City moving forward on final phase of street repairs

The Russellville City Council voted Monday to move forward with the third and final phase of a city-wide paving project.
The council approved a contract with North Alabama Paving, totaling $130,941. The company also did the first two phases, which totaled $500,000.
City officials said the financing for the project was generated from rearranging the way money is spent in the street maintenance fund, the 3-cent gasoline tax fund and the capital improvements fund.
The third phase will be on Washington Street and Waterloo Road.
Monday, the council also voted to vacate a portion of Linden Street between Ash Avenue and Evan Street, near the Ralph C. Bishop Community Center. The portion of vacated road runs behind Leisure Creations, a manufacturing plant that produces pool and patio furniture for hotels, condos and apartments.
The closure will allow the company to expand, creating as many as 34 new jobs over the next two years.
The council also entered in to an agreement with the Franklin County Solid Waste Department to keep the current garbage rates in the city as they are for the next four years.
In other business, the council:
• approved a resolution appointing poll workers for the Aug. 28 municipal election and set the pay at $100 for each clerk and $125 for inspectors
• approved a contract with NACOLG/Area Agency on Aging to receive $9,864 for operation of the senior center
• revised the volunteer firefighter roster
• approved a 10 percent raise for police officer Adam Mitchell for completing courses and training
• appropriated $1,000 to the city schools
• adjusted the pay scale of city court employee Lavonne Lucas.