BAILEYTON, Ala. – Mayor Windell Calloway commenced the monthly session of the Baileyton Town Council on July 7, 2025. The meeting opened with an invocation led by Councilman Greg Griffin, then began with awards being presented to the 2025 Baileyton Citizen and Volunteer of the Year.
“Tonight we have two people that we want to recognize,” the mayor said. “We have a lot of people that have helped us over the years in our town and we are very fortunate for that. Each year we try to have a Volunteer and Citizen of the Year award and we have two very good candidates tonight.”
Martha Guthrie was named the 2025 Baileyton Citizen of the Year. Guthrie was nominated for the award by Dewayne Sumner, who stated, “Mrs. Guthrie has been a staple in the Baileyton community for many years…I can’t think of anyone more deserving of being recognized as Baileyton Citizen of the Year in 2025.”
Charlie Whitehead was named 2025 Baileyton Volunteer of the Year. Said Calloway, “This guy has helped us with many different things – he has helped us put in culverts, he helped us fill the parking lot at the school…Charlie’s been a great guy to help us and not charge the Town.” Whitehead was not in attendance at the council meeting receive his award due to prior work commitments.
Calloway also acknowledged Dewayne Withey, runner-up for Citizen of the Year, saying, “He’s somebody who came by and asked us if he could help us in the park. He has volunteered to redo a lot of the fences and tables and still has a lot of things he is working on there, so we also want to recognize him.”
In old business, the council voted on an ordinance re-establishing the salaries of the mayor and council members to be paid once annually. The ordinance states that the mayor of the Town of Baileyton shall receive a fixed sum of $10,200 and council members shall be compensated $2,400 per year. The ordinance passed unanimously.
In new business, the council discussed the Back-to-School Bash for Parkside School. The celebration will be held on Aug. 5, from 3-6 p.m. at the school. Calloway had an idea, stating, “We have some school supplies that I have saved that has come in with the Bargain Days stuff. If it would help the school, we could give it to the school as long as it is OK with the council.” Sumner made a motion to donate supplies and purchase water bottles for the Parkside Back-to-School Bash. The motion passed unanimously.
In other business:
- The Latham Horse Show is scheduled for July 18-19, 2025
- A resolution passed establishing compensation for town clerk for performing duties as absentee election manager
- A resolution passed to appoint election officers for the 2025 Municipal Election and to establish compensation for said election officers
- Appointment of town clerk to file the list of electors qualified to vote in the General Municipal Election
The next town council meeting will be Monday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m. at Baileyton Town Hall, located at 95 Fire Station Road.
