The Eutaw City Council met on Tuesday May 24, 2011 for a routine meeting. Raymond Steele, the Mayor and four council members: Joe L. Powell, Hattie Edwards, Shiela H. Smith and David Spencer were present; Ralph Liverman was absent.

The Eutaw City Council met on Tuesday May 24, 2011 for a routine meeting. Raymond Steele, the Mayor and four council members: Joe L. Powell, Hattie Edwards, Shiela H. Smith and David Spencer were present; Ralph Liverman was absent.The main issue considered was renewal of a $400,000 loan from Wells Fargo Bank in Tuscaloosa which was used by the City for matching funds for projects. The original loan was negotiated in 2006 with Wacovia Bank, which was subsequently bought by Wells Fargo.The current remaining balance on the loan is $175,000. Wells Fargo agreed to extend the loan for one year at a time for five years, at a monthly payment of $5,162 and an interest rate of 5.26%. The original loan was used to pay matching funds for grants to improve the Fire Station at City Hall, Airport, Vera Vista sewage system, replacing certain bridges in the City and the purchase of the National Guard Armory building during the prior city administration.    Several Council members said that they did not know anything about the loan and were reluctant to act on the renewal. City Attorney Mike Smith said that if the Council did not approve the loan extension that they would face a request from the bank to pay the remaining balance in full. The Council then voted to approve the motion for the renewal.In other business, the Eutaw City Council:*Approved travel for Linda Spencer to attend the Uniform Crime Reporting (URC) Clerks training conference.*Approved travel for Mayor Steele to attend the National Conference of Black Mayors in Washington, D. C.  Councilman Spencer requested that the Mayor make a report when he returns from the trip.*Appointed Teresa Beeker as a member of the Greene County Industrial Development Authority.*Discussed purchasing cellular phones for council members to remain in communication with City Hall but decided not to proceed because of the cost.*Questioned the Mayor about appointing a City Building Inspector. The Mayor said he had not yet found a suitable applicant to recommend. Councilman Powell and Edwards urged the Mayor to act and re-advertise the position if necessary.In the public comment period, someone asked what were rules on farm animals in the city limits. The Mayor said any livestock, rabbits, poultry must be confined in an enclosed space. The enclosure must be more than 100 yards from a church, school or private residence. If someone does not follow these ordinance provisions then they will be in violation and could receive a summons and fine from the City Police Department.    Carl Davis asked what the fees were for use of the lights at the City Park for night games. He said his team, the 20/59 Boys Softball Team was planning to play several night games. The Mayor said the rate was set at $45 for two hours of lights at the field.    Iris Sermon with E-911 and the Alabama Emergency Management Agency said she was helping to coordinate tornado relief in Greene County. People were eligible to secure a “right-of-way agreement”  to allow FEMA and its agents to remove debris from private property. These agreements hold the agency and its contractors harmless for any damages if they come on private property. Copies of the agreement form are available to the Courthouse and E-911 Office.