[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6161881,"mediaKeyId","5440556-06fd1529e1204e02fc17b2bf58a8db83","parentId",5440556,"title","Council member asks to rescind organizational chart so department heads report directly to mayor","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1168000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5440556-06fd1529e1204e02fc17b2bf58a8db83&start=1168&end=1168","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5440556-06fd1529e1204e02fc17b2bf58a8db83/thumbnail_1168000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6161881/Alexander-City/Tallapoosa-County/Alabama/Council-member-asks-to-rescind-organizational-chart-so-department-heads-report-directly-to-mayor","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161881-72612764642ca56a7681e2209101d797/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184998&Signature=ht3QMU-5GkqZvHa1TMmYAzzBhEJiopxjrmZ6f-kvq~KahyMm-rKymujw03bSWBMlMjEqvRQxS2jhi8FCzHiNgkxfQC6JBjpJ0K6aYhJeME4a6o8h69Ky2LZ8sSHffWSCeT1pfOkGubg7VLnDhlhgV3FSLz-3hTwMtuysxrtFsfZSXaVc7tmxmCP~iz6Ge5NP2xCPLQuV9~lZCej2og8-t17VRXM~mSLcvOMeJcYSABAlit9r1F1NKjl6~eRQ~H2j5ZCRrBVHlw5xK75zgiKcFWGR3PSrApySYGeLafs9PTvoen-VqdixyL0j~0HpQOL0yOiaCcLciTofa3TQiJatGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alexander City, AL","date","2025-07-22T20:03:57.273Z","article","A council member on Wednesday asked the City Council to readdress and potentially rescind a prior organizational chart so department heads would report directly to the mayor, saying the current structure reduces department autonomy and supervisory authority.

The request matters because the chart defines reporting lines and day‑to‑day authority for department heads, affecting operations across the city—including the library, airport, building inspections and parks and recreation.

The council member said the chart adopted during a prior administration placed some department heads under other departments and removed direct lines to the mayor. “I feel like if the mayor should the the mayor is the main person in charge. Therefore, the mayor should communicate directly with all his department heads,” the council member said. The speaker said the building inspector, library and airport had reporting arrangements that the speaker believed should be reconsidered.

The council member noted one exception might be water services, which often requires consolidated oversight because of technical interdependencies. The speaker also said the prior vote occurred when some members were new and that the current council should re‑examine the chart.

A presiding official (role identified in the meeting as the person chairing the session) responded that reviewing the organizational chart is within the council’s scope and suggested circulating the chart to all members before taking formal action. “In that way, you can understand it,” the presiding official said.

Council discussion noted human‑resources involvement would be appropriate if changes moved forward, and several members said the work session was the proper forum to raise the issue publicly. No formal motion or vote to rescind the chart was recorded; members said they would review the chart and return it to a future agenda if they decide to proceed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 21, 2025, City Council Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","A council member said the current organizational chart limits department heads' authority and proposed rescinding it so department heads would answer directly to the mayor; council agreed the chart can be revisited and suggested wider circulation for review.","taxTitle","Alexander City, Tallapoosa County, Alabama","taxId",56010,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6161886,"Council to revisit tenant agreement; mayor (or lead negotiator) to resume talks",229,1062000,1291000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5440556-06fd1529e1204e02fc17b2bf58a8db83&start=1062&end=1291","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5440556-06fd1529e1204e02fc17b2bf58a8db83/thumbnail_1062000.jpg","/articles/6161886/Alexander-City/Tallapoosa-County/Alabama/Council-to-revisit-tenant-agreement-mayor-or-lead-negotiator-to-resume-talks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161886-ec7f7d15b8b13a8426618d7db7c15051/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184998&Signature=QGXxafDOtpmOUtuK~stwyVkpn0-oehNTZR8n5jUhq7vGE4sityeIP3rzUL69TfkR~aSVTLohBl3rWatosNRtNpMRcoOPNTobbGQX5OinAiATgfp4QS1bSHrSpc3df6CV2QNIPbc8fosg10cDU23Goh6~JcpQvR7-HYDxONFRjtszQp-xAFByOsNUuE~gHiogUufSkyI6vsxCS~oY6kI9bqHHr-dMDJpmQfizwJZIf7VVSBN3wjVEubCQZB0BTB9uI3HKcCPtikcNhxepE6TUtKE79cOOlQ2bvF92ziy75O8B4Ecz6Rc2eNx0E49swmnkfTM-WHZ1j0td3t82n-1BBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members discussed a stalled tenant agreement during Wednesday’s work session and said they will resume negotiations so the city can finalize terms and protect the general fund.

The discussion matters because council members said the city expects revenue from the agreement and warned the general fund could be in deficit for fiscal year 2026 if the matter is not resolved.

One council speaker said prior communications with the tenant had halted and that the council would vote on the agreement once final language is ready. That speaker said: “I'm taking this negotiation back. Y'all had it for a year. Nothing has happened. We haven't moved forward. We don't have an agreement. We need that money in the general fund. The general fund is gonna be out of deficit '26. So we need to get something done.”

Council members confirmed the version the council plans to consider is the original agreement the city first sent; they said the tenant had asked for additional credits and changes but the council intends to move forward on the original terms unless further negotiation produces acceptable edits. One council member noted certain name changes and minor revisions (for instance, the company name) would be required before a vote.

Council members said they would not vote on the agreement at that meeting because a required form was not available; several speakers said they had not received recent communications from the tenant. One official said they would contact the tenant and work the issue day to day until a final agreement could be brought back for a vote.

No formal motion or vote on the agreement was recorded during the session. Council members said they expect a vote at a future meeting after staff finalize the agreement language and any requested corrections from either side are addressed.","Council members said communication with the tenant stalled and one official said they will take over negotiations so the city can finalize an agreement needed to shore up the general fund; the council did not vote on an agreement at the meeting.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6161892,"City reviews water and wastewater upgrades, plans commercial rate change; no residential increase",1141,89000,1230000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5440556-06fd1529e1204e02fc17b2bf58a8db83&start=89&end=1230","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5440556-06fd1529e1204e02fc17b2bf58a8db83/thumbnail_89000.jpg","/articles/6161892/Alexander-City/Tallapoosa-County/Alabama/City-reviews-water-and-wastewater-upgrades-plans-commercial-rate-change-no-residential-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161892-52e21079dcf37b01b72a59fc16f940cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184998&Signature=AoERtYuLqpc3CIggBbEwEPd3hac-UCKOg-SnCgDICT-QjH7UoLnpdEG8zL5P8S5qmizjfgGHr-b~jWWW1tlh88TPuLFvwWo9~bR~TvXHPZV9sp2rPw1-qY~9GGpauaYV0dVPYdrIbXXWfvokKdeK-EiY7c8sjoWpkQUaMkVJBsXV4ST~qv9r6UApVg7LScd74D1tk0QPboijef4mDK-jxKn9eWEjVnowjYcuWRSxWv4pGOpNtJmtlT6jYEsg~6LZTCEJp2SAws1ceEQQkrgjhQUDPUtUogS3vk2PK8IM2QHQJNLujyeteOBjx20jB~AlZ0GTyO6pWZrTMmU877hfbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff on Wednesday updated the City Council on multiple water and wastewater projects, a continuing smart‑meter installation and talks to take over a nearby private water system, and said the administration will pursue a rate increase for commercial customers while leaving residential rates unchanged.

Council work‑session attendees heard that the city received two energy‑efficiency grants and has opened paperwork on both projects, that several clarifier and structural repairs are complete or near closeout, and that the AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) smart‑meter replacement is under way.

The updates matter because ongoing infrastructure work and meter replacements affect water quality, system reliability and the utility budget. Staff framed the commercial rate proposal as a way to avoid raising residential rates while addressing rising utility costs.

Glenn Miller, who presented the utilities update, said the city was granted two energy‑efficiency grants and had begun required paperwork. Miller described work at multiple treatment sites, including retrofits at the Grand Labs pump station at Sugar Creek, clarifier replacements at Simba Creek, a new catwalk and monorail at the Adams facility, chemical feed‑line and hypochlorite system replacements, and electrical and motor replacements. He said: “we applied for both. And we were granted both grants. We're in the process of paperwork getting started on both of these.”

Miller reported system work totals for the fiscal year: 399 feet of service repairs; 21 manhole repairs; 76 manholes raised for paving projects; 653 feet of manually placed pipe; and 48,179 feet of pipe cleaned and videoed. He also said the utility currently had 11 sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) that staff were clearing in house.

Miller described the AMI meter changeout as ongoing citywide. “As of date, we've got 757 AMI meters tanked out and 236 quarterly for failure this year so far,” he said. He also described a partnership to run fiber to several facilities to improve internal controls and allow remote monitoring.

On a separate topic tied to the utility system footprint, Miller said staff are negotiating to take over the Hackneyville water system and are assembling paperwork. He said the system serves about 480 customers and that the Hackneyville system already uses AMR (automated meter reading) technology. Miller said he and another staffer, David, had discussed the takeover and that they expected the city could handle the system’s capital and operations needs if the agreement is completed.

Regarding rates, the administration said it will not pursue a residential rate increase at this time. Miller relayed that the mayor favored applying an increase to commercial customers only, and noted the city has one industrial customer classified on the commercial schedule. The presentation included a date for the change: Oct. 1. The transcript does not record a formal vote on the rate change.

Council members asked clarifying questions about maintenance practices and the meter rollout; Miller emphasized preventive maintenance. The administration confirmed some projects remain in closeout and that contractors will finish restoration work on Cody Creek and highway utility relocations before final acceptance.

Less urgent details included recent pump and motor replacements (one 500‑horse motor replaced), conversion from potassium permanganate to sodium permanganate in a chemical system, and installation of stainless‑steel piping and pump bases at a rehabilitated pump station.

The council did not take a formal vote on the commercial rate change or the Hackneyville takeover during the session; staff reported continuing negotiations and paperwork work and indicated items may return to the council for formal action.

Miller and other staff said they will return with any required agreement documents, final project closeout numbers and formal proposals for rate changes or system acquisition for the council to consider in a future meeting.","City staff reported completed and ongoing water and sewer projects, a smart‑meter rollout and talks to assume a nearby system; leaders said no residential rate increase will be proposed but commercial rates would rise, with changes to take effect Oct. 1.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council member asks to rescind organizational chart so department heads report directly to mayor

Council to revisit tenant agreement; mayor (or lead negotiator) to resume talks

City reviews water and wastewater upgrades, plans commercial rate change; no residential increase