INGALLS — After a complaint citing the Americans with Disabilities Act for not having proper wheelchair accommodations at the town’s fire station, the U.S. Department of Justice has asked for an inventory of all public places in Ingalls.
The complaint came the night of the Nov. 5 election, which was moved by Madison County Election Board from the town hall to the town’s fire station.
Newly appointed town council president Scot Lawyer said he believed the complaint on Election Night involved the entryway into the area where residents were voting.
“Since (the complaint), the Department of Justice has been involved, and we’re going through the process of seeing where we are as far as compliant (with the ADA),” Lawyer said.
“We had had all of our elections here (in the town hall) before this year,” he added, noting the issue would have likely not come up if not for the late change in election site. “In the long run, this is going to be helpful (for our community).”
New police vests
The council unanimously approved $4,400 for the Ingalls Police Department to purchase eight new carrier vests.
Chief Chris Thompson told the board the vest takes all gear off the officer’s belt, except for the gun, and “It relieves the stress from your back and makes it more comfortable.”
He added that he’d like “uniformity in the department” and for all eight officers to be able to have them.
The vests cost $550 each.
“I know it’s a lot of money but it’s a no-brainer for me,” Thompson told the board.
Meeting dates set
The council selected Jan. 27 and Jan. 28 for special meetings to discuss the position of town manager.
Lawyer said the meeting will be used to detail job description as it begins the process of hiring the post that has been open since former town manager Frank Owens resigned in August.
Owens was on the job for a short period, hired in April of last year.
The council also announced Feb. 4 as the town’s next Redevelopment Commission meeting.
Rachele Martin, co-owner of Serendipity Hair Salon (180 E. Broadway Street), which opened in Ingalls early last year, approached the board about the availability of Ingalls’ former town hall (227 N. Swain Street) as a spot to expand services for the business.
Martin told the board, ideally, she would prefer to use the building because of its proximity to her current location rather than look for a spot in neighboring towns.
The board will discuss the topic with Martin at the upcoming RDC meeting.
New members
The meeting was the first for new council member Melanie Johnson, voted in as one of three at-large spots at the November election.
With Johnson being elected to the board, it opened spots on both the town’s board of zoning appeals and plan commission.
Johnson was previously president of both the BZA and plan commission.
Council president Lawyer appointed Terry Moody, who ran unsuccessfully for town council in November, to the BZA. Lawyer’s plan commission appointments were tabled until the Feb. 3 meeting.
New officers
Along with Lawyer being appointed the council’s new president. Georgia Parker was named the town council’s vice-president.