Already down three employees, Flomaton Police Chief Bryan Davis told members of the town council Monday he will be losing two more officers shortly, one for medical reasons and another for military duty and asked the council to lift the hiring freeze to allow him to hire up to three part-time police officers.
“Is it possible to lift the freeze to hire some part time help?” Davis asked.
Councilman Jim Johnson made the motion to lift the ban and to allow Davis to hire the part time officers, noting he doesn't like to see only one officer working at night.
Davis said he would try to find three certified officers to work 24 hours a week to fill the slots.
“I'll do this if you promise to try to keep two men on at night,” said Councilman Buster Crapps. “I'm not going to be happy with three or four during the day and one at night.”
Currently the police department has two officers on duty during the day and one at night.
Crapps brought up the Sunday alcohol sales and said the revenue the town would receive from the Sunday sales could possibly pay for an additional police officer.
Nuisance properties
The council also passed an ordinance Monday night to better help the town address nuisance properties around town.
Town attorney Chuck Johns said the problems the town has had in the past were personnel issues, noting the past two enforcement officers are no longer employed with the town.
The new ordinance allows department heads and police officers to serve in that capacity. Johns explained the new ordinance was essentially the same ordinance used by the city of Brewton, but tweaked to address specific Flomaton needs.
Mayor Dewey Bondurant Jr., said the plan is to address one nuisance property at a time and that the new ordinance will allow the town to get the property owners into the town's judicial system.
Councilman Buster Crapps said he supports the ordinance but wanted to make sure the town didn't look over certain citizens and target others.
Johns said all properties will have to be declared a nuisance by the town council before anything moves forward.
Fire truck
Mayor Bondurant said he had received complaints about seeing the fire departments truck at different locations around town, such as eateries and at Dollar General.
Councilman Johnson said when the paid fireman is on duty he should drive the fire truck to eat because the truck needs to be with him in the event of a call.
Councilman Charlie Reardon said he's also received complaints about all the trucks responding to certain calls and multiple firemen and emergency personnel coming inside people's homes.
“Why do we have to move that big fire truck every time we go check blood pressure?” Reardon asked.
The council asked Johnson to review the agreement between the town and the fire department and report back at the next meeting.
Gas prices
Councilman Johnson also said the council needs to see if there is anything the council can do to address the high prices of gasoline in Flomaton compared to other areas such as Atmore and Brewton.
Johnson said people are leaving town to purchase gasoline and it's costing the town tax dollars because of the high gasoline prices.
