The City of Andalusia increased its net position for the sixth consecutive year, auditors told the Andalusia City Council on Tuesday.

Missy Pierce, CPA, and Gail Hayes, CPA, from Rabren, Odom, Pierce and Hayes, P.C. presented a draft of the city’s audited financials for fiscal year 2020 Tuesday night. The council approved the draft.

Pierce said the city increased its net position by $6 million in FY 2020. The value of the City of Andalusia’s assets and deferred outflows exceeded its liabilities and deferred inflows by $34,467,797 at the end of FY 2020, Pierce said.

City revenues increased by almost $3 million over the prior year, she said, and expenses decreased by $1.4 million, or 7 percent.

“The city is in the strongest financial position it has ever been in,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. “This is over-the-top good news for the city, and it is because of the guidance of the council and the contributions of everyone who works for the city.”

Other highlights included: 

• The City’s cash balance at Sept. 30, 2020 was $13,696,832, which was an increase of $3,172,844 from the prior fiscal year. The City’s unrestricted cash increased by $1.1 million from the prior year, and represents approximately 49 percent of the balance at year end.

• The City made payments of $1,093,110 on its long-term debt during the 2020 fiscal year.

• The City’s governmental activities reported $24,821,535 generated from taxes, program revenues, and transfers in, a 13.5 percent increase over the prior year. The program expenses for the governmental activities were $18,628,785, which is a decrease of 7 percent from the prior year. This resulted in an excess of revenues over expenses of $6,192,750.

• The City’s largest single source of revenue, sales and use tax, increased approximately $910,871 from the prior year.

Pierce said the auditors issued an unmodified opinion, “which is the best we can give.”.

The council also:

• Agreed to pursue a Community Development Block Grant to improve water lines on North Cotton and Eighth Avenue, and to resurface the streets after the water lines are updated.

• Approved a retail liquor application for The B Pub LLC, located at 239 Church Street in Andalusia.

• Appointed Seth Hammett to the Utilities Board of the City of Andalusia.

When Rose White Parker was growing up, she participated in the summer program at Andalusia’s Will Coleman Center. As a teen and an adult, she worked in the program with Coach Richard Robertson.

Much about the program is the same now as it was then. Kids ages 5 to 12 are welcome. Organized activities are the norm. Tom-foolery is not tolerated. The program is still in the the same location, but the building now also bears Robertson’s name, an honor bestowed upon him in 2020 when he retired after 49 years at the program’s helm. 

And now? “Mrs. Rose,” as she is known to children young and old, is in charge.

“I just love the kids,” she said. “Kids are my blessing.”

Most of the year, she is known as the fun and funny TABS teacher at Andalusia Elementary School and Andalusia Junior High School girls basketball coach. In the summer months, she is all about the Center. 

The summer program, which is free and has open enrollment through the month of June, runs from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Will Coleman and Richard Robertson Center on C.C. Baker Avenue.

“We provide three meals,” she said. “The kids get lunch at 12:30 at the Woodson Learning Center. At 2:30, we give them a snack, and at 4:45, we give them supper to take home.”

Kids can swim daily, she said, as the Center has lifeguards on duty. She has five assistants, and a number of group activities are planned for children. And while children can bring their phones with them to the center, they can only use them during meal and snack time. 

“They don’t come here to sit down and look at their phones,” Mrs. Rose said. “They are either swimming or learning.”

On Fridays, she offers move day on the big screen, with popcorn and sodas.

“Some of these kids will never make it to a movie theater,” she said. “I want them to know the experience. When I was growing up, there were 11 of us, and we couldn’t go to the movies. I know what it’s like, and I want to give the kids opportunities.”

She also has launched a series, Connecting with the Community (hashtags #Connectingwiththecommunity and #letstalk) in which she invites people in the community to come and give an inspirational talk to the program participants. She would love to hear from anyone willing to do a presentation. 

Parents may still enroll their children in this summer’s program. The first time a child attends, a parent must register him or her. For additional information, call Mrs. Rose at 334.208.8278.

The City of Andalusia on Tuesday announced its plans to develop the historic downtown Prestwood Building in partnership with CDG Engineering, Big Mike’s, and Town and Country Boutique. The building, which dates back to the late 1800s, is located on the west side of the court square. 

CDG, which was first established in Andalusia nearly 75 years ago, will develop the top floor to host its corporate and Andalusia employees. 

Big Mike’s currently has steak and seafood restaurants throughout Alabama, and plans to launch a new concept featuring pizzas, salads, and wings. The new restaurant, Luie's, will occupy the south side of the ground floor, and is expected to also have outdoor dining. 

Town and Country Boutique currently is located on the bypass, and will return to its roots. The boutique, which celebrates 70 years this year, began operations on the Square in 1951. Current owner Terri Jones Proctor plans to expand current offerings when the boutique moves to the north side of the ground floor.

The construction projects are expected to take about a year.

The City of Andalusia will host a Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. on Mon., May 31, at the Covington Veterans Memorial on the campus of City Hall.

Dr. Forrest Lee Marion, Col., USAF (Ret.), will be the guest speaker. Dr. Marion is staff historian at the Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell Air Force Base, where he has been since 1998.

He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1980, and remained on active duty until 1992, primarily as a helicopter pilot and academic instructor. 

Dr. Marion served in the USAF Reserve from 1993 until 2010, mostly as historical officer, with deployments to Southern Philippines in 2002 and Afghanistan in 2009. He returned to Afghanistan in 2011 as a civilian historian. 

He is the author of four books and 14 published articles on military history.

He and his wife, April McCready Marion, have four adult children, two of whom attained the rank of USMC captain and now serve in the Reserve. The Marions also have six grandchildren.