Penny “Black Feather” Coutlee signs proclamation to make Oct. 10 Indigenous People’s Day in Falkville. | Charley Gaines

Charley Gaines

Hartselle Enquirer

Officials for the Town of Falkville solidified the municipal election votes for mayor, Place 2 and Place 3 on the town’s council Tues., Sept. 6 after their regular meeting.

Again, David Carroll missed out on his chance at becoming mayor as Ken Winkles won the race with only two more votes. The rest of the votes in the municipal election should remain the same unless something out of the blue happens with a challenge.

All the ballots that were cast in the election were recounted in a private room with only a select few individuals allowed in as they counted. Town Attorney Larry Madison went over the rules and guidelines before Dawn Estes, the town clerk, pulled out the box with every single ballot cast Aug. 23. Vernon Ayre Jr. read the names of the chosen candidates aloud as Suzie Cofield checked them off the vote on a list. Both Winkles and Carroll were seated at the table putting check marks by their names. The race was extremely close throughout the whole counting process.

Current Mayor Bob Ramey was also at the recount Tuesday. The race between he and Alton Hill for Place 2 on the council was close for a while during the count before Hill pulled ahead and won.

Charlie Gover definitely nabbed the Place 3 seat for the second time after the votes were recounted.

There were two items of particular business in the council meeting before the recount. The first was a check for Love’s Travel Stops so they can donate it to the Children’s Miracle Network. A representative from Love’s said the $1,500 check is going toward services the Children’s Miracle Network provides sick children just within Morgan County.

“This money is going to Children’s Hospital here, not in a general fund,” said the Love’s representative. “We greatly appreciate this because we work really hard to raise money for this, and I don’t think there’s any other city in the area that supports us like Falkville.”

The council also voted to approve Proclamation 2016-04, which made October 10 Indigenous People’s Day. Several members of the Native American community within Falkville were present and smiling as the council voted to set aside the day.

“There are a lot of people here in Falkville with Native American heritage,” said Penny “Black Feather” Coutlee. She said they’re trying to get every city in Alabama to set aside Oct. 10 as Indigenous People Day so they can bring awareness and respect to their culture.

Other items on Falkville Town Council’s agenda were:

•Approved Resolution No. 2016-42, which approved Task Order No. 04-2016 for Volkert to begin the evaluation and installation of a roundabout at Buster Road and County Road 55.

•Approved Resolution No. 2016-43, which approved the renewal of the annual contract with Morgan County EMCD (911) for $1,653.02 monthly.

•Approved Resolution No. 2016-44 which declared various library items surplus.

•Approved Resolution No. 2016-45 to waive cost of election recount.

•Approved Resolution No 2016-46 to accept the FY2017 Budget in its entirety.

•Set a public hearing for the rezoning of the Holladay, Holladay, Lawrence and Shivley properties.