Earle selects new council member

Earle selects new council member

Brenda Luckett will replace her husband for remainder of term

news@theeveningtimes.com

The wife of a former Earle city councilman who resigned to keep his job as city inspector instead, has been chosen to take his place on the governing body.

The City Council voted to appoint Brenda Luckett to fill the unexpired term of Bobby Luckett.

Bobby Luckett resigned in June but will remain in his job as city inspector. Luckett was forced by a judge to choose between holding a seat on the city council or working as inspector as the result of a lawsuit by a citizen.

The council was given a choice of three names to fill the vacancy: Luckett, TJ Bohannon, and Robert Campbell. Brenda emerged as the choice of five council members.

“We will get her sworn in and duly certified,” said Mayor Sherman Smith. “I look forward to working with her.”

In other business:

• The council voted to accept $2,700 from the insurance company as payment for a 2009 Crown Victoria police car which was damaged when an officer drove through deep standing water.

The council was given the option of accepting the $2,700 or $1,960 and keeping the car for salvage. The car has a $740 salvage value.

Councilman Donnie Cheers asked Police Chief Jerry Eaves whether it was worth keeping the car.

“Is it salvageable?” Cheers asked.

Eaves said the vehicle is currently inoperable.

“It won’t turn over” Eaves said. “It was actually the worst car we had.”

Eaves said the city paid $3,500 for the car.

Smith cautioned against keeping the car because they don’t know the extent of the damage or how much it would cost to repair it and put it back in service.

“I’m not saying it’s no good,” Smith said. “ But I wouldn’t want to. There are probably electrical problems now and you don’t know what else is wrong with it.”

Councilwoman Jimmie Barham agreed.

“Why would we want it back?” Barham said.

“I say take the $2,700,” Cheers added.

• Street Department supervisor Nemo Matthews reported that the city’s garbage truck has been in the shop for repairs.

“It was down all last week,” Matthews said. “We had brakes put on it and the packing unit and bed quit raising up. We found someone who came to Earle and

fixed it for us.” Matthews said the truck is back in service and will be finishing the route.

“But if someone’s can is filled up, we’re going back and will pick it up.”

By Mark Randall