City moves closer to court system

By Staff
Jason Houston FCT Managing Editor
Russellville moved one step closer to establishing a city court system at Monday night's city council meeting.
The council unanimously approved an ordinance creating a city court system, along with ordinances adopting state laws for the municipal court system and establishing city ordinance violations.
But the court won't see action until January 2006, according to city attorney Jeff Bowling. According to state law, the city must give the Franklin County District Court system a year's notice to establish a city court.
City Councilman Craig Grissom said the new court system will allow the city to keep a greater percentage of the money from tickets and fines.
In other business Monday, the council announced that maps of new voting districts would be available at City Hall for public viewing beginning today.
The city is under a federal court order mandating the re-drawing of city district lines.
The city will hold a public hearing on the new districts on Thursday night Dec. 30. The council must have the plan approved and submitted to the federal court by Jan. 7, 2005.
In other business, the council: