The Falkville Town Council recognized the Falkville boys track and field team for their outstanding season. Those present for the presentation, from left, were (front row) Blake Bradford, Jacob Walling, Jose Mesa, Brian Bradford, Drake Hamilton, Weston Free, Bryan White, Clay Kyle, Aaron Estes, Cade Wilemon and Coach Karen Wilemon. Councilmen shown standing, from left, are Brandon Dillard, Alton Hill, Charlie Gover, Mayor Bob Ramey, David Carroll and Ken Winkles. | Joy Haynes

The Falkville Town Council approved the reemployment of SRO Seth Sullivan at Falkville High School at a regularly scheduled meeting Tues., Sept. 2.

The reemployment was necessary because Sullivan is considered a temporary employee, working only during the school year.

The Council also authorized Mayor Bob Ramey to sign a contract with the Morgan County Board of Education for the purpose of an SRO. The MCBOE gave the town of Falkville $15,000 to help pay Sullivan’s salary and other expenses.

Several council members have praised Sullivan for his work at FHS. They greatly appreciate his dedication and help.

Senator Arthur Orr gave Police Chief Chris Free a check for the SRO expenses at the meeting. He also wanted to publically thank the police department and the SRO for their hard work.

The council also held a public hearing regarding the proposition determining zoning ordinances of manufactured homes. No one from the public expressed an opinion, but the council discussed the matter.

The new ordinance would allow subdivisions of manufactured homes in new areas zoned for manufactured home subdivisions (MH-S) or with an appeal to the council in residential (R-1 or R-2) or agricultural zones (AG-1). The current ordinance states that manufactured homes are only allowed on appeal in R-1, R-2 or AG-1 zones.

The purpose of the ordinance is to keep the value of homes in Falkville as high as possible, according to the planning commission chairman Steven Parker.

“Our goal is to keep home values up,” Parker said. “We want to attract more people and keep the people we have by having nice residential areas. These subdivisions will allow manufactured homes in certain areas without an appeal, which should be helpful. The standards for these manufactured homes are staying the same, so these subdivisions will be nice places and not trailer parks. They are subdivisions just like anywhere else except with all manufactured homes.”

Some council members had concerns about the replacement of damaged or demolished manufactured homes that were grandfathered into the current ordinance. They did not want to lose residents whose home was lost in a fire or weather accident.

Falkville town attorney Larry Madison said the new ordinance does not address that issue, but the current ordinance states that manufactured homes in improper zones that were grandfathered in under the current ordinance can only be replaced if the damaged manufactured home was not determined a total loss. Manufactured homes completely destroyed by weather or fires could not be replaced except in residential or agricultural districts. This is the same with any structure grandfathered into an improper zone.

He said in order for those homes to be allowed to be replaced, the council would have to make another provision to the current ordinance.

The council will vote on the matter at the next council meeting.