City employees began Friday morning calling local residents to encourage them to complete their 2020 Census.
“We believe that Andalusia’s population was under counted in the 2010 Census,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. “We want to make certain that the count is more accurate this year, because the next 10 years of our future depend upon it.”
As of Thursday, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that 60.5% of Alabama residents had completed the Census, and 59.3 % of Andalusia residents had completed the questionnaire.
The mayor said that the results of the census determine how about $13 billion in federal funds, grants and support are distributed to our state, counties and communities. Alabama currently receives about $1,500 per person in federal funding.
The U.S. Census count is important not only for securing federal funds, but the count also affects business decisions about expansion and locations.
City employees making the phone calls will encourage those who have not completed the Census to do so, and will offer help if it is needed.
“Sonja Godwin, who directs the Adult Activity Center, and her employees volunteered to take on this daunting task,” Mayor Johnson said. “We appreciate their willingness to spend the time on the phone and help make sure Andalusia residents are accurately counted."
Those residents who have not yet completed the Census can mail in their forms, or fill them out online at my2020census.gov. The Census also can be completed by phone by calling 844-330-2020.
The City of Andalusia will not open its APPLE after-school program for at least the first nine weeks of the 2020-21 school year.
Director of Leisure Services Tommie Agee said the decision was made out of an abundance of caution for the protection of students and teachers.
“We think it would be almost impossible to maintain social distancing in an after-school program among students who have already been following strict rules all day at school,” Agee said. “We want to make sure that when we do open, we are offering as safe an environment as possible for our students.”
Students in the Andalusia City Schools system are currently slated to return to class on Monday, August 17, and are being given the option of attending traditional classes or virtual lessons.
Agee said he expects to make a determination about the APPLE program in the first semester about six weeks into the school year.
Anyone who would like to put a student on a list for potential participation later in the year should email APPLE program director Sondra Ramsden at m.
The City of Andalusia saw an increase in sales tax collections, improved its net position, and reduced long-term debt in fiscal year 2019, auditors told the Andalusia City Council Tuesday night.
Missy Pierce, CPA, and Gail Hayes, CPA from Rabren, Odom, Pierce and Hayes, P.C. presented a draft of the audited financials Tuesday night. Final approval by the council is expected in July.
Pierce said the city increased its net position by $1.6 million in FY 2019. It was the fifth consecutive year that the net position had increased.
Other highlights included:
• The City’s cash balance at Sept. 30, 2019 was $10.5 million, which was a decrease of $291,000 from the previous year. That decrease with the result of the purchase of capital assets with restricted cash. The City’s unrestricted cash increased more than $1 million from the prior year, and represented 58 percent of the cash on hand at September 30, 2019.
• The City’s governmental activities reported $21.8 million generated from taxes, program revenues and transfers in. This was a 5.4 percent increase over the prior year. The city’s program expenses for the same period increased only 2.9 percent over the prior year.
• The City’s sales and use tax increased approximately $373,000 over the prior year. Sales taxes have increased more than $1.25 million over the past five fiscal years.
• The City reported capital outlays of $1.9 million in FY 2019, including $890,874 for street paving; $549,580 for sidewalks; and other equipment, vehicles, buildings and improvements.
• The city made payments of $1.9 million on its long-term debt in fiscal year 2019. That brings the total debt reduction for the current quadrennium to $5,674,319, exclusive of the 2016 and 2018 bonds that executed in conjunction with the Airport Authority and Andalusia City Schools, who are responsible for the debt service on those notes.
Mayor Earl Johnson said council has put in place quarterly reviews of budgets and expenditures, and their hard work shows in the strength of the City’s financial position.
The City of Andalusia has two contested races in the August 25th 2020 Muncipal Election.
Incumbent Council members Will Sconiers and Kennith Mount each drew opponents.
In District 1, former school board member Joe Nix qualified on Tuesday to seek election against Sconiers. In District 2, political newcomer Michael Veasey qualified to seek election against Mount.
Mayor Earl Johnson, District 3 Council member Hazel Griffin, District 4 Council member Ralph Wells, and District 5 Council member Terry Powell are not opposed in their bids for reelection.
In the races for Andalusia Board of Education, incumbent Amy Dugger is unopposed in District 2. In District 4, local dentist Parrish King is the only candidate. Incumbent Tommy Wright is not seeking reelection. Members of the board of education serve in staggered terms, so members in District 1, District 3, and District 5 will be up for election in 2022.
“When I announced my plans to seek reelection as Mayor of the City of Andalusia this summer, Sylvia and I looked forward to visiting with each of you and asking for your vote and support,” Mayor Johnson said Tuesday afternoon. “However, when qualifying ended, I was unopposed. I am honored and humbled that the people of Andalusia trust me to continue to lead their city.
“As I said when I announced my candidacy two weeks ago, we have made a lot of progress since I first took office in 2000, but we’re not done,” the mayor said. “I look forward to working with the council to set goals for the next four years, and pledge that I will work as hard as I ever have for the citizens of Andalusia.”
The Andalusia City Council on Tuesday approved a development agreement for one of the historic downtown buildings acquired earlier this year.
Andy Gibson, owner of Draftstone Properties, plans to renovate the McArtan Building, also known as the Opera House, located at 201 South Three Notch Street. His plan calls for three commercial spaces downstairs and eight apartments upstairs.
The building will become part of the Capital Improvement Cooperative District of the City of Andalusia, which will finance approximately half of the estimated $550,000 in planned renovations.
“It was only on March 10 of this year that we formally announced the city’s acquisition of downtown properties, and revealed the architect’s vision of what those properties could become,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. “On the following Friday, March 13, we had the first large-scale announcement of closings related to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“I am very pleased to report that the pandemic shut down many things, but that we have continued to work on plans for our downtown, and this project is moving forward,” he said.
Gibson, who also works in the oil industry, was returning to his post in the Middle East on Tuesday and could not attend the meeting. Earlier in the day, he said he already has two strong prospects for the three commercial spaces he will put in the building.
“The apartments are going to be different than anything we currently have in Andalusia,” he said. “We’re putting extra time and money in them and are working to preserve some of the architectural features.”
Gibson said he believes the apartments will have appeal to millennials, who want to live near entertainment venues and are less interested in larger homes. He expects to have them ready for occupancy by Spring of 2021.
The development agreement states that Draftstone Properties will begin repaying the Development District once the building reaches 80 percent occupancy or 12 months after occupancy, whichever comes first.
The agreement has perpetual maintenance and appearance restrictions that requires the premises to be maintained physically and in appearance as set out in the architectural plans for the premises.
As part of the agreement, the City of Andalusia and its Development District have the first right of refusal if Gibson decides to sell the property to a third party.
In a separate action, the council agreed to purchase two parcels on Pear Street to develop as downtown parking. It is expected that Gibson will participate in that development and some of the parking will be reserved for tenants of the McArtan Building. The parcels are owned by Wyley D. Ward, who is selling them to the city for $40,000.
Gibson and Draftstone Properties also own Southern Terrace Apartments on Church Street, which are being renovated. He also owns Snow Biz on River Falls Street.
The second floor of the McArtan Building, or Opera House, will have three studio apartments, three two-bedroom apartments and two one-bedroom apartments.
Duncan Archibald McArtan and D.A. McRainey constructed an Opera House on the corner of South Three Notch Street and Pear Streets, which was completed before 1905. According to research published by Curtis Thomasson, the majestic three-story building featured a large auditorium with stage, tiers of seats, a balcony and four comfortable opera boxes. Performances included local talent shows, operettas, piano recitals, school plays and traveling shows. In 1907, Andalusia High School held its graduation exercises there. The Opera House truly became the social center for Andalusia during the early 1900s. The first silent films of the era were shown in the building. Tragically, a fire of undetermined origin destroyed the building circa 1914. Later, a smaller McArtan Building was constructed on the site, which has housed many businesses through the years.