Selma City Council pays bills, reappoints municipal judges and legislative liaison

The Selma City Council paid some bills and renewed the contract for their legislative liaison, even though the current council is on the way out.

At a special called meeting on Sept. 17, the council approved contracts to pay for road work on Springdale Street from 10^th Avenue to Valley Street Circle. The cost exceeded what the city council had set aside for the project by more than $22,000.

The council approved $66,000 for sanitary sewer improvements on Franklin Street at Valley Creek Circle and at Minter Avenue. They voted to approve a bid for the Mabry Street rehabilitation project from Dallas Avenue to Alabama Avenue and to complete storm drainage improvements at Elkdale Street and Memorial Avenue and Primrose Terrace and Franklin Street.

All these projects are to be paid through the city’s bond fund.

Municipal Court Judges Brandon J. Wooten and Donovan McGuire were reappointed to their positions.

The council also renewed the contract of their legislative liaison, Carneetie Ellison, even though the current council will be leaving office on Nov. 3. Councilman Michael Johnson voted against the resolution, saying that the next council should select its staff.

Changes to the health insurance program for city employees will be considered at the next meeting. Currently 182 employees or their family members are covered by the city’s Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, which has been in place since 2010. There were questions about how much the city was paying to cover the cost of single coverage, employee-plus-one coverage and family coverage for its employees.

The council approved a list of expenditures, including replacement of damaged fire hoses.