HANCEVILLE, Ala. – The Hanceville City Council addressed several matters involving city operations during its Thursday, Oct. 8, meeting, including additional funding for road repairs, proposed changes to employee vehicle use and the appointment process for municipal department heads. The Council also voted to uphold Mayor Nolan Bradford’s removal of Fire Chief Chris Hardin following an executive session.
Roads
Councilmembers approved a $25,000 budget amendment for the Public Works Department to continue road patching throughout the city, with funding coming from gas tax revenue.
Rusty Fields of the Public Works Department explained that repairs had required more time and resources than originally anticipated because of differences in the size and depth of damaged pavement.
The department has been working with county crews and equipment to complete the repairs, with daily expenses estimated at approximately $5,000 to $5,500. Fields said more than half of the planned work had been completed, but additional funding was needed to address the remaining areas.
Officials also discussed the possibility of purchasing city-owned patching equipment in the future, although maintenance and operating expenses would need to be considered.
Employee vehicle use
Another major topic involved Resolution 2026-8, a proposed policy regulating employees’ use of city-owned vehicles.
The proposal, introduced by Councilman Robert Powell, would limit routine take-home vehicle assignments to department heads and designated on-call employees.
Powell explained that the policy was intended to establish consistent standards for the use of city property while addressing expenses associated with fuel, maintenance, insurance and vehicle replacement.
During the discussion, officials reviewed a mileage-based estimate placing the annual cost of six take-home vehicles at approximately $17,000.
Fields expressed concerns about the proposed restrictions, explaining that Public Works employees frequently respond to emergencies involving fallen trees, flooding, severe weather and blocked roadways.
He said allowing employees to keep assigned vehicles at home helps reduce response times by eliminating the need to travel to city facilities before reporting to an emergency.
Fields also explained that emergency situations often require multiple employees, particularly when heavy equipment, traffic control or additional personnel are necessary.
Several employees raised concerns about losing a longstanding benefit, explaining that take-home vehicles had been provided during previous years when salary increases were limited.
Employees also discussed their use of personally owned equipment for city work, including chainsaws, mechanical tools and other supplies stored in their assigned vehicles.
Officials acknowledged that restricting vehicle assignments could require the city to purchase additional equipment.
Bradford questioned whether the potential savings justified changing the current arrangement, particularly considering the possible effects on employee morale and emergency response.
Councilmembers discussed several alternatives, including reimbursement for commuting expenses, gradually reducing take-home assignments and allowing exceptions for anticipated emergencies.
The Council voted to amend the proposed policy to include exceptions allowing department heads to temporarily authorize additional take-home vehicles when emergency conditions are reasonably anticipated.
The amendments also included a provision allowing six months from the resolution’s effective date for existing vehicle assignments to end.
However, the Council postponed final consideration of Resolution 2026-8 until its next meeting.
A related Public Works budget amendment for purchasing additional tools was also postponed pending further discussion of the vehicle policy.
Leadership
Councilmembers additionally considered Resolution 2026-10, which proposed establishing a formal interview process for certain municipal leadership positions.
The proposed process could involve the mayor, mayor pro tem, city clerk and additional professionals with experience relevant to the position being filled.
The Council also discussed Ordinances 2026-12, 2026-13 and 2026-14, concerning the appointment processes for the fire chief, public works director and park director, respectively.
The proposals would give the Council a greater role in appointing certain department heads rather than leaving those appointments solely under the mayor’s authority.
Bradford expressed opposition to changing the current structure, explaining that the mayor oversees daily departmental operations and should retain authority over the individuals responsible for managing them.
Other councilmembers argued that greater involvement in the appointment process would provide additional oversight and accountability.
The discussion also included proposed one-year appointment terms for certain positions, prompting questions about employment stability and salary adjustments.
Following the discussion, the Council postponed action on the proposed leadership changes to allow further review.
Police
The Council also discussed establishing a Policy and Procedures Committee as part of ongoing efforts to restore the Hanceville Police Department.
Officials discussed reviewing proposed police policies and procedures before submitting them to the city’s insurance provider for consideration. The review was identified as a step toward reestablishing the department.
Fire chief
Following an executive session lasting approximately 40 minutes, the Council returned to open session and unanimously voted to uphold Bradford’s removal of Hardin as fire chief.
Hardin had served in the position since March. No public explanation for the removal was provided during the meeting, and no replacement was announced.
During departmental reports, the Fire Department reported responding to 116 calls for service in September.
Officials also discussed firefighter training opportunities, including a traffic incident management course that would allow an employee to provide training locally to personnel who work along roadways.
Miscellaneous
Fields provided updates on maintenance at Mud Creek, including drainage concerns and ongoing upkeep responsibilities handled by the Public Works Department.
Councilmembers also discussed the possibility of seeking additional county assistance to help offset maintenance expenses.
Parks and recreation discussions included maintenance at the municipal pool and ongoing work at recreational facilities. Officials also addressed the need for separate physical addresses at TWWA Park to help distinguish facilities and improve emergency access.
The Council approved a $500 contribution to the North Alabama Agriplex, maintaining the amount previously allocated in the city budget rather than increasing the contribution to the $1,000 requested.
Councilman Cameron Rowe was appointed to the Hanceville Planning Commission, filling the position previously held by Bradford.
Resolution 2026-9, a proposed citywide credit card policy, was also postponed to allow councilmembers additional time to examine the proposed procedures.
Up next
The Hanceville City Council’s next scheduled meeting is Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m.
