In its Dec. 20 meeting the Russellville City Council voted to authorize the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation for Project No. IAR-030-000-012, Improvements on Evan Street, for the expansion of Leisure Creations.

Mayor David Grissom said he and Councilman Gary Cummings attended the award meeting in Montgomery, and the project will be “a 100 percent grant for Leisure Creation’s expansion in the amount of $420,100.”

City clerk/treasurer Belinda Miller explained the project is for “improvements only to Evan Street, from Underwood Road, for 700 feet north, to benefit Leisure Creations – basically, widening the street.”

In other business, the council passed a resolution to authorize the city clerk to execute the Endo Settlement Sign-On Agreement. Russellville city attorney Danny McDowell explained that this is part of opioid litigation that is going nationwide and the settlement the state of Alabama has made with that particular defendant.

“A portion of that goes to local entities that have joined in on it, and this includes the City of Russellville,” said McDowell. “The money has to be used for intervention programs, such as through the police department. It can’t just be in the general fund. It has to be related to the opioid problem we have, and that’s outlined in the agreement.”

Grissom referenced page six of the agreement showing a rough estimate of $42,032 for the City of Russellville.

The Council also:

• passed a resolution to accept sealed bids for the annual street materials in the Russellville Street Department.
• approved and authorized the submission of the Foster Grandparent Program grant application for the period of April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023, and approved the appropriation of a local match in 2022.
• hired Michael Todd Elliott as utility technician in the Russellville Street Department.
• hired Jordan Henderson and Jordan Hammond as patrol officers for the Russellville Police Department.
• accepted a property donation to the city.

The next regular meeting of the Council will be Jan. 3, 2022, with the work session at 6 p.m. and the meeting directly after.