Gist appointed to city school board
The Russellville City Council appointed local businessman Bret Gist to the city’s school board Monday night.
Gist, who will take office June 1, replaces outgoing board member Wanda Baker. Baker’s five-year term is set to expire this month.
“I have enjoyed working with the school board and the city,” Baker told council members Monday.
“She has done a very good job and put her expertise to good use helping the school system and we appreciate that,” Mayor Troy Oliver said.
Gist’s family owns and operates G&G Steel in Russellville. He has two children still in the city school system and another who recently graduated and is attending college on a football scholarship.
In other business, the council:
• approved the purchase of a knuckle-boom truck and pickup for the street department for $140,300, with financing from Valley State Bank for 2.59 percent for 36 months. Councilmen Jeff Masterson and Gary Cummings voted against the purchase and the financing. Councilman David Grissom abstained.
• approved three alcohol licenses to: Russellville Discount Liquor (1140 Ronnie McDowell Dr., Russellville) for retail off-premise beer, table wine and liquor; United-Johnson Brothers of Alabama LLC, Bessemer, for beer and wine wholesale; and Georgia Crown Distributing Co., Birmingham, for beer and wine wholesale.
• declared a vacancy for a firefighter and authorized advertisements to solicit applications.
• approved waiver of rental fees from the A.W. Todd Centre for the Phil Campbell High School prom.
• authorized a CDGB sewer grant application in coordination with the water and sewer board.
• commended Russellville city departments and the U.S. National Guard in their involvement in assistance after the tornado.
• approved military leave for Jessie McKinney, of the Police Department.
