PIEDMONT – At its regular meeting Tuesday at the Piedmont Civic Center, the Piedmont City Council approved a local organization’s plans for a President Donald Trump 2020 Keep America Great rally, to be held downtown on Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. until noon.
Ricky Doyal, a committee representative for the rally, said the event will also honor law enforcement, first responders and veterans, and will feature an appearance by the group, Motorcycles for Trump.
“This has been in the works for several months now. I don’t want you to think this is something that has just been thrown together and slip shot,” Doyal said to the council. “I’m here to answer any questions you might have about it and reassure you it is our intention to have a very successful, peaceful, organized rally. We had one in Jacksonville two months ago. It went off without a hitch. We had wonderful results, positive reviews, no security issues whatsoever. We feel like we can do the same in Piedmont in a couple of weeks.”
Doyal said he expects a crowd of around 500 people to attend.
“It would be a good opportunity for a lot of out-of-town people to experience Piedmont, do some shopping, go in stores while they’re here, and hopefully come back down the road,” Doyal said.
The council also heard from City Project Manager Carl Hinton, who gave an update on a 1990 Ford model leaf truck. Hinton said the tailgate of the vehicle is damaged and inoperable. He gave the council several options on what the city could do, including purchasing a new truck, acquiring a used truck, finding a self-enclosed pull-behind unit, or picking up bagged leaves.
Hinton estimated the cost of a new truck between $120,000-$125,000, and the pull-behind unit at $65,000-$70,000.
“We’ll definitely check out all options,” Mayor Bill Baker said. “While we’re trying to decide what we need to do and get prices and see what repairs can be made, if any, just let your folks know we may be looking at bagging leaves for a little bit until we make a decision. That’s what we wanted to do today, just bring this to your attention so you would know what’s going on.”
Baker also announced a paving project within the city is scheduled to begin on Oct. 18 after the city applied for a $250,000 grant.
Baker then went into detail about the early stages of a Trail Town project in conjunction with the East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission. Baker is part of that planning commission, along with City Clerk Michelle Franklin and District 6 Councilman Bobby Hardin.
“We’ve been meeting about the City of Piedmont becoming a Trail Town, and this is part of our comprehensive plan through East Alabama that we’re working on,” Baker said, referring to maps and a letter “P” branding included with Tuesday’s council meeting agenda. “This will be incorporated into that comprehensive plan. This is involving the downtown business district. While they’re walking (the area) off and making it part of the comprehensive plan, my suggestion was instead of doing a small part and coming back in a year or two later and adding the other part, just go ahead and do the whole area at one time. This will take in most of our downtown business area.
“There are some places they could not get on because of state highways and things of that sort, but it’s my understanding that there is going to be a big letter “P” in blue mark. It will encircle the whole area that’s to be part of this trail town.
“This is in the very early beginning stages. I just wanted to let you know we did meet with them. It’s my understanding there is no cost to the city on this. I specifically asked that question. I understood them to say there was no cost. I think it is great advertisement for the City of Piedmont.”
The last item Baker brought up on his list of items to be discussed was the city’s annual Downtown Trick-or-Treat for Halloween. Baker asked for input from the council on what they should do. He said he has gauged public interest of the event on Facebook, and the response he’s gotten was “very, very good” in wanting to do the event again despite the current COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’d like to see it happen, but that’s just my opinion,” Baker said. “The large majority want it on Saturday (Oct. 31). If we did it from 4-6 (p.m.), they could come downtown Halloween afternoon, leave and go straight into the neighborhoods.”
The council approved Baker’s suggestion on having the Downtown Trick-or-Treat again on Oct. 31.
In other action on Tuesday, minutes and bills for payment (including regular expenses and three weeks of payroll) totaling $808,013.59 were approved, along with the city’s budget for 2020-21. Also approved was a resolution involving a grass cutting at 207 McKee Street.
The council also voted to add Adam Holcomb and District 5 councilman Greg South to the planning commission board, as well as retaining Hardin as a member.