Future Wadley administration will get raise

The Wadley Town Council approved to double the salary for the council members and for the mayor for the next administration (2020-2024).

An increase in their salaries has not taken place in many years. The council will now make $100 a month, and the mayor will make $600 a month. This is in comparison to the now $50 a month for the council and $300 a month for the mayor. The new salaries will not take effect until the next administration.

Clack House

During Monday evening’s meeting, Mayor Donna McKay informed the council there is interest from someone to purchase the Clack House for total restoration for the purpose of residential living. She asked what would be the will of the council concerning this matter.

The council approved to sell Lots 27, 28 and 29 on Highland Circle, known as the Clack House. There was one dissenting vote. The house will be sold for $20,000 under the strict condition that it be restored.

Other business

In other business, the council:

• Proclaimed Saturday, Nov. 30, as Small Business Saturday. This day will be the Saturday after Thanksgiving. 99.7 percent of all businesses with employees in the United States are small business. McKay encouraged everyone to support these small businesses and shop local.
• Renewed their membership for Randolph County Chamber of Commerce for $1,000.
• Approved a donation to Wadley High §chool. They will donate $500 to the family and consumer science department and $500 to the FFA.
• Approved a donation of $1,000 to Cheaha Regional Library. The library needs a new bookmobile. They have been driving theirs for 20-30 years now and requested for a donation to be placed within Wadley’s budget. This bookmobile has served the schools in Wadley for many years. The library has also agreed to park the bookmobile in town in order to benefit others as well. This is a donation that supports something that will serve the local children and even adults.

Police report

Wadley police officers received a grant for truck equipment. They are hoping to get $16,000 from the grant. They are continuing to look into other grants as well.

Police are successfully using their ‘Tango Tango’ application on their smartphones. This application allows for immediate communication with police and other law enforcement. An officer can be anywhere in the United States and still listen in to what is happening in Wadley. Officers are able to record and save live feed as well. They have purchased the application for five users.

Police addressed the council in request of three AT&T cell phones. This would equal to one phone per full-time officer. The phones will be $149.99 each. The two part-time officers would remain on Southern Linc and the other three Southern Linc phones would be killed. The council approved this request.

Updates

The veterans’ program at Wadley High School will be Friday at 9:30 a.m. in the new gym.

Wadley Town Hall will be closed Monday, Nov. 11, for Veteran’s Day.

The Community Leaders 2020 Census will be held Thursday, Nov. 21, at 6 p.m. at Randolph County Courthouse. District Judge Amy Newsome will be present.

Wadley Town Hall will be closed Thursday-Friday, Nov. 28-29, for Thanksgiving.

The Town of Wadley Christmas celebration and parade will be Friday, Dec. 13, at Highland Park from 6-8 p.m. There will be free hot dogs, hot chocolate, cookies, music, a parade, storytelling, Santa and a Christmas story. The parade route will be shortened this year and will not go all the way to the school. Anyone is welcome to be in the parade.

Seventy-four children have already been sponsored by the town to attend the Red Zone Games at the Mercedes Benz stadium in December.

McKay reported that trunk-or-treat was “A great success and a great turnout!”

Wadley has continued to receive more sponsorship money for the bicentennial. Southern Union recently sponsored and now the town has a total of approximately only $900 invested in the bicentennial celebration.

The next council meeting will be Monday, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m.