Loss of inmate labor putting strain on town
With the loss of inmates due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant Jr., said the town workers are overloaded and hopes that people in the town will come together to do their part in making the town clean.
Council members voiced frustration over nuisance violations being taken to city court and nothing is being done.
Councilwoman Lillian Dean said there were two areas on Martin Luther King Drive that need to be cleaned up and suggested the town clean them up and put a lien on the owners' property.
“We have several eyesores in the Martin Luther King community,” Dean said. “It needs to be taken care of.”
Utilities Superintendent Shaun Moye said there is a legal process and it begins with sending a certified letter to the property owner.
Town Attorney Chuck Brooks also said the town could clean up the property and send a bill.
“This is all over town, not just Martin Luther King Drive,” Mayor Bondurant said. “We need to clean up the whole town.”
Councilman Buster Crapps said this will be a good test to see how it all works.
Dean said she sent letters to all family members on Martin Luther King Drive asking them to adopt a mile or half a mile to keep it clean. She also said she's seen Police Chief Chance Thompson stop and pick up trash along the street.
“That sends a message,” Dean said.
Councilman Jim Johnson said the town has sent nuisance complaints to the court, but nothing is ever done.
“We need to enforce our code and get it done,” Johnson said.
Crapps also said he doesn't think the people understand how losing the prison inmate labor has affected the town.
“I don't have much confidence in the court,” Bondurant said.
“If we are having ordinances enforced, it hasn't happened yet,” Johnson said.
Johns told the council they are not going to be able to lock people up for high weeds in their yards, but again said the option is for the town to do the work and put a lien on the property.
“It starts with the letters Shaun is sending out,” Johns said.
“Shaun Moye has too much to do,” Bondurant said. “His plate is overloaded.”
Johnson agreed that Moye and the other employees have too much to do and don't have time to deal with people's personal property.
Johns did suggest using the part-time animal control officer to help spearhead some of the process to get people to clean up their yards.
“We need to send somebody with authority so they realize we're not playing,” Crapps said.
Mayor Bondurant said he will get with Johns, Thompson and Moye and have a solution for the council to consider at the next meeting.
Moye did tell the council he doesn't think the inmates will come back this year and it makes it difficult to keep up with the grass-cutting schedule. He said the council may need to consider hiring someone for that job.
“We all need to use common sense,” said Councilman Roger Adkinson. “We have no inmates and we're cut short.”
