Martha Roby: Prayers for Wetumpka during this time of recovery
On the afternoon of Saturday, January 19, a powerful tornado hit the City of Wetumpka in Elmore County, ripping through the beautiful downtown area and inflicting heartbreaking and significant damage. By the grace of God, no lives were lost, and only minor injuries have been reported. Still, the destruction is extreme, and the road to recovery is long. The Monday following the tornado, I joined Governor Kay Ivey and other local officials to spend time on the ground with those impacted. I had the opportunity to see the devastation firsthand, and it was heartbreaking, to say the least. The beautiful, historic First Presbyterian Church was destroyed, and First Baptist Church of Wetumpka sustained terrible damage. The Wetumpka Police Station, senior citizens center, and recreation center were also lost in the tornado. More than 35 homes and dozens of businesses were damaged or destroyed. Wetumpka and its residents are in the midst of determining the extent of damages and planning for what needs to be rebuilt, and we must do our very best to help however possible. I am deeply grateful to the local leaders and first responders who immediately jumped to action to begin securing the area and putting the pieces back together for the people who have lost so much. During this very challenging time, it has also been encouraging to see the community come together and begin the rebuilding process like a family. Mere hours after the storm, the Elmore County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) heard from more than 1,000 individuals who signed up to volunteer their time and resources to the clean-up efforts. If you are local and personally interested in helping out with clean-up in downtown Wetumpka or in Elmore County, please contact the Elmore County EMA by calling (334) 567-6451. The Elmore County Commission and City of Wetumpka are tremendously appreciative of volunteers who are willing to assist, but they ask that volunteers please call ahead and follow instructions to ensure proper coordination in order to maximize recovery efforts and resources. If you are a resident of Wetumpka or Elmore County and need non-emergency assistance related to the tornado, please call 211 until further notice. Any emergency calls should still be directed to 911. Call the Elmore County EMA with any damage reports. I would like to take this opportunity to directly address the people impacted by this tornado: My office stands ready to assist in whatever ways we are able. My staff and I work for you, and we want to be a resource for you during this challenging time. The rebuilding process won’t be easy, but if we continue to work together and help each other out whenever possible, we will get through this. In the meantime, my family and I will continue to pray for all those impacted by this devastating event. • • • Martha Roby represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama, with her husband Riley and their two children.
Wetumpka City Council okays sales tax increase
The Wetumpka City Council approved an amendment to the current tax ordinance raising the sales tax by one percent during Monday’s council meeting. By a vote of four to one, the amendment passed. It’s the first sales tax increase the city has seen in more than 20 years — raising the tax from 8 percent to 9. Translation: the city will now collect 4 cents on every dollar spent. This raises the tax from an 8 percent sales tax rate to 9 percent, meaning the city will collect 4 cents per dollar spent. Currently Wetumpka’s combined tax rate is 8 percent, the lowest in the River Region. Nearby municipalities all have higher sales tax rates: Millbrook: 8.5 percent Prattville: 9.5 percent Montgomery: 10 percent According to alabamanews.net, Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis says the increase will generate nearly two million dollars in revenue that the city will use to grow it’s savings reserves and pay off the city’s debts. “We’ve depleted a lot of our reserves,” Willis said. “We’ve gotta build those back in case of emergencies and different that we could get ourselves into.” More than 120 city employees will also see a raise, many of whom have not had a raise in over five years. Wetumpka’s new sales tax increase will take effect in September
Wetumpka mulls sales tax increase, first in 20 years
The Wetumpka City Council is mulling a sales tax increase Mayor Jerry Willis says the hike would be the first sales tax increase in more than 20 years. Currently, Wetumpka’s combined rate is 8 percent, the lowest in the River Region. Nearby municipalities all have higher sales tax rates: Millbrook: 8.5 percent Prattville: 9.5 percent Montgomery: 10 percent According to alabamanews.net, Willis says a one percent sales tax increase will help meet the needs of the city without having to cut services. “Hey, nobody likes taxes. We don’t like taxes. But when our auditors come to us for the past two years and give the final report and say ‘you can’t keep laying people off, Mayor,’” said Willis. He continued, “A one cent sales tax increase will generate us one million dollars. Two million dollars would give us the opportunity to take care of our employees, get them where they need to be. They haven’t had a pay increase in over five years.” The City Council did the first reading of the proposed amendment to the current tax ordinance during Monday night’s council meeting, opening the door for a future vote. The City Council is scheduled to meet next on Monday, July 2.
Wetumpka TEA Party hosts GOP candidate meet and greet
The Wetumpka TEA Party will host the River Region Candidate Fair on Monday evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m. for candidates running in the 2018 Republican primary election. Over 40 candidates have confirmed their attendance for the event, which will be held at the Wetumpka Civic Center. Advertised as a “meet & greet,” the event will allow Alabamians to meet each candidate individually and ask them questions about the position they are seeking, rather than listen to speeches and debates. The Wetumpka TEA party will also be conducting a straw poll at the end of the night, with results posted Tuesday morning. “Our mission at the Wetumpka TEA Party is to educate citizens on national, state and local issues and help them get involved in our representative government,” said Wetumpka Tea Party founder Becky Gerritson. “It is important that people vote for their elected officials because they know what the candidates stand for and do not just rely on 30 second commercials and attractive yard signs. This is a terrific opportunity to meet the candidates who are running for an elected position, to ask them questions and understand what each candidate stands for.” The following candidates have confirmed their attendance on Monday night: CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES Governor: Bill Hightower, Kay Ivey, Scott Dawson, Tommy Battle (will send a representative) Lieutenant Governor: Will Ainsworth, Twinkle Cavanaugh, Rusty Glover Attorney General: Chess Bedsole, Troy King, Alice Martin Auditor: Stan Cooke, Elliott Lipinsky, Jim Zeigler Secretary of State: Michael Johnson, John Merrill Treasurer: Stephen Evans, John McMillan Commissioner for Agriculture and Industries: Gerald Dial, Rick Pate (will send a representative) STATE LEGISLATURE Alabama House of Representatives 31: Dustin DeVaughn, Mike Holmes Alabama House of Representatives 88: Al Booth Alabama Senate 25: Will Barfoot, Ronda Walker Alabama Senate 30: Clyde Chambliss (Unopposed) ALABAMA COURT SYSTEM Supreme Court Chief Justice: Tom Parker AL Supreme Court Place 1: Sarah Stewart AL Court of Civil Appeals Place 1: Michelle Thomason, Pat Thetford Circuit Court 19 Judge: Bill Lewis (Unopposed) PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION Public Service Commission Place 1: Jeremy Oden, Jim Bonner Public Service Commission Place 2: Chip Beeker, Robin Litaker LOCAL AND CIRCUIT RACES: Elmore County Sheriff: Bill Franklin (Unopposed) Probate Judge (Elmore): Vicki Bonner-Ward, John Thornton Elmore County Commission Dist 4: Bart Mercer (Unopposed) Coroner (Elmore): Brad Linville, Jody Jeffcoat Circuit Clerk (Elmore): Michael Dozier, Angie Cruise-Gardner FEDERAL RACE U.S. Congress Dist 2: Rich Hobson, Bobby Bright, Barry Moore A flier for the event may be viewed here: River region candidate fair.
Wetumpka mayor rescinds resignation after Kay Ivey rescinds state appointment
On Monday night, Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis announced his resignation in front of a large crowd during a Wetumpka City Council Meeting. Less than 24 hours later, he rescinded his resignation. Willis’ initial decision to resign was due his appointment to serve as Executive Director to Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering made by Gov. Kay Ivey. But according to WFSA, Ivey rescinded her appointment on Tuesday “stating Willis failed to disclose a legal matter while being considering” for the position. “Anyone seeking to serve in the Ivey Administration must be transparent,“ Ivey’s told WFSA in a written statement. “During the appointment process, Mayor Willis failed to disclose an important, and significant, legal matter which has now come to my attention.” Willis in turn rescinded his resignation as Wetumpka mayor. The City of Wetumpka released a statement Tuesday evening addressing the situation. “After further consideration, Mayor Willis is withdrawing the informal conditional resignation that was previously announced,” the statement read. “Mayor Willis has reconsidered and does not intend to submit a formal resignation. As per the handbook for Mayors and Councilmembers… a contingent resignation (or one effective on a given date) can be withdrawn at any time prior to the effective date or its acceptance by the council, whichever comes first. Neither such contingencies have occurred.” Wilis was elected to his third term as mayor in November 2016. He had applied to Executive Director of the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering having worked 50 years in the cosmetology and barbering industry.
Jim Zeigler calls out Luther Strange for missing Ala. debate, while he’s casting vote in DC
Sitting politicians often find themselves on the receiving end of public scrutiny when they choose to dismiss their duties in Washington, D.C. to hit the campaign trail. U.S. Sen. Luther Strange, however, found himself in the exact opposite position Monday evening. State Auditor Jim Zeigler took to Facebook Monday night to call out Strange for missing GOP Senate candidate forum in Wetumpka, Ala. that evening. “Luther Strange failed to show up at Senate debate in Wetumpka,” Zeigler wrote on his Facebook post. Over 300 attendees packed the Wetumpka Civic Center for the Wetumpka Tea Party hosted forum, where the “top 3” Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate seat — Mo Brooks, Roy Moore and Luther Strange — were invited to face-off. Strange was not in attendance. Zeigler however failed to realize that Strange was absent because he was fulfilling his Senatorial duties in the nation’s capital — casting a vote for President Donald Trump‘s nominee for the 11th Circuit Court, fellow-Alabamian Kevin Newsom. Shana Teehan, a spokeswoman for Strange was quick to defend her boss’ absence on Zeigler’s Facebook page, explaining that the event’s organizers were told nearly two weeks ago that the Senator would be unable to attend due to the fact that the Senate was in session. “The organizers were told almost two weeks ago that the senate would be in session and that the Senator would not be able to make it,” Teehan said. According to official record, the Senate did not recess until 6:37 p.m. ET on Monday. It will reconvene Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. ET for another day of regular business. Strange, who was appointed to Alabama’s Senate seat in February by former Gov. Robert Bentley, has found himself the target of many attacks and criticisms both on and offline in recent weeks as the Aug. 15 primary nears. Over the weekend, the Wetumpka Tea Party tweeted an article questioning Strange’s ascension to the U.S. Senate. It was one of several against the Senator they’ve made in the past week. A Strange State Of Corruption | The Resurgent https://t.co/HljZHiZKJU — Wetumpka TEA Party (@wetumpkatea) July 31, 2017
Study reveals most tax-friendly retirement spots in Alabama
If you’re planning on spending your golden years in the Yellowhammer State, you may want to consider settling down in Tallassee, Wetumpka or Attalla. A new study by financial technology company SmartAsset ranked the top 10 cities across Alabama and these three were deemed the top three best places in for those looking to avoid the pressure of the taxman. For the most part, Alabama is fairly tax-friendly. The study highlights that retirees who own a home in Alabama benefit from some of the lowest property tax rates in the country. On the other hand, sales taxes in Alabama rank as the third highest in the U.S. While that could hurt a senior’s budget, in general retirees in Alabama should have more money to spend as the cost of living in Alabama is about 10% lower than the national average and the state does not tax most types of retirement income. In order to find the most tax-friendly spots to retire, the study compared a fixed income against an array of tax expenses, including income taxes, property taxes, and sales and fuel taxes, to calculate how much of that money would go to paying tax bills. According to SmartAsset, the goal was “to find the areas with the most tax-friendly policies for retirees.” “To do that,” the study says. “We looked at how the tax policies of each city would impact a retiree with a $50,000 income, with a hypothetical retiree getting $15,000 from Social Security benefits, $10,000 from a private pension, $15,000 from retirement savings like a 401(k) or IRA and $10,000 in wages.” Here’s a look at how the top ten tax-friendly retirements spots in Alabama compare: Rank City Income Tax Paid Property Tax Rate Sales Tax Paid Fuel Tax Paid Social Security Taxed? Retirement Tax Friendliness Index 1 Tallassee, AL $6,256 0.29% $766 $291 No 70 2 Wetumpka, AL $6,256 0.29% $880 $274 No 56.28 3 Attalla, AL $6,256 0.51% $766 $306 No 55.08 4 Greenville, AL $6,256 0.42% $842 $313 No 54.43 5 Harvest, AL $6,256 0.33% $842 $377 No 53.92 6 Roanoke, AL $6,256 0.39% $919 $304 No 53.46 7 Meridianville, AL $6,256 0.37% $842 $398 No 52.85 8 Boaz, AL $6,256 0.47% $995 $283 No 51.46 9 Fort Payne, AL $6,256 0.40% $995 $321 No 45 10 Guntersville, AL $6,256 0.38% $1,072 $277 No 51.15
Four new cities added to Main Street Alabama revitalization program
Mainstreet Alabama, a nonprofit organization that focuses on growing commerce in city districts, has selected four more cities to join its efforts at revitalizing Alabama’s downtowns. After a five-month competitive application process, the group has named four cities it will add to its 16-city roster. Columbiana, Heflin, Montevallo and Wetumpka will all get attention from the nonprofit, which will try to work with other local groups and city agencies to create jobs and grow businesses while retaining local character of the districts they work in. Mainstreet Alabama says it focuses its work on “public-private partnerships, broad community engagement, and strategies that create jobs, spark new investment, attract visitors, and spur growth,” looking to build upon “the authentic history, culture, and attributes of specific places, to bring sustainable change.” The groups toolkit includes local board development, expert market analysis, regular training sessions, and technical assistance. “When a community is ready for Main Street, as these four are, our economic development program works,” said State Coordinator Mary Helmer. “It brings jobs, dollars and people back to historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.” The group claims on its website that its effort has yielded some 239 new businesses and 2,392 additional jobs, and spurred nearly $220 million in private and public investment. The list of cities the group is already working with are as follows: Alexander City, Anniston, Athens, Birmingham, Decatur, Dothan, Elba, Eufaula, Florence, Fort Payne, Gadsden, Monroeville, Jasper, Opelika, Oxford and Selma.
