Council also OKs funds to help chief to hire more police officers
Employees with the town of Flomaton will get a Christmas bonus of sorts after the town council voted Tuesday afternoon to give all employees a $400 one-time step raise.
Mayor Pro tem Jim Johnson, chairing Monday’s meeting due to Mayor Dewey Bondurant’s absence, noted the council was able to give employees $300 last year and the recommendation was to give them $400 this year. Johnson noted money would come out of the town’s General Fund. The council voted unanimously to give the raise.
The council also approved up to $12,000 to allow Police Chief Johnny Wilson to hire two people and send them to the police academy to get certified.
Wilson said he received eight applications for the three current vacancies in the police department and some had character issues and he felt others were simply trying to use Flomaton as a stepping stone so he didn’t hire anyone.
He also noted all departments are looking for certified officers and some departments, like in Birmingham, are giving $5,000 bonuses for certified officers to join their department.
Wilson said he had two potential officers in mind he would like to send the police academy in May in Selma. He said the cost is $4,500 each. He noted the officers would sign a two-year contract to remain employed with the town and if they leave Flomaton they will be required to reimburse the town the cost of sending them to the academy.
Chief Wilson said the police department has been three officers short since Chief Chance Thompson left.
He said officers are having to work multiple shifts to have officers on the streets.
“I’m asking for help,” Wilson said.
Wilson said he can hire uncertified officers and he has six months to send them to the academy, which is a 12-week course.
Assistant Chief Dane NeSmith said uncertified officers can be hired but are required to be with a certified officer at all times.
The council voted unanimously to spend up to $12,000 to allow Chief Wilson to hire two officers and send them to the academy.
SAIL Center
The council approved spending $12,200 to replace the heating and air conditioning units at the Flomaton Community Center on McCurdy Street, which houses the SAIL Center where senior citizens gather and eat Monday through Friday.
Town Clerk Carrie Moore said the old units were 16 years old and were “worn out”.
“You have no choice,” Moore said.
She said she received the $12,200 price from a local company. The council agreed to spend up to $12,200 to replace the units.
