T'ville council considers new work schedule
By Barry H. Hendrix Contributing Writer

The City of Thomasville is looking for ways to be more efficient in city government. Mayor Sheldon Day proposed the idea Monday of having employees in the Street and Recreation Departments work 10-hour shift four days-a-week during the summer.

The shifts would last from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. "It parks the vehicles they use one day-aweek," Day said. "You reduce your gas costs 20 percent. There are several cities in Alabama that are doing that."

The city may also soon eliminate late notices on water bills. The mayor said the city could save from $400 to $500-amonth by eliminating the notices.

Day believes changes in software for the Water Department including electronic reading of residential meters can make work more efficient.

"We need to use technology to our best advantage," he said.

The council did not vote on either proposal at Monday's meeting.

In other action from Monday's council meetings, Mayor Day reported that Jacques Prescott has proposed to the Industrial Development Board a swap of property. Prescott will give the IDB three acres next to the Browder property for 16 acres of the old city dump.

The Prescott property is already zoned for industrial use. The old dump property has been closed for almost 40 years.

Both properties are assessed at the same value, the mayor said. No action on the property swap was taken at Monday's meeting.

• The council approved the hiring of Rob Bost of Grove Hill and Patrick Champion of Thomasville as new officers on the city police force. They are currently serving in the Clarke County Sheriff's Department.

"We're growing," Police Chief Billy Hicks told the council in their work session. He expects to ask the council for three to four more officers in October.

"We need more people per shift. We are answering a bunch of calls." Hicks would like to eventually have four officers per shift.

• The alcohol license review committee recommended a license for Chelsea Harvey and Smoke Shop No. 2 on Highway 43. It is a first reading of the recommendation, and the council will take action at the next meeting.

• The council approved an application for a $27,777.76 grant from ADECA to upgrade handheld radio equipment for police officers and installing gun mounts for vehicles.

• The city is presently plant- ing 300 to 400 trees throughout the city. The trees were made possible through a grant due to damage from Hurricane Katrina.

• During the beginning of the regular council session Monday evening, the mayor asked for a prayer for his father, Jack Day, who has been diagnosed with cancer.

• The next meeting of the city council will be moved to 7 p.m. on May 27 due to the Memorial Day holiday on May 26.

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