Residents pressure council on $5.7 million settlement, education funding and city finances before election

A slate of residents used the Aug. 19 public-comment period at the Prattville City Council meeting, the final meeting before the Aug. 26 municipal election, to raise concerns about a recent $5.7 million settlement related to a rezoning dispute, local education funding, apparent discrepancies in city financial reports and stormwater erosion at the North Holland Memorial Community Center.

Thea Langley told the council she considered the $5.7 million settlement “egregious,” said the planning commission had recommended against rezoning and questioned the role of city-appointed commissioners and the city’s decision to settle; she asked when the public would get an explanation for the decision. The mayor replied later in the meeting that the rezoning matter had been complicated by access and fire-code requirements, developers changing plans, and litigation risk, and…