City approves funds for sidewalks around Dothan elementary schools

Students who walk to school at several Dothan elementary schools will have a safer, more comfortable path soon.

The Dothan City Commission agreed to spend $215,000 during this fiscal year to construct sidewalks around four Dothan schools. The funds will help add sidewalk areas around Jerry Lee Faine, Heard, Selma Street and Hidden Lake schools.

“We have some sidewalk areas around a lot of these schools, but what we want to try to do is connect them together if we can,” said Public Works Director Jerry Corbin.

City Manager Mike West said the goal of the program, known as the “Paving Concrete Sidewalks Adjacent to Elementary Schools” project, is to provide a safer environment for students as well as nearby residents who like to walk around the neighborhood.

Geisler Contracting of Headland will construct the sidewalks.

In other action, the Commission:

» Changed the effective date of the second city employee retirement contribution increase of .25 percent to Oct. 1, 2012 from the previously approved date of Jan. 1, 2013.

» Reappointed Rose P. Evans-Gordon as Presiding Municipal Judge for the City of Dothan at an annual salary of $100,630.40 for a term of four years beginning Dec. 1, 2011.

» Welcomed District 4 Commissioner Critt Snellgrove, who served at his first regular Dothan City Commission meeting.

» Entered into an agreement with Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center, Inc., to provide maintenance services for the city at an annual cost of $469,206.79 plus $17,000 annually for cleanup of Rip Hewes Stadium.

» Awarded a Lounge Retail Liquor License for 334 Live, 145 South Saint Andrews Street.

» Appropriating $100,000 in additional funds to the Houston Love Memorial Library in Fiscal Year 2012 and 2013 to be utilized for operational expenses.

» Appropriating an additional $50,000 in additional funds to Landmark Park in Fiscal Year 2012 and 2013 to be utilized for operational expenses.

» Entered into an agreement with KaBOOM! to accept a grant in the amount of $20,000 to assist in the construction of a neighborhood playground on Powell Street. Also accepted an award of $10,000 from the Wiregrass Foundation to assist in the project.

» Entered into an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation for water taps at Comfort Inn and Suites located in the 2100 block of East Main Street.

» Entered into a reimbursable agreement with the Houston County Road and Bridge Department to utilize a contractor to adjust existing city-owned utilities that conflict with the intersection improvements at Fortner Street and Brannon Stand Road.

» Entered into an agreement with Fortner Hall Apartments, LTD, for the installation and maintenance of water meters at Biltmore Place Apartments, 2810 Fortner Street.

» Appointed Jennifer Doherty to serve as the City of Dothan’s representative on the Dothan Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors.

» Recognized city employee Allen Kramer for 30 years of service with the City of Dothan.

» Recognized Dothan Fire Department employees Ben Purvis (Rookie of the Year), Bill Sullivan (Sergeant of the Year), David Hasty (Officer of the Year) and Jason Braswell (Firefighter of the Year.)