By Crystal McGough, Associate Editor
ARGO – The Argo City Council passed a motion on Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, to approve $1,300 for the purchase of a city seal, which will be displayed behind the dais in the council chambers.
City of Argo Seal (Image credit: Argo Councilor Ann Brown)
Mayor Betty Bradley said that Judge Carl Chamblee Jr. is purchasing the seal for the city, reimbursing the city for $1,200. The city is paying an extra $100 fee for shipping and handling.
The council also approved a motion to authorize Mayor Bradley and City Attorney Michael Brymer to apply for an Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP) grant to help fund the construction of turn lanes on Highway 11, turning onto Argo-Margaret Road.
“We’re going to have to be able to do some matching money to be able to get that grant,” Bradley said.
During a pre-council work session, Brymer said that these types of grants are normally 80/20, with the city funding approximately 20% of the total cost of the project.
Bradley said that the city will be applying for the maximum amount available through the grant program, which is $2 million. This does not guarantee that the city will be approved for the full amount, however. The deadline for the city to apply for the grant is Nov. 18.
Beth King, with the Argo Food Bank, gave the council an update and asked for assistance getting word out to the surrounding communities that the food bank is in need of canned goods.
“Last council meeting, I told you we were in dire need of canned goods, and that still remains a problem,” King said. “I put out four bins: there’s one at White Oak Realty, Argo Hardware, Hilltop and Buckeye’s. So far, we’ve not gotten anything.”
King said the food bank has plenty of meat and even an overload of bakery items, which are donated from local grocery stores. Canned goods, however, are in short supply.
“One of the things I want to stress is we have several clients in Springville – it’s not all just Argo – and a couple in Odenville,” she said. “Matter of fact, we have one family of nine.”
City Attorney Michael Brymer said that Massey, Stotser & Nichols, PC, is also doing a drive to collect canned goods for the Argo Food Bank.
Michelle Coalson gave the city an update on Christmas for Kids 2022, a local program to collect and distribute Christmas gifts for underprivileged children in the Argo community.
Donation boxes are set up at several local businesses such as Buckeye Grocery, Dollar General and Argo Hardware. Applications are being accepted at Argo City Hall now through Dec. 9, and applicants must live in the city of Argo. Participation in this program is limited and will be filled on a first come, first served basis, Coalson said.
For more information on how to apply, contact Michelle Coalson at (205)337-7708, or Argo City Hall at (205)352-2120.
Image courtesy of The City of Argo
In other business, the council approved the following:
- Motion to accept an estimate from VP Roofing & Renovation LLC for the repainting of the Argo Municipal Complex, in the amount of $27,540.50
- Motion to pay for repair/work done to a John Deere tractor owned by the city, in the amount of $1,713.10
- Motion to approve an additional $1,500 towards Monster Mash Halloween event
The next meeting of the Argo City Council will be Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. The council will meet for a 5 p.m. work session, and the regular meeting will immediately follow.
