Andalusia City Council appoints election workers, adopts Rebuild Alabama plan, reappoints airport member and accepts 2024 audit

The Andalusia City Council on Aug. 5 approved several routine but consequential items for the city, including staffing and pay for an August election, adoption of a local transportation-plan resolution to secure state road funds, a reappointment to the airport authority, a temporary waiver of business-license fees for a community event and acceptance of the 2024 audited financial statements.

Council members first approved minutes from the July 15 meeting before taking up formal actions. The council then adopted Resolution No. 20 25-26, appointing officials to run the city's municipal election on Aug. 26 and setting pay for those workers.

City Administrator (unnamed) told the council the slate includes a chief inspector, inspector, assistant inspector, machine operators and assistant clerks to staff voting at the Kiwanis Center from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 26. "It compensates each of these individuals $200 for the day of their service," the City Administrator said, and added that the appointees are "qualified electors" with multiple years of experience.

The council adopted Resolution No. 20 25-27, a local acceptance of the transportation plan related to the Rebuild Alabama Act (referred to in the meeting transcript as "act number 2 19 dash 2"). The mayor explained the measure formalizes the city's agreement to keep those state-distributed gas and road-tax funds separate from other municipal funds and to spend them only on items the act allows, such as resurfacing, bridge improvements and other road work. "If we don't do it, we won't get the money," the mayor said.

The council also approved the reappointment of Mike Holloway to the South Alabama Regional Airport Authority seat selected by the city. The mayor said Holloway is the only pilot serving on the authority and described that experience as valuable for the board.

Separately, the council voted to suspend the requirement that vendors at the annual gun-and-knife show at the Kiwanis Center purchase individual business licenses for the event; council members said administrative costs would likely exceed any revenue from collecting individual license fees. The council noted the event includes vendor tables and offers training and safety instruction for adults and children.

Finally, the council formally accepted the city's 2024 audited financial statements after auditors presented their report during the workshop meeting earlier that evening; the mayor said the audit will undergo the required formatting and publication steps and will be made public.

Votes at a glance - Approval of July 15 minutes: motion by Councilman Nicks; second by Councilman Mount; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Resolution No. 20 25-26 (appoint election personnel; pay $200 each): motion by Councilman Powell; second by Councilman Basel; outcome: adopted. - Resolution No. 20 25-27 (adopt transportation plan for Rebuild Alabama Act): motion by Councilman Boswell; second by Councilman Powell; outcome: adopted. - Reappointment of Mike Holloway to South Alabama Regional Airport Authority (city-appointed seat): motion by Councilman Powell; second by Councilman Nicks; outcome: approved. - Waiver of business-license requirement for vendors at the annual gun-and-knife show (Kiwanis Center): mover not specified in record; second by Councilman Mao; outcome: approved. - Acceptance of 2024 audited financial statements: motion by Councilman Nicks; second by Councilman Powell; outcome: approved.

Discussion vs. decisions - Discussion only: auditors presented the audit during the earlier workshop; council members reported no needed corrections during that workshop. - Direction/assignment: none recorded in the transcript beyond formal appointments and acceptance steps. - Formal actions: all items listed above were adopted by voice vote as recorded in the meeting minutes.

The council did not record roll-call vote tallies in the transcript excerpt; votes were taken by voice and recorded as "aye" with no recorded opposition on the items presented. The meeting adjourned after acceptance of the audit.