Rainsville, Al. – The Rainsville City Council met in regular session on Monday, January 20, 2020.
The Council approved a tax abatement for RTI (Rainsivlle Technology, Inc.), which has plans for a $6,000,000 expansion.
The Council voted to suspend the rules and consider a resolution for a pay increase and to offer additional insurance benefits for council members, starting with the next administration. The increases would not take effect until the next administration takes office, after the Fall elections.
The Mayor currently makes $1,500.00/month and council members make $600.00/month. The proposal would increase the Mayor’s pay to $2,000.00/month and council members to $800.00/month. It has been over 10 years since the mayor and council has had an increase in pay.
All members voted to suspend the rules to consider the resolution. On the first reading, all members must be in agreement for the item to pass, Councilman Marshall Stiefel voiced his disagreement with the resolution and was the sole “no” vote and the motion died.
Councilman Brandon Freeman, who brought up the resolution, stated, “that whomever is elected in the next election, they will be responsible for paying for the insurance and not the city. The city will not pay for the Mayor or Council member’s insurance. It is now offered to the mayor and council members in the state of Alabama, not just Rainsville. This just gives whomever is elected in the next election the opportunity to buy the insurance.”
In other business, the council:
- Approved $800.00 for trees for Tree City, Arbor Day and declared February 27, 2020 as Arbor Day in the city.
- Approved $6,000 for LED Christmas lights
- Approved to get the football helmet’s re-certified
- Approved to purchase a light bar for the fire department’s brush truck
- Approved to surplus a 2011 Chevrolet Impala from the Police Department
- The Council went into executive session to discuss the good name and character of a city employee.
