1 week Ago By Story by Donna Thornton [email protected]
The Rainsville City Council approved an agreement to provide Computer Aided Dispatch for its police and fire departments. Police Chief Michael Edmondson said DeKalb County uses CAD and with this agreement, Rainsville’s departments will have the same system as it and other agencies, including DeKalb Ambulance Service. “It brings us up to where we need to be,” he said.
The cost for the police department will be $493 a month, and will include NCIC access in all vehicles. For the fire department, the cost will be $154 a month. Mayor Rodger Lingerfelt said the bid had been changed a little on a wash bay for the Public Works building.
The change will increase the price by $57,792 more than the original bid. The wash bay is lined on the inside and on top with waterproof lights, he said, because pressure washers will be used there. The council voted to make the amendment.
In other action, the council: Purchased a printer from Berry & Dunn for the sanitation department, at a cost of $959. Declared a damaged Adams Arms P2 5.56 16-inch rifle surplus, with plans to accept sealed bids for it, to be opened April 16.
Approved a proclamation declaring April Fair Housing Month in recognition of the 57th anniversary of the passage of the National Fair Housing Act. Accepted the city’s audit report. Accepted a quote of $22,950 from J.
C. Cheeks Contracting for putting center line striping on more than 17 miles of road. Approved the mayor financing $58,337.
50 for Tasers for the police department through First Southern State Bank. Approved paying $9,698 in Christmas expenses from the city’s special events. Approved paying $2,550 from grant money to put a decorative fence around the old pump station in front of the Agribusiness Center to eliminate an eyesore.
Approved a resolution confirming the city had met ADEM requirements for cleanup around the sewer plant. Reminded residents of the spring clean-up, slated May 3-31 – 7 a.m.
-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, Saturdays 8 a.
m.-4 p.m.
Authorized the mayor to execute a one-year lease with Gary Andrews. Approved purchase 12 sets of turn-out suspenders for the fire department, at a cost of $1,600. Approved placing four utility poles at the fire department training facility for lighting, at a cost of $1,384 from Sand Mountain Electric.
During the council’s work session, Rodney Etherton addressed the body, saying he wanted the mayor and members to come look at damages on Dilbeck Road he says the city is responsible for. Etherton told the council he is 72 years old and has lived 71 and a half years on the same farm in Rainsville. On Oct.
31, 2022, a young man ran a red light at the intersection of Highways 35 and 75 and hit his car. The only injuries, he said, were to the vehicles. A Rainsville officer wrote up the accident report, he said and asked for Etherton’s driver’s license.
Etherton said he gave him the DL number, telling him his license was expired. “I had chose not to renew my license,” Etherton said. “He asked about my tag and I told him I had not renewed my tag since March of 2020.
He asked about insurance and my reply was the same.” Etherton, reading from an apparent prepared statement, related his faith in his heavenly Father, and his belief that people are to follow God’s instructions. He talked about the problems in today’s society – “worse than ever before.
” If we are a Bible-believing nation, in the heart of the Bible belt, Etherton questioned, how is it “that we allow judges, politicians and other agents of the government to dictate what is right and what is wrong in our towns, county and state. The court systems are so flawed. “Abortion began in the ‘60s or before and has not stopped,” he said, as he went to name other behaviors he considered abominations.
“The Creator will not tolerate this.” Etherton said he’s scheduled for court before Judge Shaunathan Bell in May; the City of Rainsville is the plaintiff and he is the defendant in the action. He said he’s dealing with the City of Scottsboro in Jackson County Court on the same issues, and in Fort Payne.
He said one of the judges was waiting to see how the Rainsville case turned out before proceeding. “I’m in hopes of making a change in how we are controlled,” he said, claiming that God-given rights, “taken from the Bible by our founding fathers, affirmed in the Constitution of the United States and the State of Alabama are being violated, neglected and abused by the powers that be.” Etherton said people must take a stand for truth and righteousness.
“This stand is our only hope for our grandchildren,” he said. He contended the almighty dollar is what everyone is after, and that is wrong. “I’m not saying y’all have to believe what I believe, but I’m saying I don’t have to believe what y’all believe,” Etherton said.
“We’re on different sides of the fence. It’s going to come out in court.” He went on to warn that judgment day is coming and cautioned those who speak with a “forked tongue.
” “It’s going to be a tough row to hoe for a lot of people,” Etherton said. “Thank you for coming to see us,” Lingerfelt said..
