The Selma City Council, despite the absence of council members Susan Youngblood, Carl Bowline and Sam Randolph, wasted little time in approving a slate of motions.

In the consent agenda, the council approved a $46.777.94 payment to the Alabama Municipal Insurance Corporation (AMIC), the use of $75,000 in Delta Regional Grant Authority (DRGA) funds for the downtown WiFi innovation initiative and the acceptance of a $69,653 bid from Smitherman Brothers, also covered by DRGA funds, for the Laforet Estates Drainage project.

Former Mayor George Evans requested approval from the council for him to use the Evans Building at no cost to host his upcoming Alpha Inspirational Achievement Award ceremony in May.

Despite a little hesitation from Councilmen John Leashore and Michael Johnson, who noted the council’s previous stance on requiring payment for all buildings unless they are being utilized by a governmental agency, the motion passed.

Evans also got permission to repair the awning on the building bearing his name and Councilwoman Miah Jackson agreed to kick in funds to assist with the work.

The council also gave Candi Duncan the greenlight to utilize the $5,600 she had secured to host this year’s Art Camp, which will take place during one week in June and another week in July.

When the payment to Montgomery attorney Bobby Segall was brought up, to pay for his representing the council in a suit brought by the mayor, Leashore complained that the council should have never hired a lawyer.

Jackson agreed, noting that it would not have been necessary if a frivolous lawsuit had not been brought against the council.

The motion passed.

The council also approved Councilwoman Jannie Thomas’ motion to move ahead with installing lights, cameras and air conditioning units with cages at the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum and a motion to accept the new public building rental contract.

The Vaughan-Smitherman work will cost $36,000 in total – $13,000 will be covered by insurance funds and an additional $10,000 will be contributed by the “Friends of the Smitherman” organization. Jackson pitched the idea that each council member and the mayor should contribute $1,300 in oil lease funds to cover the remaining portion.

Elsewhere in the meeting, the council discussed the following:

• During a Public Safety Committee report, Selma Police Department (SPD) Chief Spencer Collier again called on the council to support his plan to install School Resource Officers (SROs) at Selma High School and R.B. Hudson Middle School. The plan originally called for Selma City Schools to cover the cost of 2.5 officers and the city to cover the cost of 2.5 officers. However, grants have been secured to cover the cost of two officers and council members supported revising the agreement to allow four officers in the schools, thereby eliminating any additional cost to the city.

• Collier also stated that he has found 30 SPD vehicles that can be surplussed and will bring a resolution before the council at the next meeting.