By Staff
Melissa Cason, Franklin County Times
The Russellville City Council voted to approve a resolution to allow city employees to retire after 22 years of service during a special called meeting Monday afternoon.
The resolution states that any city employee with at least 22 years of service will be allowed to offer a letter of retirement until Oct. 1, 2007, with their last day to work being no later than Dec. 31, 2007. The retiree will be permitted to keep their family medical coverage until they are eligible for the social security or their death, however, the retiree will be required to pay any cost increase of coverage after their retirement date.
In other business, the council voted to give $120,000, or $1,000 per month over a ten-year period, to the economic development incentive for a manufacturer considering Marion County as a possible plant site.
Franklin County Economic Development Authority Executive Director Mitch Mays attended the meeting to give the council members an insight to what is going on, and to answer any questions. Mays told the council that business looking at Marion County is comparable to what just happened to the Shoals.
Last week, it was announced that rail car manufacturer National Alabama Corp. would be locating in the Barton Riverfront Industrial Park. National Alabama Corp. will employ 1,800 people with the pay range of $15 to $18 per hour.
"I believe we are standing on the edge of unprecedented growth in our region," Mays told the council.
If the manufacturer decides not to locate at the Guin site, the money will not have to be paid.
Councilman Craig Grissom has attended meetings where the project was openly discussed, and said that Russellville needs to be involved with the project.
"It's a pretty big employment number and good salaries that they are talking about," Grissom told the other members of the council.
The council then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters. No action or votes were taken during executive session.
Before adjourning, the council viewed floor plans of a proposed new fire station. The city is currently taking bids on the project, however, no time table or any other details were discussed at the meeting.
The next regular city council meeting will be on Monday, Aug. 6, 2007 at 7 p.m.