Hamilton council approves paving contract, creates account for $1.467 million I‑22 industrial park grant and accepts audit; enters executive session on pending​

The Hamilton City Council on a regularly scheduled meeting took several administrative and capital actions including awarding a street‑paving contract, authorizing a bank account to receive a $1,467,000 grant for industrial site preparation and accepting the city's fiscal 2024 audit.

The council awarded a $165,725 contract to S.T. Bond to pave identified sections of several city streets, including 840 linear feet of First Street Southeast, 685 feet of Second Avenue Southeast, 660 feet of Third Avenue Southeast, 1,270 feet of Fifth Avenue Southeast and 1,425 feet of Sasser Drive, plus a 320‑square‑foot parking pad. The bid was paid from the city's Rebuild Alabama account, which the mayor said is limited to road and bridge upkeep. "This money will strictly be used for our road and bridge upkeep and maintenance," the mayor said during the presentation.

The council also authorized the city clerk, Angela Owen, to open a dedicated checking account at First National Bank to accept a $1,467,000 award for preparation of two industrial sites in the I‑22 Industrial Park. The city will be responsible for approximately $9,000 in engineering costs related to the project; the remainder of the grant funds will cover site work. Angela Owen, Amy Nicks and Bob Page were listed as authorized signatories for the new account.

In other business the council voted to accept the fiscal 2024 municipal audit presented by auditors Amy Gilliland and Leanne Jones. The auditors reviewed the general fund and proprietary (water) fund financials, noting a…