The Scottsboro City Council had a busy work session last week. A representative from Morgan Keegan informed the council in February 2012 the city will have the opportunity to refinance a 2002 debt at a lower interest rate.

By refinancing the debt, the city would not be borrowing any more money or extend the pay-off date, but would receive money from simply refinancing the debt.

Mayor Melton Potter addressed the council about a proposal for a narrow band city wide radio system. Potter said the system would include hand held radios, walkie talkies and car radios and would include the repeaters needed. The cost of the system is expected to be around $213,000.

The radios will be used for the police department, solid waste, street department, fire department, sanitation department and any other city office that currently uses wide band radios. Scottsboro Police Chief Ralph Dawe, said the new system is an overall better system.

Potter also addressed the council about city emergency planning.

Potter explained the importance of planning for an emergency and said the city needed a plan that meshed all department plans together.

“I want us to be prepared as much as we can be,” stated Potter. “This time next year we hope to have a plan in place,.”

Scottsboro City Councilman Keith Smith addressed the council about the city’s financial department.

Smith said, “Currently only one person knows about the city’s assets, debts and finances and thought it would be a good idea to have someone else cross-trained in the area.”

Councilwoman Carol McCrary said looking at it from a business point of view, it would make sense to have a back-up plan to keep the city moving without interruption in the event the current person was unable to perform his/her duties. The council is expected to vote on these matters in the upcoming weeks.

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