From The Hartselle Enquirer
by Brent Maze

PRICEVILLE — The Priceville Town Council on Tuesday, August 12, 2011:
Priceville will review whether speed bumps are necessary in the Churchill Downs subdivisions after residents from that area signed a petition to remove the ones the city installed last week.

Two residents from the subdivision presented the petition with more than 30 signatures to the Priceville Town Council at its Aug. 11 meeting.

Churchill Downs resident Steve Morris said he feels the three speed bumps, which are 2 1/4 inches tall, 14 inches wide and stretch across Derby Drive at an angle, are causing hazard to those who drive over them every day.

“It’s just like hitting a four-by-four laying in the road,” Morris said. “It’s tearing our cars up. These speed bumps aren’t right for our subdivision.”

Mayor Melvin Duran said the city installed those speed bumps after receiving numerous complaints of speeding over the last two years. Included in that was at traffic crash in which a driver knocked over a mailbox.

“We’ve been working on this for the last two years,” Duran said. “The police department has patrolled the road. We felt like speed bumps were the best option.”
Morris said the speed bumps could also hamper emergency response.

“Emergency vehicles will have to come to almost a complete stop to go over those speed bumps,” Morris said. “That will slow emergency medical service response time. It will also cause the equipment in an ambulance to move around. And paramedics won’t be able to treat patients going over those bumps.”

Morris proposed putting a stop sign at the first intersection coming off of Alabama 67, which is just a few feet from the first speed bump.
“I hadn’t thought about putting a stop sign there,” Duran said. “That might work (to slow traffic down).”

If that didn’t work, Morris suggested that the city put wider speed bumps or lower the speed limit on the road.

Duran said the city would look into those options as well, but he believes removing the speed bumps alone will not solve the problem.

“We’re going to slow it down,” Duran said.

In other business, the council: (more…)

From The Hartselle Enquirer
by Clif Knight

A clean audit report for 2010 from certified public accountant Geremy Segars of Hartselle was approved by the Priceville Town Council at its regular meeting July 14.
Councilman Charles Black, chairman of the finance committee, said the audit showed that the town’s records and in good order and commended City Clerk Kelly Dean and other members of the office staff for their good work and assistance in providing the auditor with information requested during the auditing process.” (more…)

From The Decatur Daily
by Ronnie Thomas

PRICEVILLE — Priceville police officer Herman Davis warns area residents about a scam after an elderly woman received an email purported to be from the FBI.

In addition to the FBI logo, the letterhead also shows the logo of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria. The letter urges recipients to immediately contact the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to obtain a “Clearance Certificate” and lists an email address.

“It’s an easy way for the culprits to start applying for credit card information because they ask for addresses, phone numbers and cell phone numbers,” Davis said. “They also ask for a $350 certificate fee. The really scary part is that they say ‘I will get back to you or else I will have an agent come visit you at home for questioning.’ ”

Davis said a system is set up to report cybercrime at www.ic3.gov.

From The Decatur Daily
by Ronnie Thomas

PRICEVILLE — Groundbreaking for a memorial to honor Morgan County residents killed in action will be 9 a.m. Monday in Veterans Park at Alabama 67 and Willowbrook Street.

The town is building the Morgan County Veterans Memorial Park in conjunction with the Combined Patriotic Organizations of Morgan County on about an acre Priceville donated.

The town also gave $25,000 to launch a fund drive at Traditions Bank for the park.

Bob Stricklin, commander of American Legion Post 15, said anyone wishing to contribute may do so by visiting the bank or mailing a check made payable to The Morgan County Veterans Memorial, Traditions Bank, P.O. Box 128, Somerville, AL 35670.

Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood Inc. is developing the park at a cost of more than $300,000.

Stricklin said state Sen. Arthur Orr and Priceville Mayor Melvin Duran will speak at groundbreaking.

From The Decatur Daily
by Ronnie Thomas

PRICEVILLE — Priceville approved Thursday issuing two bonds totaling $2.55 million to refinance debt on the municipal building, a new fire truck and Fire Station 1 on South Bethel Road.

The largest bond of $1.7 million pays off the Priceville Building Authority for the municipal building on bonds issued in 1999. The other bond of $825,000 is for the Fire Department improvements.
The bond holder is Branch Banking and Trust Company of Charlotte, N.C.
Mayor Melvin Duran said he is pleased because of a gross cost savings of more than $576,000 over the 15-year life of the loans. Minus the $223,000 the town had in reserves that will go toward the loans, Priceville will see a net savings of $311,000.
“That’s cash that we can use for capital projects over the next five years,” Duran said. “The interest rate on the loan for Town Hall went from 6.43 percent to 3.7 percent.”

From The Decatur Daily
by Ronnie Thomas

PRICEVILLE — The Priceville Town Council on Thursday:

• Rezoned one acre on Robinson Road owned by Charles Williams from R-1, single-family residential district, to C-2, central and highway commercial district. (R-1).

(more…)

From The Decatur Daily
by Catherine Godbey

Volunteer firefighters recall saving teen’s life after his heart stopped; now they consider each other family

PRICEVILLE — It was a lazy spring afternoon when the radio crackled to life.

“Difficulty breathing at 331 Wildwood Way.”

Half a mile away, Todd Mehl rushed to his truck. Minutes later, the volunteer firefighter arrived on the scene.

In the bathroom, 18-year-old James Stuart laid, unmoving. Mehl checked his pulse and felt a faint beat.

“Something told me to check it again. The second time I didn’t feel anything,” Mehl said. (more…)

From The Decatur Daily
by Ronnie Thomas

PRICEVILLE — In a called meeting Thursday, The Priceville Town Council:

• Approved rezoning 1 acre owned by John Robinson off Robinson Street from agricultural district (A-1) to single-family residential district (R-1).

(more…)

PRICEVILLE

• The 2011 Easter Egg Hunt for the Town of Priceville has been rescheduled for Saturday, April 23, at 2 P.M. at Veterans Park. Admission is free.

From The Decatur Daily
by Ronnie Thomas

PRICEVILLE — The Priceville Town Council on Thursday:

• Approved $25,180 to Lewis and Son Roofing and Construction of Huntsville for repair of municipal building roof.

• Approved $975.09 to North Alabama Glass Co. of Decatur for repair of window at the municipal building..

(more…)