Lanett Council unanimously approves two demolition orders, appoints election manager and accepts $50,000 dump truck; airport hangar study tabled

The Lanett City Council on June 16, 2025, approved several resolutions and departmental requests that the council and city staff said are aimed at addressing blighted properties and supporting public works ahead of the summer construction season.

Councilmember Tony Malone moved and Councilmember Tamalita Autry seconded Resolution 06-25-08, authorizing demolition actions tied to Charles Randall Mangrum c/o Jason Wilkerson covering 38 properties; the motion carried unanimously. Later, Councilmember Ronnie Tucker moved and Councilmember Malone seconded Resolution 06-25-09 to demolish two lots associated with James H. and Theresa J. Wallace c/o Troy Walace; that motion also carried unanimously. Together, the two demolition resolutions cover 40 properties the council authorized for action.

Councilmember Angelia Finley Thomas read and the council approved Resolution 06-25-10 appointing City Clerk Deborah Gilbert as election manager because Mayor Jamie Heard is a candidate in the upcoming election. Gilbert also reminded the council that the city needs additional poll workers and stated that pay for poll workers is $100 for election day and $25 for the required training.

The council accepted a low bid from Herc Rental for a dump truck priced at $50,000 for the Street Department under Resolution 06-25-12. Rockey Bolt of the Street Department told the council crews have been paving in-house and with outside contractor Chris Clark Paving and thanked the council for approving the vehicle, saying the department still plans roughly six to seven more street pave operations.

Councilmembers debated Resolution 06-25-11, which would accept a proposal for airport hangar marketing and construction. Councilmember Malone moved to table the resolution, saying the council previously discussed obtaining bids for city-built hangars and those bids had not been collected; Councilmember Tifton Dobbs expressed concerns about the proposed hangars’ location. The motion to table, seconded by Councilmember Ronnie Tucker, carried. Airport Manager Craig Stapleton clarified that the Letter of Intent described in the resolution was for a study only and that the city hangar proposals and the private proposals in the resolution were separate matters: "the city hangars and the proposed hangars in this resolution were two separate items," he said.

On public-safety and enforcement matters, Councilmember Thomas told the council she had received a resident report that a car and mailbox were struck by an intoxicated driver described by the caller as lacking citizenship and questioned why the person had not been arrested. Richard Casner of the Police Department replied that the department has made 12 DUI arrests in the past month and that some arrested individuals had been deported; Casner also noted the department has recently added a bilingual hire.

In other routine departmental reports, Water Department lead Richard Chapman said crews are replacing water and sewer lines; Grounds Department lead Bo Lauderdale said creek-bank mowing is under way despite limited equipment; Fire Department reported a recent employee completion of basic training; and Allen Summers of Electric & Gas said the PHMSA project’s engineering phase is nearing completion and crews are working to maintain power during storms.

Mayor Jamie Heard closed the meeting after a motion by Councilmember Malone and a second by Councilmember Thomas. The meeting adjourned at 6:50 P.M.

What happens next: The tabling of Resolution 06-25-11 leaves the airport hangar marketing study under consideration pending follow-up information; scheduled elections and poll-worker recruitment continue per the City Clerk’s reminders.