The Andalusia City Council on Tuesday approved a $19.2 million budget than includes $17.8 million in expenditures in FYE 2018-19, which begins Oct. 1.
Mayor Earl Johnson said the budgeted expenses are approximately 2 percent over last year’s budget.
“That’s lower than the rate of inflation,” he said.
City employees will receive a one-time, 3 percent cost of living raise, the mayor said.
“We are happy to be able to do that. Our employees have been a couple of years without a raise, and our folks work awfully hard.”
By the next fiscal year, he said, the city’s new personnel pay plan and raises will be in place and will effectively do away with cost of living raises.
The budget also allows the city to maintain adequate reserves.
“That is necessary to maintain our excellent credit rating with Standard and Poor’s,” he said.
The budget includes $250,000 in contingency funds, and $1.16 million for its capital improvement account.
“If you take into consideration the great results from our audit, and being able to add to reserves, the City of Andalusia is in the strongest financial position ever.”
It is also the earliest the city has adopted a budget for the new fiscal year.
Construction on the new Jack’s restaurant is expected to begin mid-September, and be completed by February.
Jim Avery, director of development for the company, told the Andalusia City Council Tuesday night that Jack’s investment in the property, and construction of a new building is expected to total $2 million. The new facility will be at the former location of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
The 3,500 square foot building will seat 80, and the plan includes 40 parking spots, as well as room for semi truck parking behind the restaurant. The company will have a 45-member team of employees, Avery said. He said the company projects annual sales of $1.7 million.
The city council agreed to rebate 2 cents of the local 3.5-cent sales tax over a four-year period.
In other business, the council:
Amended its personnel policy to change the company the city will use for drug tests.
Abated six properties for violation of weed ordinances.
‘Big production’ being planned for spring at AHS
Even as officials are meeting at Andalusia High School’s stadium today to determine exactly how all entities will work around ongoing construction there to hold football games beginning next week, the board of education is looking ahead to using the auditorium in spring.
“Initially, they said November was the completion date,” Superintendent Ted Watson said. “But we know it’s not going to be November. It’s January or February now. I’m being optimistic that we’ll be able to use it in the spring.”
And he wants the first event held there to feature Andalusia students in a big way, he said.
“We’ve talked to Cathy Powell and Roger Powell,” Watson said. “We’d like them and the LAAC to work with us, along with our choral group, to have a production by the end of school.”
Meanwhile, a meeting was set this morning to finalize details for the first home game on Aug. 31.
Watson said the pressbox is not expected to be completed this season, but everything else should be done by homecoming, set for Oct. 12.
“The stadium will not be open range for children to play,” Watson said, adding that a number of areas will be off-limits.
“The stadium seats are there, ad the new grandstand is completed,” he said.
The Star-News will provide traffic routes, parking plans, and other details after Tuesday’s meeting.
In other business, the board:
Hired Randle Baker as custodian at Andalusia Elementary.
Authorized the superintendent to negotiate the purchase of lots adjacent to AHS to expand parking there. The purchase would be contingent upon the ability to get the property rezoned.
Andalusia High School football opens on the road this week week, which gives construction crews a little bit of time to get renovations to a point at which the state building commission clears the renovated stadium for use.
Because construction won’t be complete for the first home game, Wyatt Sasser Construction (WSC) met with school officials, city officials and the media Tuesday morning to work out details for the game.
Below are some of the questions that were answered.
Q: With construction continuing, will the stadium be safe?
A: Areas still under construction – mainly the new plaza – will be fenced off, and include signage warning fans not to enter the area.
Temporary handicapped-accessible ramps are being placed at two entrances.
AHS principal Dr. Daniel Shakespeare has asked that twice the number of police officers as usual be on site. Representatives of the fire department will assist with security. Wyatt Sasser Construction personnel also will be on site.
Both construction and school officials have cautioned parents that children should not be allowed to run and play as freely in the stadium as they have in the past until construction is completed.
Q: Where will fans enter the stadium?
A: Andalusia fans should follow directional signs and enter at the entrance beside the auditorium. Visitors should park in the old bus barn area and enter the gate beside the field house.
Q: Can visitors get to the home side and Andalusia fans get to the visitors’ side?
A: Superintendent Ted Watson said, “It’s possible, but it’s not easy. It’s best if you enter on the side where you plan to sit.”
Q: Will there be concessions available?
A: The band boosters will have concessions in the field house concession stand for visitors, and either under tents, or under the new grandstands on the home side.
Q: Are restroom facilities available?
A: WSC said there will be Americans With Disabilities-compliant restrooms on both sides of the field.
Q: Since the press box is not ready, where will the announcers, radio announcers, and film crew be?
A: The PA system will be operated from the top of the new (reserved seating) grandstands.
WAAO will broadcast from a specially-outfitted broadcast trailer built for this season. The trailer will be set up on the home side of the field, to the left (west) of the pressbox under construction, on the top for the concrete bleachers. In Bulldog parlance, “near where the player entry/exit gate used to be.”
The athletic department’s filming operation will likely be in a scissor lift, or similar lift device.
Q: What do you mean, “where the player gate used to be?” Where will the Bulldogs enter the field?
A: It appears the Bulldogs will enter the stadium from the west end of the stadium, between the home stands and the new field house.
Q: What about the new video board?
A: The final test of the video and audio equipment are set for next Wed., Aug. 29. While the video board will be used more each week of the season
Q: Is reserved seating available?
A: In addition to the new grandstands erected in front of the pressbox, some fans elected to keep their traditional seats. Watson said most of the reserved seating is sold, but there might be a few seats available. Contact the office of AHS for information.
Q: Where will we park?
A: The City of Andalusia and/or Andalusia City Schools will release a directional map for traffic by next week. The city has recently taken down two old maintenance buildings on the bypass side of the stadium, and is preparing the area for parking.
In case you missed Tuesday’s paper, the school board has authorized the superintendent to negotiate the purchase of adjacent property to expand the AHS parking lot.
Q: When will the stadium be completed?
A: The plaza is expected to be completed in time for homecoming, Fri., Oct. 12. The pressbox likely will not be completed this football season.
Q: Will there be a dedication ceremony for the stadium?
A: The dedication is expected to be held after the completion of the pressbox.
A spokeswoman for Jack’s has confirmed the company will open a restaurant in Andalusia early in 2019.
Sarah Cain, communications and merchandising manager for Jack’s said in an email late last week, “We’ve officially signed on to a property there and based on construction schedules we’re hoping for early next year.”
The company has not provided particulars about its plans, but is said to be locating a restaurant on the bypass where Kentucky Fried Chicken formerly operated.
The City of Andalusia has scheduled a public hearing related to Jack’s construction during its Tues., August 21, city council meeting.
Founded in 1960, Jack’s, originally known as Jack’s Hamburgers, is headquartered in Sumiton, Alabama. That first location was a walk-up hamburger stand that served 10-cent sodas, 15-cent fries, and 20-cent shakes.
The company has 155 locations in Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia, but currently operates no restaurants south of Montgomery.
The restaurant’s lunch and supper menu is focused on burgers and fried chicken. It also offers biscuits during the breakfast hours, served with fried chicken, pork chops, steak, sausage, smoked sausage, ham, or bacon eggs and cheese.