Alamo Adopts New Budget, Sets Millage Rate in Last Session of 2024
In its last meeting of 2024, the Alamo City Council tied up some loose ends and prepared for the New Year. The Council adopted its 2025 budget, set the millage rate, and settled on how to spend the remainder of ARPA funds prior to a December 31 deadline.
Meeting in a called session on Monday, December 23, at City Hall, the Council adopted a new budget, with total projected revenue amounting to $2,029, 935, and projected expenses totaling $1,893,029.25. The Council set a millage rate of 8.777, which is slightly lower than the previous year’s millage rate of 8.778.
The Council also agreed to spend the remainder of its federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) allocation for several water and sewer projects and as utility assistance for city residents who are water and sewer customers. An upgrade for lift station #1 will cost $73,800 (equipment), plus $45,000 for installation; a new valve at a well at the Wheeler Correctional Facility will cost $67,045; and the remainder of the ARPA funds, $24,176, will go to water and sewer customers.
In other business, the Council approved a bid of $10,000 from GAB Land Services of Lumber City to demolish three city-owned structures damaged by an EF-1 tornado May 9, and further damaged by Hurricane Helene September 27. The buildings included a hardware store, the historic livery building, and a newer storage facility.
During the session, the Council approved a $122,032 bid from Sikes Brothers, Inc., for the completion of 2024-2025 Local Maintenance and Improvement Project (LMIG) and 2024 Local Road Assistance (LRA) paving and road improvement projects within the city.
The Council also approved its meeting dates for the upcoming year; approved a request from the Department of Corrections to post tag readers at several locations within the city as a deterrent to crime; agreed to furnish a letter of recommendation to Windstream-Kinetic to apply for a grant to furnish broadband coverage in the City; and heard a report from City Manager Jeff Floyd about Georgia’s HB 451, which mandates additional PTSD coverage for first responders beginning in January.
Floyd reported that crews cleaning up debris from Hurricane Helene will return after the holidays to complete their tasks. “They hope to get everything cleared in three weeks,” Floyd said. In November, the City of Alamo, along with Wheeler County and the City of Glenwood, approved a new contract for the next phase of FEMA-assisted recovery from Hurricane Helene. Alamo City Council Meeting Dates for 2025 January 27, February 24, March 17, April 21, May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15, October 20, November 17, December 15.
The Council meets Mondays at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
