Sand Mountain Reporter

Boaz City Councilman David Dyar floated the idea of scratching the city’s annual free concert and using the money to fund needs in the police and fire departments during a meeting Monday at the Boaz Senior Center.

Mayor Tim Walker and Councilman Tim McRae disagreed, saying the summertime concert is a valuable promotional event and economic boost for the city.

The city council approved $35,000 in the fiscal year 2010 budget to fund this year’s concert, according to an official.

The annual concerts have been a staple of the Walker administrations, bringing in thousands of visitors to watch free performances by popular artists. Past performers have included Ray Stevens and The Oak Ridge Boys.

Dyar, who oversees the police department committee, expressed concerns over lack of manpower and equipment. He said money for the concert is better spent by investing in the police and fire departments.

Dyar said the police department has fewer patrol officers now than it did in 2000.

“We need more firemen and policemen and more technology upgrades,” Dyar said.

Walker, in his third term as mayor, replied: “I think we get extremely good service from our departments.”

McRae said he has received more positive reaction over the last nine years from people who do their shopping in Boaz because of the concerts.

“We budgeted as a council, and we all voted to pass the budget as a council, and it should stand,” McRae said.

Dyar also addressed the lack of a mulch policy, which may leave out people who want some of the free mulch provided by the street department.

Superintendent of Streets Jackie Pullen said the mulch is usually ready in April and lasts three to four weeks. The mulch pile is located next to the street department at 1120 College Ave.

Without a policy, Dyar said people can take as much mulch as they want using dump trucks. He supported a limit of a pickup or trailer load for the first two weeks before allowing the larger trucks to take loads.

Pullen said in the past the department has been stuck with excess mulch, which is why he did not impose restrictions.

In other business at Monday’s meeting:

• The council awarded the bid for the downtown revitalization project to Jackson Paving, of Guntersville. Jackson Paving submitted the low bid of $770,447.42.

• Council members amended the city’s zoning ordinance to include the recently annexed Mountainboro community.

• McRae announced James Ramsey as Fireman of the Year, a peer-voted honor sponsored by the Community Civitan Club of Boaz.

• Dyar announced Josh Gaskin as the Policeman of the Year, a peer-voted honor sponsored by the Community Civitan Club of Boaz.

• The council appointed Tommy Davis to the Boaz Beautification Board until Aug. 12. He replaces Christy Farmer, who resigned, according to an official.

• Walker announced the last day to purchase a business license without a penalty is Monday. City Hall is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

• Walker announced all city departments, except police and fire, will close Feb. 15 in observance of Presidents Day.

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