City to pay bills, but it's not easy

Nothing happens easily at Bessemer City Hall, including the paying of bills.

The City Council wrangled over Councilwoman Louise Alexander's complaints for nearly 30 minutes late Friday night at a special meeting before approving bills that were paid between Oct. 1 and Friday.

Councilors will meet at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday, before their regular planning session, to extend the current budget so that the city will be able to continue paying its bills.

The vote was necessary because the city's fiscal year ended Sept. 30 and the council has not yet had a meeting on the proposed 2010 budget.

Alexander was perturbed because a special meeting was to be held Thursday morning but not enough council members showed up.

The 8 p.m. meeting probably should have lasted five minutes, not a half hour.

—Tribune staff report

Council to meet at 8 p.m. — really

Bessemer's City Council tonight will hold a special meeting on the 2010 budget and extend the current spending plan so the city can pay its bills.

The 8 p.m. meeting — yes, 8 p.m. — follows an attempt to hold an illegal meeting at 9 a.m. on Thursday.

The council could not get a quorum because some councilors said they were not informed of the meeting. 

The press was not alerted to either meeting.

—Tribune staff report

Street paving pact held up one week

A decision whether or not to award a $1.172 million bid to Dunn Construction Company to repave 18th, 19th and 20th streets in Bessemer was put on hold until next Tuesday's meeting.

Councilman Albert Soles presented the information, but City Engineer Ron Gilbert, who is coming under increasing criticism for his high bills, said he would like the opportunity to see if some money can be saved.

—Tribune staff report

Locksmith can change locks today in clerk's office

Remember the infamous locked door to the Bessemer city clerk's office that was keeping City Council members out?

Well, it's still in place. Travis Brooks, a senior financial planner who sometimes pretends to be the clerk, shooed away a locksmith earlier this week.

Council President Earl Cochran, who by the way is serving in the position only because the council on Tuesday could not successfully find a replacement, announced that as soon as the alloted 10 business day passes the locksmith will be brought back.

Ten working days is the time it takes a resolution to become valid even though the mayor has not signed it.

This means the locksmith can return and change the locks today.

—Tribune staff report

Charity bingo effectively dead in Bessemer

For some unknown reason the Bessemer City Council decided to vote again on an ordinance to establish charity electronic bingo and it won.

But because it won only on a 4-2-1 vote, it is certain to be vetoed by Mayor Ed May.

It takes five votes to override a veto.

Councilwoman Sarah Belcher, who had been rumored to be switching sides, did so during the marathon five-hour meeting when she abstained.

Those who voted for the ordinance were the usual suspects — Earl Cochran, Dorothy Davidson, Louise Alexander and Jesse Matthews.

Opposed were Jimmy Stephens and Albert Soles.

The council recently approved an ordinance on a veto-proof 5-2 vote.

—Tribune staff report

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Possible ninth homicide

Bessemer police are investigating what appears to be the city's ninth homicide of the year.

Lederrian Knox was pronounced dead at UAB Hospital on Monday.

The body was found in the 3200 block of Sixth Avenue North.

BPD is not talking.

—Tribune staff report