The City of Andalusia saw an increase in sales tax collections, improved its net position, and reduced long-term debt in fiscal year 2019, auditors told the Andalusia City Council Tuesday night. 

Missy Pierce, CPA, and Gail Hayes, CPA from Rabren, Odom, Pierce and Hayes, P.C. presented a draft of the audited financials Tuesday night. Final approval by the council is expected in July. 

Pierce said the city increased its net position by $1.6 million in FY 2019. It was the fifth consecutive year that the net position had increased.

Other highlights included:

• The City’s cash balance at Sept. 30, 2019 was $10.5 million, which was a decrease of $291,000 from the previous year. That decrease with the result of the purchase of capital assets with restricted cash.  The City’s unrestricted cash increased more than $1 million from the prior year, and represented 58 percent of the cash on hand at September 30, 2019.

• The City’s governmental activities reported $21.8 million generated from taxes, program revenues and transfers in. This was a 5.4 percent increase over the prior year. The city’s program expenses for the same period increased only 2.9 percent over the prior year. 

• The City’s sales and use tax increased approximately $373,000 over the prior year. Sales taxes have increased more than $1.25 million over the past five  fiscal years. 

• The City reported capital outlays of $1.9 million in FY 2019, including $890,874 for street paving; $549,580 for sidewalks; and other equipment, vehicles, buildings and improvements. 

• The city made payments of $1.9 million on its long-term debt in fiscal year 2019. That brings the total debt reduction for the current quadrennium to $5,674,319, exclusive of the 2016 and 2018 bonds that executed in conjunction with the Airport Authority and Andalusia City Schools, who are responsible for the debt service on those notes. 

Mayor Earl Johnson said council has put in place quarterly reviews of budgets and expenditures, and their hard work shows in the strength of the City’s financial position.

Suncoast Infrastructure, Inc. has begun work on a major sewerage upgrade project for the City of Andalusia Utilities.

The new project includes renovation of approximately 143,000 linear feet of lines, as well as inspection and replacement of the piers which hold above-ground lines in place. It is designed to limit the stormwater infiltration, which will in turn extend the life of the city’s wastewater treatment plant. 

Suncoast’s trenchless process is designed to be minimally intrusive into residents’ lives. 

The project includes putting a camera into existing lines to determine if a line is cracked or deteriorated. If the line is damaged, a second crew comes in and installs a new cured-in-place lining. The lining material is rolled into the existing line, and crews circulate hot water into it to begin the curing process.

Before Suncoast begins working in a neighborhood, crew members go door to door, and leave door hangars notifying residents that work will be done at a certain time. During the installation, sewerage service will be closed off from the sewer mainline, which requires residents to minimize water usage for flushing toilets. Residents are asked to completely refrain from using washing machines, dishwashers, showers, baths and garbage disposals to prevent potential flooding.

Once work is completed, residents are notified that service has been completely restored. 

The City Utilities office has received a few complaints from people who have experienced odors in their homes during the process. 

Daniel Harris of Suncoast said the smells are a byproduct of the curing process, and are usually a sign that there is a problem with a p-trap or wax seal in the household plumbing. Often, he said, rarely used bathrooms will not have water in the p-trap, which allows the odorous but non-toxic gases to come through the line.

He encourages residents in the neighborhoods where work is being done to flush infrequently-used toilets, and run water in sinks and tubs that are not often used, insuring that there is water in the p-trap when Suncoast begins the curing process of new lines. 

Suncoast Infrastructure has established a local office in 100 Westgate Plaza. Anyone with questions is asked to stop by the office or call M arc Byrd (601) 750-3360 or Daniel Harris (601) 613-3888. 

The Andalusia City Council on Tuesday approved a development agreement for one of the historic downtown buildings acquired earlier this year.

Andy Gibson, owner of Draftstone Properties, plans to renovate the McArtan Building, also known as the Opera House, located at 201 South Three Notch Street. His plan calls for three commercial spaces downstairs and eight apartments upstairs.

The building will become part of the Capital Improvement Cooperative District of the City of Andalusia, which will finance approximately half of the estimated $550,000 in planned renovations.

“It was only on March 10 of this year that we formally announced the city’s acquisition of downtown properties, and revealed the architect’s vision of what those properties could become,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. “On the following Friday, March 13, we had the first large-scale announcement of closings related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

“I am very pleased to report that the pandemic shut down many things, but that we have continued to work on plans for our downtown, and this project is moving forward,” he said. 

Gibson, who also works in the oil industry, was returning to his post in the Middle East on Tuesday and could not attend the meeting. Earlier in the day, he said he already has two strong prospects for the three commercial spaces he will put in the building. 

“The apartments are going to be different than anything we currently have in Andalusia,” he said. “We’re putting extra time and money in them and are working to preserve some of the architectural features.”

Gibson said he believes the apartments will have appeal to millennials, who want to live near entertainment venues and are less interested in larger homes. He expects to have them ready for occupancy by Spring of 2021. 

The development agreement states that Draftstone Properties will begin repaying the Development District once the building reaches 80 percent occupancy or 12 months after occupancy, whichever comes first.

The agreement has perpetual maintenance and appearance restrictions that requires the premises to be maintained physically and in appearance as set out in the architectural plans for the premises. 

As part of the agreement, the City of Andalusia and its Development District have the first right of refusal if Gibson decides to sell the property to a third party. 

In a separate action, the council agreed to purchase two parcels on Pear Street to develop as downtown parking. It is expected that Gibson will participate in that development and some of the parking will be reserved for tenants of the McArtan Building. The parcels are owned by Wyley D. Ward, who is selling them to the city for $40,000. 

Gibson and Draftstone Properties also own Southern Terrace Apartments on Church Street, which are being renovated. He also owns Snow Biz on River Falls Street. 

The second floor of the McArtan Building, or Opera House, will have three studio apartments, three two-bedroom apartments and two one-bedroom apartments. 

Duncan Archibald McArtan and D.A. McRainey constructed an  Opera House on the corner of South Three Notch Street and Pear Streets, which was completed before 1905. According to research published by Curtis Thomasson, the majestic three-story building featured a large auditorium with stage, tiers of seats, a balcony and four comfortable opera boxes. Performances included local talent shows, operettas, piano recitals, school plays and traveling shows. In 1907,  Andalusia High School held its graduation exercises there. The Opera House truly became the social center for Andalusia during the early 1900s. The first silent films of the era were shown in the building. Tragically, a fire of undetermined origin destroyed the building circa 1914. Later, a smaller McArtan Building was constructed on the site, which has housed many businesses through the years.

Lewis Carpenter, who made national news when he defeated an incumbent to become the first African American member of the Andalusia City Council, died Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at Mizell Memorial Hospital. He was 92.

Mr. Carpenter was born in Crenshaw County on February 1, 1928. He was the fourth of eight children, and grew up in the Bullock Community just outside of Brantley. When he was 21, he moved with his parents to Andalusia, he told The Star-News in a 2012 interview. His parents purchased a home on Lowe Avenue, and he also purchased land on Lowe Avenue, anticipating that he would also want a home there one day. He and his wife, Myrtice Bryant Carpenter, made their home there for 58 years until they moved to Opp Health and Rehab. 

In 1952, Carpenter was “called into service.” In his two years in the military, he spent 18 months in the Korean Conflict. 

In 1959, he joined Covington County Bank, and worked there in several roles over a 33-year career. He also worked as a reserve deputy with the Covington County Sheriff’s Office for many years.

In 1980, when the peace time armed services draft was reinstated, Lewis was in the first class appointed to the Selected Service Board. He served in that role for 20 years, retiring in 2001. He also was a poll worker for many years.

In 1984, he became the first African American elected to the Andalusia Council, and received many accolades during his three terms of service. His election gained nationwide attention, and his story was featured in Jetmagazine.

Carpenter was elected during at-large voting, meaning he had to run city-wide, and defeated a sitting council member to win his first term. Carpenter said he was encouraged to run by Mr. Will Coleman.

Jim Krudop was among those with whom Carpenter served on the city council.

“When I think of Lewis, I think of a very fine man, who was interested in Andalusia,” Krudop said. “He was always gentle, and had good, solid comments to make on how we could work together to make Andalusia better.”

Krudop said that it was in Carpenter’s first term that the council worked together to establish council districts, meaning council members no longer had to run for office city-wide. 

In the 2012 interview, Carpenter said he was proud of several things accomplished during his council service, including improving sewerage treatment, increasing street paving, upgrading the police department, expanding the library and supervising the recreation department. He also appointed Andalusia’s first African American school board member, Sammy Glover, who currently holds an elected position on that board.

In June of 1999, Carpenter received an honorary associate of arts degree from Lurleen B. Wallace Junior College, and later served on the college’s advisory board.

Mr. Carpenter devoted his life to church, community and country. At a young age, he joined Jordan Grove Baptist Church in Searight, Ala., where he served as a deacon, church treasurer and in various other positions. In later years, he was a member of Grace Chapel Baptist Church in Andalusia, where he was an active member until his health failed. 

He also was a member of Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons of Alabama, with affiliations in the Rose of Sharon Lodge 196 and Del Rose Chapter 65, Order of the Royal Arch. He was always a kind and well-mannered gentleman.

His parents, H.D. Carpenter and Bessie Phillips Carpenter, and his seven siblings all preceded him in death. 

His wife, Myrtice Bryant Carpenter, along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends, will forever cherish his memory.