League Provides Cities With New Funding Source
Thanks to some creative thinking, Piedmont and other cities may soon have an alternative source of financing for almost any project.
At last week's City Council meeting, Mayor Charlie Fagan mentioned AMFund, a newly formed funding corporation in Montgomery.
Fagan said this week the city is looking at obtaining some future financing from the group. He said Alabama League of Municipalities representatives had been looking at similar activities in other states and now planned to bring the program to Alabama.
The purpose of the corporation is to "provide low-cost financing to Alabama municipalities," the mayor explained.
According to an AMFund release, tax-exempt bonds will be issued and the revenues will be used to provide funding for municipal loans. The loans will be at a low, tax-exempt interest rate and can be used for almost any purpose.
The "bond-pooling program" will allow cities to:
-Share issuance costs that reduce individual borrower's costs.
-Participate in bond issues of sufficient size to enable the borrowers to achieve attractive interest rates.
-Reduce staff and legal requirements with "straight-forward loan documentation."
Fagan said bond issues can be expensive for cities because of the legal preparation and sale of the bonds. By joining with other cities, Piedmont could save money in sharing these fees.
One of the Fagan administration's most highly touted accomplishments is providing financial stability for the city. The mayor said, however, this did not mean all the municipal problems have been solved. "One thing we are not short of is needs." Fagan said it was probably only a matter of time before the Alabama Department of Environmental Management ordered the city to completely revamp its waste disposal system. He cited open drainage ditches as the cause of erosion of public property and a breeding ground for insects and other pests.
Fagan and the council are continuing a plan to pave a number of city streets, and the city jail must be remodeled.
These are but a few of the projects facing the city, and all can be addressed by AMFund loans, Fagan said. He was quick to point out that any loans would be carefully considered and the repayment would be a prime concern.
"We don't want to borrow ourselves into the poor house," Fagan quipped.
In the mean time AMFund has requested Piedmont and other cities to prepare a "wish list" for projects and equipment that may be financed through the bond pool. Once these lists are complied, AMFund officials can estimate the amount of money needed in the first issue.
According to the release, the money can be used to fund equipment purchases, public street improvements, water and sewer system improvements or practically any public purpose. Grants and other funding programs are often limited to specific areas, such as public safety or transportation improvements.
While this is a first for Alabama cities, the state has often issued bonds for schools and other public facilities.

City Will Use New Animal Control Center
Effective November 1, all animals picked up by the local animal control officer will be transported to the new Calhoun County Animal Control Center on Morrisville Road in Anniston.
Earlier this year county officials decided to make use of an empty building overlooking the Calhoun County Landfill to house animals picked up by county and city animal control officers. County employees and jail inmates worked together in preparing the building for use as an animal shelter.
The move is considered a more cost-effective way of dealing with strays and uncontrolled animals than contracting with The Animal Shelter, which is operated by the Calhoun County Humane Society.
Although the decision to use the new center will save the city money, officials are more impressed with the flexibility of the facility.
"It is a government entity, has a larger facility and more manpower. Our good working relationship with the County should result in better service than we got from the old facility," said City Clerk Bill Fann.
Fann said problems occurred on a yearly basis when the shelter run by the Humane Society failed to submit contract figures in time for them to be included in the budget. Once the budget is passed, the city is unable to meet the requests of the shelter for additional appropriations. The shelter has also cut the number of animals the city could send to the facility.
Fann noted that the city does not have a written contract with the new shelter, only a verbal agreement. The county has hired an officer to work this end of the county and he will transport the animals to the center at no cost to the city.
This year the city allocated approximately $12,500 for animal control services.
Once an animal is taken to the center, owners must pay $15 to get a pet back and a fee of $10 is added for each additional day the pet is housed at the center. "We make an effort to locate owners so they can get their animals back," Fann said.
As required by law, animals will be held for seven days before being available for adoption.
Persons wishing to adopt an animal from the center must first arrange to have it spayed or neutered by a veterinarian of their choice. The center does not collect a fee for the adoption, but the medical expenses are the responsibility of the adopter. In addition, all animals must also have an up-to-date rabies vaccination.

PARD Gearing Up For Youth Basketball
Craig Russell and the staff of the Parks and Recreation Department are busy gearing up for the upcoming basketball season.
After Jeff Formby took over as superintendent of the department, a complete inventory was taken of all the available sports equipment and a list of equipment needing replacement was compiled.
Russell told Mayor Fagan at the last council meeting that the new inventory system will save the city money in the long run.
"Now we know where every piece of equipment is," Russell said.
Recently suppliers were invited to submit bids for basketball equipment and six have been received.
Keeping with the city's policy, Russell will now purchase equipment according to the line-item cost. Each bid will be carefully reviewed to make sure the required qualify specifications are met and a comparison of the cost will be made. The department will then purchase items from the supplier with the best deal. It may mean that several suppliers are involved in a purchase of seasonal equipment.
According to Russell, the department does not have the luxury of purchasing the finest equipment available.
"We usually try to buy in the in mid-price range," he said. "We will not purchase the cheapest basketballs because they do not last and the expensive ones are just too expensive for our budget."
The expenditures for the basketball season are small compared to the baseball season, but employees of the department are careful about their choices and their budget.

Landscaping Completed
Workers involved in the Homemakers and Community Leaders Group recently planted an assortment of native plants at the Eubanks Welcome Center.
City employees removed sod from a 24 x 29 section near the entrance and workers landscaped the area with dwarf nandian, annuals and mulch. The plan includes a bird house and bird bath as well as a bench.
The city's participation in the project only involved time spent by employees preparing the area.

Strictly Personal
Your Response Has Been Overwhelming...
Despite its name, seldom do I use this column for personal matters. Sure, the ideas and comments are mine, but they usually deal with matters or events outside my sphere of activities. Last week was an exception, and though it is a rarity, I will take the liberty of using this week's discourse on offering some thanks to many people.
I cannot count the number of phone calls, visits, expressions of sympathy and wishes for brighter days I have received in the past 10 days. It has been overwhelming, and I thank each of you. I am very aware that some of you have been kind enough to include my family and me in your prayers. Somewhere we have found the strength to get through this ordeal, and I believe we have gained this strength through your prayers.
The contributions are beginning to come in, and we are so grateful. I don't know if I explained what the Zamora Shrine Transportation Fund money is used for. Shriners operate 19 orthopedic hospitals and three burn clinics in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Zamora is the Shrine temple in Birmingham, and we use the orthopedic unit in Greenville, S.C., and the burns center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The hospitals treat children 18 and younger at no charge. When a patient is accepted into the program, the child and one parent are transported to the hospital in a van. All expenses are paid on the trip, and if a stay is necessary, the Shrine covers all motel, meals, laundry and whatever other expenses my be incurred by the parent. There is never a charge for the medical service.
The operation of these vans is expensive, as is the other expenses for the patients and their parents. A contribution to this fund will help continue seeing that this free service is offered to children who suffer from a variety of maladies. Trust me, it means a lot to them. When you make a contribution in Carol's memory, you are helping a burned or crippled child. Thank each of you for your kindness.
During the most harrowing couple of days, there are some people who went far above and beyond simple friendship. Charlien Mobley heads that list. She is an RN at Jacksonville Medical Center, and she stayed with Carol and our family for the duration of our problem. She was not working her regular shift. She spent those long hours caring for our small brood. When she wasn't at Carol's side, she was with us giving us the latest information and offering comfort. Her husband, Jerry, was there to offer his support. Our family owes the Mobleys a debt so large it can never be fully repaid, but they have our undying gratitude and love.
To those who came and stayed with us in the waiting room, our sincere appreciation. They included Terry and Dede Maze, Teddy and Lynn Grogan, Art and B.J. Lyle, Don Wheeler, and several friends from the Anniston area. It was a great comfort to come out of Carol's room and see familiar faces.
Dr. Rey Gavino and the ICU staff at Jacksonville used all their skill to help Carol and were almost constantly at her bedside. Thanks, folks, for the extra effort you gave.
Carol's memorial service was somewhat of an unusual request, but Dr. Harris Hand conducted it to perfection. It was brief, meaningful and dignified. It was exactly as she would have wanted it.
At the office, Susan and Betty simply took over. I never had to worry about the paper, due to their hard work and concern for my family. They have a special place in our hearts.
Finally, I would like to share some information with you concerning donating your body to medical research. This is a decision I made in 1976. Carol decided to be a donor in 1978. When we signed up for the program, it was understood that the family would be required to give the donor program an amount equal to the Social Security death benefits (about $250). This was to help with the transportation of the body.
We learned rather abruptly that this had changed. After some misinformation had been given the hospital, we finally got things straightened out so Carol's wishes would be obeyed. It was then we learned that the donation fee had increased to $750 and the transportation would cost $2.25 per mile. We were also informed that we could not use a local mortuary to transport the body. The UAB contractor was the only choice. To make a rather long story short, the cost of donating a body to medical science came to $997.50.
I'm not complaining, because this was Carol's wish. I would have borrowed the money and paid it if it had been 10 times that amount. I just thought it was interesting to note how much it costs to make a donation.
Again, thank each of you for everything. If I have left out anyone, it is only stupidity on my part, not a lack of appreciation.