The Andalusia City Council recently took a step toward planned renovations for the Andalusia Fire Department when it engaged the New Orleans design firm Concordia to provide architectural drawings.
Planned upgrades to the fire station include private sleeping accommodations for the six to seven firefighters who are always on duty, an updated kitchen and a new façade. The work was among that planned when the City secured its 2022 Series A Bonds.
Preliminary drawings for the project show a new façade that picks up architectural details used in other municipal buildings, including the current City Hall.
Mayor Earl Johnson said the architectural drawings are expected to take about a month. Once received, the project will enter the bid phase.
NEW BODY CAMERAS
In unrelated business, the council also approved the purchase of new AXON body cameras for members of the Andalusia Police Department.
Chief Paul Hudson said the department first implemented the use of body cameras in 2016 when it received a federal grant to do so.
“Since we have started using the cameras, they have become a vital tool in the department for documenting crime scenes, evidence documentation, and training,” Hudson said.
The plan adopted by the council will include 35 cameras, with unlimited video footage stored in the cloud. The total cost for five years, which includes new cameras at the 2.5-year mark, is $201,933, to be paid over the course of the contract.
The City of Andalusia’s Department of Leisure Services has opened registration for the 2023 soccer season for August 7-21.
The league is open to ages 4-14. The co-ed teams will play in four divisions:
• Micro: Ages 4-5. Click here to register.
• Division 1: Ages 6-8. Click here to register.
• Division 2: Ages 9-10. Click here to register.
• Division 3: Ages 11-14. Click here to register.
The age cut-off date is July 31, 2023.
Registration is $35 for one child; $55 for two children; and $75 for three or more children. Scholarships are available and based on financial need. There is a $20 processing fee at the time of registration.
Ability ratings for ages 9 and up only are set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 24, at the Kiwanis Sports Complex.
To register, visit Johnson Park between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, August 1-15, or register online at cityofandalusia.com. (Look under “Departments” for “Leisure Services,” then “Parks and Recreation.”)
Four people have qualified to seek three open seats on the Andalusia Board of Education in the August 22nd election.
District One board member Sammy Glover is unopposed, as is John Wells, the only candidate for the District Three seat. Wells will replace David Bryant, who chose not to seek reelection. Bryant has served on the board since first being appointed in 2002.
District Five incumbent David McCalman is being challenged by Shawn Geohagan.
Board members are elected by district, so only residents of District Five will go to the polls this summer.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Kiwanis Center on Tuesday, Aug. 22, for the election.
The Andalusia Adult Activity Center is putting together a 10-day group trip to Hawaii in 2024 that includes visits to beaches, historic sites, volcanoes, a rain forest, coffee farm and a luau.
The trip begins with a flight from Pensacola to Honolulu, where the adventure begins. Days 1-3 are in Prince Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii. Highlights include a visit to all things Pearl Harbor, the historic Iolani Palace, the state capitol building, King Kamehameha’s statue, free time in downtown Honolulu, and O’ahu’s rain forest.
Days 4-6 take travelers to Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa in Kona, Hawaii. Travelers will fly to the volcanic “Big Island” of Hawaii including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a visit to Kailua-Kona, and a visit to a coffee farm.
Day 7-9 will be spent at the Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa in Lahaina, Hawaii.
The 10-day trip, which air travel, accommodations, transfers and 13 meals, is planned for May 9-18. Per-person costs begin at $6,069 for double occupancy. Booking prices increase after Nov. 9, 2023. Click here to review the full itinerary.
For complete pricing information, contact Sonja Godwin (sonja.godwin@cityofandalusia) or Debbie Carter () or call them at (334) 222-6891.
It’s time to make back-to-school shopping plans, especially if you want to get the most bang for your buck.
Alabama's 18th annual sales tax holiday for school-related items is set for July 21-23, 2023. Instituted in 2006, the sales tax holiday originally fell in August, but was moved to July in 2017.
From 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 21, until midnight, Sunday, July 23, the state waives its four-percent sales tax on school-related supplies and clothing. More than 300 cities and counties throughout Alabama waive their local taxes as well. Andalusia and Covington County are waiving sales taxes on school items that weekend, as are Opp, Florala, and Red Level.
Exempt items include:
• clothing priced at $100 or less per article of clothing;
• school supplies valued at $50 or less per item;
• books that cost $30 or less per book; and
• tablets, laptops, computers and printers with a selling price of $750 or less.
For a full list, visit revenue.alabama.gov.