Clif Knight

Hartselle Enquirer

The possibility of higher local taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel purchases made inside the town of Falkville and its police jurisdiction was raised during a work session conducted by elected officials on Jan. 31.

Mayor Ken Winkles and council members reviewed a chart showing fuel taxes currently being collected by other municipalities. They also indicated they will consider a resolution asking Town Attorney Larry Madison to seek an Attorney General’s opinion  on the legality of imposing an increase at their next regular meeting on Feb. 7.

Falkville’s current gasoline tax is two cents per gallon inside the town limits and one cent in its police jurisdiction. The tax on diesel is one cent per gallon inside the town limits and one-half cent in its PJ.

In Hartselle, two cents per gallon is collected on both gasoline and diesel. The in-town rates in Priceville are three cents on gasoline and one cent on diesel. Decatur collects two cents for gasoline inside the city and one cent in its PJ and two cents on diesel inside the city and one cent in its PJ.

The council also viewed videos of four prospective entertainment groups for the 2017

Fall festival and opted to pursue the booking of three local groups–The Cains, Riley Green and Sweet Tea Trio–on the recommendation of town employee Lance Stidham.

“We’ve featured talent from out-of-state locations in the past and weren’t pleased with the size of crowds they attracted,” Stidham said. “We’re always looking for ways to get more people to attend the festival and feel like an Alabama talent lineup is something we ought to try.”

“I feel like you’re moving in the right direction,” Winkles said.

Other discussion items included the following:

•Update all ordinances and make them accessible on the town website

•Reviewed quotes on the repair of the vacant police department evidence room

• Cost sharing with Cemetery Board on the removal of a dead tree from the cemetery at a cost of $7,000

Approved as agenda items for the February regular meeting were the following:

•Renew the contract with AirMedCare for extended coverage on town employees at a cost of $55 each

•Approve agreement with Cemetery Board for annual cemetery maintenance at a cost of $6,000

•Approved the purchase price of a burial plot in the town cemetery from $300 to $500 for single or $800 for double

•Declare as surplus property five Microsoft tablets

•Reappointed David Carroll to the Cemetery Board

•Resolution to amend Ordinance 125 and 94-5 regarding the tobacco tax (making the wholesaler responsible for the tax)

•Declare as surplus property police department equipment