Bates said that converting to one way will allow the town to make drainage modifications to the sides of the road while remaining within its rights of way.
Bates also told the council that he is looking into a missing internet use tax payment the town should have received in October.
The Berlin Town Council meets at 7:00 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at Berlin Town Hall. The public is invited to attend.
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