The Andalusia City Council on Tuesday agreed to changes in SaeHaeSung’s lease agreement as part of a financing project the company is doing.
Mayor Earl Johnson explained that SaeHaeSung, which operates in the city’s industrial park, needs to give assignment of its lease to the New York branch of the Bank of Korea to complete a loan.
“If SaeHaeSung defaulted in payment of the loan, the Bank of Korea could come in, step into the shoes of SaeHaeSUng, occupy the building, and run the business,” Johnson said. “This does not diminish our security, but I think it improves our position somewhat,” Johnson said.
The company has a 20-year lease purchase agreement for its building.
Mayor Pro Tem Terry Powell, who made the motion for the change, pointed out that the city did not borrow any money in this deal.
“The authorization is for SaeHaeSung,” he said.
Andalusia Star News
There were lots of patriots in Andalusia’s first Fourth of July parade in recent memory. The event was organized by the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
It likely will be mid-summer of 2016 before planned improvements to South Three Notch Street in Andalusia are completed, Tim Ramsden of CDG Engineering told members of the Andalusia City Council Tuesday.
Gov. Robert Bentley announced the $8.6 million in Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP) funds for the project in February of 2013. The project requires a local $2.1 million match, and will be used to bring South Three Notch Street to the standards of East Three Notch and River Falls streets, complete with underground utilities, new sidewalks, and decorative lighting.
Ramsden explained that, unlike other road projects awarded through the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), the state will let bids for this project.
“We had the plans to DOT in early January of 2014,” he said. “They were 90 percent complete plans.”
In March, ALDOT wanted to meet with the city and its engineers and questioned turning lanes included in the project.
“We went back to the traffic study,” Ramsden said. “The reason we did that was to try to justify our design for the future.”
The plan keeps the street two lanes from the railroad tracks to Simmons, where it transitions to a three-lane street with a universal turn lane. In addition, there are turning lanes at the hospital and at Moore Road... READ MORE>
Andalusia Star News
Michele Gerlach
Aircraft enthusiasts who enjoyed South Alabama Regional Airport’s 2010 air show should circle Sat., Nov. 14, 2015 on their calendars.
Planning is underway for a second air show at SARA, and airport co-administrator Jed Blackwell said the next one, tentatively set for that date in 2015, should be even better.
The 2010 show drew an estimated crowd of 10,000 people.
“The 2010 Air Show exceeded even our own expectations,” Blackwell said. “Every day we meet and talk to people who ask us about having another show. Because of the positive comments from the 2010 show, we wanted to have one again. We feel like this event is a great thing for Covington County and our surrounding community.”
The 2015 show will be similar to the 2010 show but Blackwell told the Andalusia City Council Tuesday night he hopes this will have even more thrills. The event will include live music, vendors, children’s activities, airplane and helicopter rides, hot air balloon rides, and some of thebest aeronautical performers in the world.... READ MORE>
Andalusia Star News
Michele Gerlach
The Andalusia City Board of Education named Alane Brunson the new principal of Andalusia Elementary School principal, effective July 1.
- Alane Brunson
Brunson currently serves as curriculum coordinator for Covington County Schools, and previously was principal of Red Level Elementary.
“I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve as the next principal of Andalusia Elementary School,” Brunson said. “I have enjoyed the past 22 years with Covington County Schools, and I am looking forward to the next phase of my career with Andalusia City Schools.
“It is my belief that the purpose of education is to help students grow and develop into productive, responsible and well-adjusted adults,” Brunson said. “This life-long process begins early in life, and I am thrilled to be given this opportunity to play a vital role in educating the youth of our community. As principal, I am looking forward to working with the faculty, staff, parents and community throughout this amazing journey.”
Superintendent Ted Watson, who recommended Brunson, said she has an excellent record, and he looks forward to having her on the ACS team.
Brunson replaces Patty Taylor, who is moving to the central office, where she will work as a curriculum and academic coordinator and reading coach.
In other personnel actions, the board:
• Rescinded the hiring of Edward Blain as an AHS science teacher. Blain was hired last month, but had taken a job elsewhere.
• Accepted resignations of Matt Mellown as special ed paraprofessional; Sandra Dendy as 8th grade social studies teacher; and Virginia Fussell as 5th grade teacher.
• Hired Tammy Pickard, as an AMS 8th grade science teacher.
• Hired Catherine Stephens, to teach 6th, 7th and 8th grade band. Stephens, who is a recent graduate of the University of South Alabama, is the daughter of two band teachers.
• Hired Howard Battey as a paraprofessional in the AHS ACCESS lab.
• Hired Bert Rice as a 10th grade history teacher at AHS. Rice has taught four years and has coached soccer and football.
Andalusia Star News
By Michele Gerlach