Board appointment questioned at Wadley meeting

An appointment to a new Randolph County Agriculture Board led to a question being asked by one council member. Before the approval, council member Linda Briones asked Mayor Donna McKay why a new board was being appointed.

“They already have a board, so why do they need another one?” she asked.

Mayor McKay said she wasn’t really sure. She did say it was requested for a board member to be appointed from all four towns in the county along with a member from the Cattleman’s Association and the county commission.

Following the question by Briones, the council approved the appointment of Carl Davis to the new board.

The new board was formed by order of the USDA after that organization dissolved the previous board.

Police report

Police Chief Cory Ligon presented a report to the council on activity for 2022. The department answered 988 calls during the year. Among those were 36 vehicle accidents, 129 traffic stops, 25 domestic violence calls, established 11 landing zones, 24 alarms and 14 reckless driving. There were other calls answered that totaled 1 to 5 each. Ligon told the council that Rickey Shaddix from Clay County had been hired as a new officer.

In other business, the council:

Approved a proclamation recognizing January 11 as Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

Approved a proclamation recognizing February 19-25 as Arbor Week.

Approved a resolution for the Alabama mileage rate increase from 58.5 cents a mile to 62.5 cents per mile.

Approved the cutting of three trees along Highway 77 in an amount not to exceed $3,000.

Approved to renew a contract with Avenu Insights and Analytics for business license discovery/recovery and administration.

Approved a contract with Avenu Insights and Analytics to collect and administer business licenses beginning in 2024.

Scheduled the next council meeting for Monday, February 6 at 5 p.m.