By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

The town of White Hall is seeing improvement, according to reports from Thursday night’s regular Town Council meeting.

Thursday night, the council approved a new rental deposit fee for use of the municipal complex, heard reports on current and pending grants, a progress report from the Police Department and comments from Mayor Elect James Walker.

The council voted unanimously to charge a $100 refundable deposit in addition to the current rental fees for use of the municipal building with renters responsible for any damages.

A Safe Routes to School sidewalk grant project will begin construction soon, Mayor Elizabeth Davis said.

She explained the sidewalks will be constructed to Lowndes County Road 17 to Lowndes County Road 23 with a cross walk at Jackson-Steele Elementary.

Davis also reported that a pending $1 million in grants for sewer, water well and water tank projects are expected to be funded.

Davis said she wanted to let the citizens of White Hall know “that we do have some things that are going forward.”

She said the sewer project will be about $400,000 and the well and tank project will be more than $700,000.

Part-time Police Chief Tony Bufford reported that the speed limit is being enforced, and that last month there were two arrests made, seven tickets written, 12 calls received and zero burglaries.

“When I first arrived in the town of White Hall, they were breaking-in in the daytime,” he said.

Bufford also said his department was also able to obtain a vehicle from town of Hayneville and from the Town of Fort Deposit “and we are very grateful for the new addition.”

He also said officers have been trained in electronic citations and to deal with immigration laws.

Mayor-Elect Walker also dropped by for the council meeting.

“I look forward to working with each one of you council members,” Walker said. ” I have some vision for the town and we are going to need to kind of pull together to get some things done.”

He said he also planned to attend training for newly elected city officials.

“I’m about progressing the city here,” he said.