Rust, raw sewage and mold are just some of the hot buttons that used to be discussed at city council work sessions. Those same complaints are what fueled the interest in building or purchasing a new building, perhaps one that could house all city departments under one roof. Those same conversations would later result in the purchase of a building deemed the Alexander City Municipal Complex.
On April 2, 2019, city officials signed paperwork to take ownership of the former Russell Sales Office and guesthouse. A sprawling 85,000-square foot building that sits on 56 acres just off U.S. Highway 280 in Alexander City.
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 DA246 :? E96 ?6H 724:=:EJ 2==@HD 7@C 2== 56A2CE>6?ED E@ 36 4@?D@=:52E65 :?E@ @?6 46?EC2= 9F3[ 3C:?8:?8 23@FE a__ @7 E96 4:EJ’D >@C6 E92? b__ 6>A=@J66D E@ 4@?D@=:52E6 F?56C @?6 C@@7] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmkDEC@?8m%96 D:8?:7:42?E 492?86 96C6ik^DEC@?8m !2DE =@42E:@?D H6C6 D42EE6C65 23@FE @? E96 5@H?E@H? 4@CC:5@C :? 2 >F=E:EF56 @7 3F:=5:?8D[ D@>6 @7 H9:49 H6C6 :? 5:D2CC2J 2?5 :? D6G6C6 ?665 @7 C6A2:C] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmxE H2D E96 G:D:@? @7 E96 =2E6 |2J@C y:> }23@CD E@ 3C:?8 2== @7 E96 4:EJ 6>A=@J66D E@86E96C :? @?6 46?EC2= =@42E:@?] xE ;FDE D@ 92AA6?65 E92E E96 @=5 #FDD6== $2=6D 3F:=5:?8 H@F=5 >2<6 H2J 7@C 9:D G:D:@? E@ 364@>6 2 C62=:EJj 9@H6G6C[ 27E6C D:EE:?8 G242?E 7@C ?62C=J a_ J62CD[ E96 3F:=5:?8 H2D 72C 7C@> >@G6\:? C625J]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 C@@7[ @?46 3C@?K6[ 925 72565 E@ 8C66? 2?5 H2D >@C6 GF=?6C23=6 E92? ?@Ej 92G:?8 =62<65 7@C J62CD[ E96 :?D:56 @7 E96 3F:=5:?8 H2D FEE6C=J 52>2865] tG6CJE9:?8 ?66565 E@ 36 C:AA65 @FE 2?5 E@E2==J C6?@G2E65[ 3FE E9:D H2D 2 AC@;64E E92E E96 p=6I2?56C r:EJ r:EJ r@F?4:= 8@E 369:?5] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 r:EJ 9:C65 2C49:E64ED y|#Zw E@ 6G2=F2E6 E96 3F:=5:?8] sF6 E@ E96:C AC6DE:8:@FD EC24< C64@C5 H:E9 AC6G:@FD C6?@G2E:@?D[ DF49 2D E96 @=5 p=232>2 $FAC6>6 r@FCE 3F:=5:?8 7@C E96 #6E:C6>6?E $JDE6>D @7 p=232>2 2?5 >2?J @E96C >F?:4:A2= 4@>A=6I6D E9C@F89@FE E96 DE2E6[ 4:EJ @77:4:2=D H6C6 4@?7:56?E E92E y|#Zw 4@F=5 92?5=6 2 =2C86\D42=6 AC@;64E =:<6 E92E @7 E96 p=6I2?56C r:EJ |F?:4:A2= 3F:=5:?8] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmr6?EC2= r@?EC24E:?8 @7 (6EF>A<2 H2D 2H2C565 E96 3:5 7@C C6?@G2E:@?D 2?5 H@C<65 92?5\:?\92?5 H:E9 y|#Zw 2?5 4:EJ @77:4:2=D E@ 6?DFC6 244FC24J 5FC:?8 56>@=:E:@? 2?5 E96 C64@?DECF4E:@? A92D6D @7 E96 AC@;64E] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm&A@? :?:E:2= 56>@=:E:@?[ r6?EC2= r@?EC24E:?8 @7 (6EF>A<2 56E6C>:?65 E92E E96 3@?6D @7 E96 3F:=5:?8 H6C6 DE:== :? 6I46==6?E D92A6 2?5 E92E :E H2D ;FDE E96 C@@7 2?5 H2==D E92E DF776C65 E96 >@DE 52>286 @G6C E96 J62CD H9:=6 E96 3F:=5:?8 D2E 6>AEJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmqFE E96 3F:=5:?8 ?@ =@?86C D:ED 6>AEJ] %96 p=6I2?56C r:EJ |F?:4:A2= r@>A=6I :D ?@H 2 3FDE=:?8[ 3FD:?6DD\@C:6?E65 >6442[ ?6DE=65 C:89E @77 @7 E96 >2:? 9:89H2J :? p=6I2?56C r:EJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmpE E96 ?6H >F?:4:A2= 4@>A=6I[ 4:E:K6?D 2?5 G:D:E@CD 2=:<6 2C6 8C66E65 H:E9 D>:=6D FA@? 6?EC2?46] ':D:E E96 :?7@C>2E:@? 56D< E@ 56E6C>:?6 H92E 56A2CE>6?E :D H96C6 2?5 6I24E=J 9@H E@ 86E E96C6] %96 >@DE 4@>>@? 2?5 D@F89E\27E6C 2C62 @7 E96 3F:=5:?8 :D E96 FE:=:EJ A2J>6?E 46?E6C] xE :D =@42E65 ;FDE E9C@F89 E96 >2:? 6?EC2?46 2?5 A2DE E96 A@=:46 DE2E:@? @? E96 C:89E[ >2<:?8 :E 62D:=J 2446DD:3=6 E@ E9@D6 ?665:?8 E@ A2J 3:==D @C 92G6 D6CG:46D 4@??64E65] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmyFDE A2DE E96 FE:=:EJ @77:46[ E96 46:=:?8 8:G6D H2J E@ 2? 2EC:F> E92E H2D @?46 9@>6 E@ 6I@E:4 A=2?ED 2?5 EC66D[ 2D H6== 2D 2 H2E6C72==] sFC:?8 C6>@56=[ E9:D 762EFC6 H2D 4=62?65 FA 2?5 C6G:G65] }6H G686E2E:@? 92D 366? A=2?E65[ 2?5 E96 H2E6C72==[ 2=E9@F89 D=:89E=J C64@?DECF4E65[ H@F=5 @?46 282:? 42D4256 E9C@F89 C@4<J E6CC2:? 2?5 A=F>>6ED :?E@ 2 D6C6?:EJ A@@=[ ?6G6C\6?5:?8] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm|2J@C @7 p=6I2?56C r:EJ[ rFCE:D Q(@@5JQ q2:C5[ 92D 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E96 A=2?E =:76 :? E96 2EC:F> 2?5 DFCC@F?5:?8 @77:46D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x A=2?E65 2 32?2?2 EC66 @? E96 3@EE@> =6G6=[ 2?5 ;FDE C646?E=J[ x A=2?E65 2 A@>68C2?2E6 EC66 5@H? E96C6[ E@@] (6 925 E@ E2<6 D@>6 @7 E96 EC66D @FE @C:8:?2==J[ 3FE H6 EC:65 E@ C6E2:? 2D >2?J 2D A@DD:3=6]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm#@4<D 2?5 EC66D 282:? DFCC@F?5 E96 H2E6C 762EFC6[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 96C3 82C56? A=2?E65 3J q2:C5 @? E96 >2:? =6G6=[ C:89E 3J E96 DE2:CD[ @G6C=@@<:?8 E96 H2E6C72==] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 C@@7 E92E 25@C?D E96 2EC:F> C6>2:?D 8=2DD 2?5 DE66=[ ;FDE =:<6 E96 @C:8:?2= DECF4EFC6[ 2?5 2==@HD 7@C ?2EFC2= =:89E E@ A@FC :?E@ E96 3F:=5:?8[ 2 762EFC6 E92E E96 6>A=@J66D 2AAC64:2E6[ q2:C5 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%23=6D 2?5 492:CD 2=D@ 6>A=@J E96 2EC:F>’D 3@EE@> =6G6=[ 8:G:?8 G:D:E@CD[ @77:4:2=D[ 4:E:K6?D @C 6>A=@J66D 2 4@>7@CE23=6 DA@E E@ C6=2I ;FDE @FED:56 @7 E96 4:EJ 4@F?4:= 492>36C[ H9:49 5@F3=6D 2D 2 4@FCEC@@>] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 492>36C :D D6E FA H:E9 4@?G6CE:3=6 492:CD 2?5 E23=6D E92E 42? 36 2CC2?865 :? >2?J H2JD] %96 =:89E:?8 762EFC6D 2C6 62D:=J D6E 2E 5:776C6?E =6G6=D[ 2==@H:?8 7@C 2? 2>3:6?E 766= @C 2 DEC:4E H9:E6 =:89E 7@C E9@D6 >@C6 D6C:@FD >@>6?ED :? E96 4@FCEC@@>] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(96? H6 92G6 H@C< D6DD:@?D[ x =:<6 E@ 36 23=6 E@ D66 6249 @E96C 2?5 E2=<[” q2:C5 D2:5] “$@ E96 4@F?4:= 492>36C 2?5 4@FCEC@@> 42? 36 D6E FA 2?J H2J H6 H2?E] xE 2=D@ 92D 2 8C62E D@F?5 DJDE6> 2?5 =:89E:?8 DJDE6>] (6 2C6 H@C<:?8 @? 2 G:56@ DJDE6>] x H@F=5 =@G6 E@ 86E 2 8@@5 G:56@ DJDE6> FA 2?5 CF??:?8]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmq2:C5 D2:5 8C2?E 7F?5:?8 92D 96=A65 E@ @77D6E D@>6 @7 E96 6IA6?D6D 7@C E649?@=@8J] w6 2D<65 7@C 7F?5D 7C@> 2? p=232>2 |F?:4:A2= t=64EC:4 pFE9@C:EJ 8C2?E E@ AFC492D6 E6=64@?76C6?46 2?5 AC@;64E:@? 6BF:A>6?E 7@C E96 4@?76C6?46 2?5 6>A=@J66 EC2:?:?8 C@@>] %96 6>A=@J66 EC2:?:?8 C@@> C6D6>3=6D 2 9:89\E649 4@==686 4=2DDC@@>] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 h``\5:DA2E49 46?E6C :D DE2E6 @7 E96 2CE 2?5 H2D 7F?565 3J E96 %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ t\h`` q@2C5] %96 46?E6C ?@H 9@FD6D 7@FC DJDE6>D G6CDFD EH@[ 2?5 4@?E2:?D >F=E:A=6 4@>AFE6CD[ D4C66?D[ >:4C@A9@?6D 2?5 E6=6A9@?6D 2?5 D:ED 25;246?E E@ E96 t>6C86?4J ~A6C2E:@? r6?E6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“%96 t~r 4@?D:DED @7 C25:@D @C 2?J 6=64EC@?:4 56G:46 E92E 4@F=5 36 FD65 :? E96 DE2E6 @7 6>6C86?4J[” q2:C5 D2:5] “%92E :D H96C6 H6 8@ :7 H6 ?665 E@ E2=< @C A=2?] %96 ?:89E @7 E96 u:CDE &?:E65 |6E9@5:DE u:C6[ E9:D A=246 H2D 2 >259@FD6[ 3FE H6 H6C6 @? :E[ 2?5 H6 925 @FC 6BF:A>6?E C625J]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 >F?:4:A2= 4@FCE 92D 2=D@ 366? >@G65 E@ E96 ?6H 3F:=5:?8[ 2=E9@F89 E92E H2D ?@E 2=H2JD E96 A=2?] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“%96 >F?:4:A2= 4@FCED 92?5=6 E:4<6ED[ 766D[ 6E4][ 2?5 H6 4@F=5?’E =62G6 E96> @G6C 2E E96 @=5 4@FCE9@FD6 3J E96>D6=G6D[” q2:C5 6IA=2:?65] “%96J ?66565 E@ 36 ?62C @C H:E9 E96 A@=:46 56A2CE>6?E] (6 H2?E65 E@ >@G6 E96> @G6C 96C6[ 3FE E96 DA246 2==@42E65 7@C E96 @77:46 H2D ?@E 2 3:8 6?@F89 DA246 7@C EH@ A6@A=6 E@ @A6C2E6 :E DF446DD7F==J]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x C624965 @FE E@ E96 ry r@=6J r@FCE9@FD6 2?5 :?BF:C65 23@FE >@G:?8 E96 >F?:4:A2= 4@FCE E96C6[ 3FE 27E6C 8@:?8 C@F?5 2?5 C@F?5 H:E9 E96>[ :E H2D @3G:@FD E92E E96J 5:5 ?@E H2?E FD E96C6] $@ x 8@E H:E9 E96 4=6C< @7 4@FCE[ E96 4:EJ ;F586 2?5 E96 A@=:46 56A2CE>6?E[ 2?5 H6 42>6 @G6C 96C6 2?5 7:8FC65 @FE 9@H E@ >2<6 :E H@C< 96C6[” q2:C5 D2:5] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp7E6C 42C67F= 4@?D:56C2E:@?[ :E H2D 56E6C>:?65 E92E E96 4@F?4:= 492>36C 4@F=5 2=D@ 36 FD65 2D 2 4@FCEC@@>] %96 A2J>6?E H:?5@H E92E H2D AC6G:@FD=J :?DE2==65 FA7C@?E ?62C E96 A@=:46 DE2E:@? H2D C6=@42E65 E@ E96 2G2:=23=6 @77:46 DA246 ?62C E96 6=6G2E@CD @? E96 >2:? 7=@@C] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 H2?E E96D6 H@>6? E@ 36 AC@E64E65[” q2:C5 D2:5] “$@ H6 >256 DFC6 E92E E96C6 H2D 2 32CC:6C E@ 5@ 3FD:?6DD E9C@F89] %96J 2C6 4@==64E:?8 >@?6J @H65[ D:8?65 H2CC2?ED[ H92E6G6C ?665D E@ 36 5@?6[ 2?5 H6 5:5 ?@E H2?E E96 AF3=:4 E@ 92G6 5:C64E 2446DD E@ E96>]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“$@ ?@H H96? E96J 92G6 4:EJ 4@FCE[ H6 42? FD6 E9:D 6?5 @7 E96 3F:=5:?8[ 2?5 :E H:== 36 2 BF:4< :? 2?5 2 BF:4< @FE 7@C 6G6CJ@?6 :?G@=G65] r:E:K6?D 42? 8@ DEC2:89E 5@H? E96 DE2:CH6== @C 6=6G2E@C E@ E96 4@FCEC@@>[ 86E 25;F5:42E65 2?5 E96? 4@>6 324< FA[ 8@ 3J E96 H:?5@H[ A2J E96:C 7:?6 @C H92E6G6C 2?5 E96? E96J 2C6 @FE @7 E96 5@@C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“xE >256 E96 >@DE D6?D6 E@ ;FDE H@C< :E @FE @? @FC @H?]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qms:C64E=J 24C@DD E96 H2J[ E96C6 :D 2 4276E6C:2 E92E D62ED FA E@ a__ A6@A=6 :?5@@CD 2?5 2? 255:E:@?2= d_ @? E96 32=4@?J] %96 4276E6C:2 :D 5@??65 H:E9 8=2DD H2==D 2?5 @G6C=@@<D E96 9:==J E6CC2:? @7 p=6I2?56C r:EJ] xE :D J6E 2?@E96C D46?:4 A=246 E@ 6D42A6 E@[ 5FC:?8 2 DEC6?F@FD H@C<52J @C 2 =6?8E9J 4@FCE 42D6[ 7@C 2 9@E 4FA @7 4@7766 @C E@ 86E 2 3:E @7 7C6D9 2:C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 ?6H >F?:4:A2= 4@>A=6I :D ;2>\A24<65 H:E9 362FE:7F= 2?5 C6=2I:?8 762EFC6D[ 2== @7 H9:49 H6C6 2 A2CE @7 E96 @C:8:?2= #FDD6== $2=6D ~77:46] qFE H96? p=6I2?56C r:EJ AFC492D65 E96 gd[___\DBF2C6 7@@E 3F:=5:?8[ E96 :?E6?E:@? H2D E@ 9@FD6 2== @C >@DE 6>A=@J66D H:E9:? @?6 46?EC2= =@42E:@?] xE ;FDE D@ 92AA6?D E92E E96 D46?:4 G:6HD 42>6 2D 2 A6C<]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“tG6CJ@?6 =@G6D >J @77:46[” q2:C5 D2:5] “x DE:== ?665 E@ AFE >J E@F49 @? :E[ 3FE E96 7=@@C\E@\46:=:?8 H:?5@HD 2=H2JD D66> E@ H@H A6@A=6] x’> ;FDE 7@CEF?2E6 E@ 92G6 2 DA@E E92E 2==@HD >6 E@ 3C:?8 ?2EFC6 :?E@ >J DA246 =:<6 E9:D] x 2=D@ =:<6 36:?8 23=6 E@ D66 ag_]”k^DA2?mk^Am
