Council approves paver purchase, reports on new library

PAVER

In its regular meeting March 20, the Russellville City Council approved the purchase of a Wirtgen Group Vogel’s Tracked Asphalt Paver in the amount of $337,700 through the Sourcewell contract for the Russellville Street Department, with half of the amount to come from the general fund and half from the local gas tax funds.

NEW LIBRARY

Russellville Mayor David Grissom said the city has applied for earmark appropriations grants totaling $3.892 million, through the offices of Congressman Robert Aderholt, Sen. Tommy Tuberville and Sen. Katie Britt, to go toward the new library.

The library will be built on land donated by the Norris family, which is located behind city hall. The property was donated in August 2020.

There is currently a house on the property that will need to be torn down to make way.

In other library-related action, the city heard and approved personnel recommendations from the Russellville Public Library Board. Kerri Gandy, library substitute for the past seven years, will be promoted to interim part-time cataloging specialist/IT support coordinator while Perla Martinez is out on her 12-week maternity leave. Esther Racz was hired to fill the substitute position.

STREET DEPARTMENT

The council declared two vacancies each for equipment operator III and equipment operator II and approved the necessary measures to fill those roles.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

The city approved hiring three patrol officers.

NEXT MEETING

The next regular meeting of the Russellville City Council is scheduled for April 3, with the work session starting at 6 p.m., and the meeting following. Meetings are held at Russellville City Hall in downtown Russellville.