Under the current electoral system, the City Council consists of nine Council members and a mayor. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post), TOP: Despite aging buildings and the occasional downed sign, Fayette has been trying to revive its downtown area. One on the zoning board. Design by Tara McCarty. The town would go bankrupt. Phone-Number: 334-864-7181 Meeting-Type: regular Submission-datetime: 1/23/2023 . My trailer is paid for, cash. The City Council appoints a manager who carries out the laws and policies enacted by Council. Finally, she said, Hey Cedric. I wouldnt be so rude, so I said, Hey. And she said, Whatre you doing? And I said, Keeping busy. She said, Thats good.' The residents have got protection because weve got ordinances, said the mother, going on about declining property values, until Ericka finally stood up. I think Fayette dodged a bullet.. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post), Former council member Cedric Wilson, at his home in January, served Fayette's historically Black Ward 4 for more than 20 years before stepping down in an unsuccessful run for mayor. (Jared. [5], According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.6 square miles (22.4km2), of which 8.5 square miles (22.1km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2km2), or 0.95%, is water.[2]. Call us today to get any more information about our county. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post). The Fayetteville City Council hosts work sessions on the first Monday of every month. The city had 4,285 residents as of 2020, according to the United States Census Bureau. Please join me, the Council and others of our community as we strive to make Fayette an even better place to live, work and play. The Fayette City Council held a public hearing concerning property abatements and later voted to charge the owners for the city's costs for cleanup at six of the abated properties. Its mine. Subscribe now! Virettia had always thought of her town as a nice place to live but a hard place to be anybody unless your granddaddys uncles cousins a somebody. For a while, her father had been somebody the citys first Black councilman but that was long ago, and she had always wondered what to make of his silence about the experience. Always one, a situation that had long described the reality of entrenched White power outside big Southern cities like Birmingham or Atlanta. In the row behind them, Virettia sat with Ericka, a hand on her shoulder, thinking this would not be happening, not in this way, if Ericka were White. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males. At the 2000 census there were 4,922 people, 2,092 households, and 1,303 families living in the city. About 15.4% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over. We have a place for you, a place where your dreams can have a beginning. It was officially shortened to "Fayette" in 1898. The Fayette City Hall, located in Fayette, AL, provides municipal services for residents of Fayette. The biggest threat to the male ego is a black woman, she said, reading out loud a quote someone had sent her as she began work one morning at Mayfair Manor, where she had a glass-front office in the lobby and the first tenant of the day stopped in just after 8 a.m. You doing okay, Junie? Virettia asked an elderly woman. Oh baby, guess what? Cedric said, brightening, telling Virettia about a White woman hed run into at the bank, one of the many hed suspected of spreading the false rumors about him. Their combined presence changed the longtime makeup of the council. Any of you want to talk further on this? the mayor said, turning to his right and then turning to Virettia, who shook her head no. And so she had told herself, Stay cool, calm and collected. She had kept reminding herself: I am the first to sit up here for Ward One., She kept thinking about Ericka and Mike and the people counting on her to succeed, and about Cedric, her father and the people who had come before, and for that matter the people who might come after, and she kept telling herself what she knew to be true: This is bigger than me. Their combined presence changed the longtime makeup of the council. Im talking to you all, Ericka said. On Election Day, someone called police to report a possible fight outside a polling place, which turned out to be Virettia and the other Black candidates who were outside greeting voters when the sirens came screaming, and through it all, Virettia tried to maintain her composure. Fayette is a town where people have always found opportunity waiting to be fulfilled. City government is comparable to a private corporation under the council/manager form of government. Just have a conversation with me. All members of the Fayetteville City Councilserve concurrent two-year terms following acitywide election held in early November inodd-numbered years. You not ready for the next level if you allowing this pettiness to get to you, her cousin had texted back. Four Black candidates were running for major positions, something that had never happened before in Fayette. Virettia closed her eyes and thought about all the things she had wanted to say but had not said during the past months as she felt her legitimacy questioned. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post), LEFT: Antiques store owner Scottie Porter lost a lawsuit against Virettia that disputed her eligibility to hold office in Ward 1 because she owns a home outside of it. All of the City Council's regular meetings are broadcast live onFayTV, the City of Fayetteville's Government Access Channel. For all other departments, please click here. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Fayette city, Alabama", "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990", "NOAA NCEI U.S. Virettia asked him who was on the abatement board. FAYETTE, Ala. The men in ties stood in the corridor of City Hall, talking with a kind of familiarity that the newest council member did not yet feel. She walked by the men chatting in the corridor and took her seat next to her colleagues, wondering if they had supported Scotties lawsuit. Here in the shebeen, we are longtime fans of Stephanie McCrummen, who is posted in the South and who writes for the Washington Post. Scottie Porter had responded to the post. Fayette, AL 35555-2684 (205) 932-4510 . But no one wants to talk about race in this town, she said. The Aquatic Center will begin taking Party Reservations on April 3. For additional information on events at the Civic Center or to host an event at the Civic Center, please contact Glenda Robertson at 205-932-8727. Like spitting on the sidewalk. Fayette is a city and the county seat of Fayette County, Alabama, United States. Stand behind me show up! Virettia had texted then. Lord give me the strength, Virettia thought to herself. Fayette is organized in a mayor-council form of city government, with a mayor elected citywide and five council members elected from districts. Fayette, Alabama City Council 'Rule of One' Black Member Comes to an End 1 Read Every Article Esquire Has Ever Published 2 The 35 Best Gifts for Serious Whiskey Drinkers 3 Marvel Is Weird About. Should an appointee fail tocomply with the attendance requirement orfail to attend three regularly scheduledmeetings, the appointee shall beautomatically removed. These dreams have been realized by the formation of several companies that grew to be leaders in their fields before being merged into larger entities. The mayor is elected at-large. Find 7 external resources related to Fayette City Hall. Hed run for the wards City Council seat against her best friend Aliska, losing 244 to 51. Address, Phone Number, and Hours for Fayette City Hall, a Town & City Hall, at Temple Avenue North, Fayette AL. View map of Fayette City Hall, and get driving directions from your location. A White woman Virettia had known for years had sent her a private message asking how she was holding up but nothing public. She felt the same sense of uncertainty that she had felt since all of this began, and the feeling continued until she called her lawyer a few days later to check on her case. Someappointees must have special licenses ormeet certain professional requirements. Drop by between 6:30 and 8:30 PM for free refreshments and a visit. I kept my yard up. Wade?. 35.5% of households were one person and 19.0% were one person aged 65 or older. A federal judge later tossed out the decisions, but not before the matter helped spark the largest civil rights march in the South since the famous Selma-to-Montgomery march in 1965. Ox Bodies, now a division of TBEI, is a world leader in truck dump bodies, Fayette Fabrication, founded in 2014, provides custom carts, racks and skids for the automotive industry across the southeast. Maintain a leisurely lifestyle featuring natural beauty and historic architecture in the city limits, while still enjoying the fast pace activities of nearby Auburn/Opelika (30 miles), Montgomery (70 miles), Atlanta (80 miles) or Birmingham (120 miles). Councilwoman Aliska Hughes-Monroe was absent from the meeting with all other council members present. 2023 County Office. Wednesday, August 19, 2020 - 11:04:46 AM. He came in and stood in front of her desk. Posted-By: City of LaFayette, Alabama City Council: Meeting-Date: 2/13/2023 Meeting-Time: 5:30 PM: Notice History: Meeting-Location: FARMERS FEDERATION(ALFA) BUILDING 1006 AVENUE A SE LAFAYETTE, AL 36862. Her best friend was running in the traditionally Black ward. Her second chance came a few minutes later, after the police chief gave his report. The mayor is elected at-large. Virettia talks with a resident at the Mayfair Manor apartments in Fayette. She tried to remember that this was the whole reason she had run in the first place. Aliska Hughes-Monroe and Scottie Carl Porter are seeking the council position in Ward Four. When investigators from the district attorneys office showed up at Mayfair Manor three times asking tenants if their absentee ballots had been coerced, she decided not to file a complaint with the NAACP. Comes now the Plaintiff Scottie Carl Porter she read, recognizing the name of a man she only knew as the owner of an antique store downtown and a superfan of President Donald Trump who had lost his own bid for City Council. Antiques store owner Scottie Porter lost a lawsuit against Virettia that disputed her eligibility to hold office in Ward 1 because she owns a home outside of it. Email Address: Follow These people, these problems that she wanted the power to solve. Of the 2,092 households 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. We may earn a commission from these links. Posted-By: City of LaFayette, Alabama City Council: Meeting-Date: 2/1/2023 Meeting-Time: 4:30PM: Notice History: Meeting-Location: 50 Alabama Avenue West P. O. Photo editing by Bronwen Latimer. The multiracial tenants include fast-food workers, veterans and elderly and disabled people. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post). Our history of is one of people with the vision and daring to achieve outsized goals for a town our size. Social media was aflame with boogedy-boogedy about busloads of Black Lives Matter and Antifa activists coming to wreak havoc in Your Town. Generally, no votes are taken. She was raising two sons. This is bigger than me.. City of Fayette 203 Temple Avenue N. Fayette, AL 35555 Phone: 205-932-5367 Fax: 205-932-5788 email: cityhall@fayetteal.org Contact Numbers If Emergency, please call 911 Police: 205-932 5312 Fire: 205-932-5311 Gas: 205-932-5269 After Hours: 205-270-0088 Water: 205-932-5311 For all other departments, please click here. Hey Jerry, the mayor said to one of the other councilmen as he came in. About Us. Learn about the services they provide and their interest in your safety. There were 2,336 housing units at an average density of 273.0 per square mile (105.4/km2). She was not the first Black person on the City Council in the rural town of Fayette. I believe it with all my heart.. Terms and Conditions. All Rights Reserved. Seeking the position of mayor, replacing retiring Mayor Ray Nelson, will be: Kevin Bass, Rod Northam, Max Weaver and current City Councilman Cedric Wilson. There had been others, all elected from the same ward since 1988, the one drawn after a federal lawsuit forced Fayette and other towns across the state to create districts that would enable Black representation. Fayette Mayor Jeremy Dawson can be reached by phone at (660) 248-5246 or by email at jdawson@cityoffayettemo.com. A & E Family Restaurant has opened in the old Cruze-In location in The Triangle. History [ edit] Originally known as "La Fayette", it incorporated on January 15, 1821. It might look better than yours. Popularity:#1 of 2 Town & City Halls in Fayette County#114 of 236 Town & City Halls in Alabama#3,438 in Town & City Halls. Click on the links below to view the Agenda and Minutes from the City Council Meetings. The Fayette City Council met in a special called meeting at noon on Tuesday Sept. 1 to add the legitimate provisional ballots cast during the Aug. 25 primary and to certify the election results. The per capita income for the city was $16,602. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of my hometown. The Lafayette City Council serves as the community's legislative body, enacting ordinances, appropriating funds to conduct city business, and providing policy direction for city governance through the city administrator. It wasnt just the house she had bought in another ward, he said, explaining why he opposed her election. Contact Glenda for availability and services provided by the staff. Sign up for Weather Alerts because seconds matter. She is the newly elected City Council member for Ward 1, which includes the complexes she manages. The racial makeup of the city was 75.34% White, 23.38% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. Fayette has a variety of things to see and do during your visit. She was a full-fledged councilwoman without challenge. And I said, Sure is, which in his mind was the put-down of the century, a luxury he would normally not allow himself. About 12.5% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.2% of those under age 18 and 22.9% of those age 65 or over. Citizens are both stockholders and customers; the elected body represents the board of directors and the manager is the chief executive officer responsible for the daily operations of the corporation. The only municipal election within the county this year will occur on Aug. 25 in the City of Fayette, with every position on the ballot being contested. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post), A corkboard at Mayfair Manor displays a newspaper clipping about Virettia's council election win in November. The matter involved a Black woman named Ericka Espy Hollis, whose house had burned down. The median age was 42 years. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.85. If you wish to speak before the City Council you may fill out a Request Form that can be found on the main menu under About > Council Meetings. Leading us in prayer will be Wade Jackson, he said. Vying for office in Ward One are Steve Herring, Kevin Rhudy and Virettia L. Whiteside. It is time to become a member. Like many other Mayfair Manor residents, Zach supported Virettia during her council run. But getting back to what you were saying, baby.. Fayette County has four incorporated towns and cities including Fayette, Glen Allen, Berry, and Belk. A sign for a business in Virettia's ward. Males had a median income of $34,271 versus $27,500 for females. The age distribution was 21.4% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% 65 or older. LaFayette's new city park is for every age, every ability, and every neighborhood. This new twist on the old idea of gerrymanderingcloaking old Elbridges original notion in the moral camouflage of the Civil Rights Movementis not that uncommon. The mayor acts as the official head of city government and presides at City Council meetings. That the judge had dismissed the lawsuit. She had surprised herself by deciding to run. Her first reaction was to consider quitting. She told Virettia she wanted to speak on her behalf at the meeting, but by now Virettia had decided she needed to speak for herself. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post). So, when Whiteside won her council seat, in which she represents a mixed-race district, and a friend of hers won the traditional Black seat, there were two Black citizens on the city council of Fayette, Alabama, which proceeded to lose a bit of its mind. The population was 4,619 at the 2010 census, [2] down from 4,922 at the 2000 census. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. We just havent said anything about it. Look at the state Constitution. Due to federal intervention decades ago, a Black ward was created to guarantee that there would be one black member of the city council. Phone-Number: 334-864-7181 Meeting-Type: special/called Submission-datetime: 1/27/2023 8:19:08 AM: Notice: Statements . Were hustling backwards, Virettia said. State officials The Fayette City Council meets the Second and Fourth Tuesday of each month. 1.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 1,924 households 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. You won, they kept reminding her, as she kept thinking of how she was supposed to handle this moment in a changing America, and now the mayor was moving through the agenda, turning to his left for comment. City government works closely with the local community college to provide employee training and programs for several companies that supply the region, nation and world with products in a variety of fields. One world order. The cameraman who live-streamed all the council meetings swung the lens toward Virettia, who cleared her throat. including West Point Lake in Georgia, 15 minutes to the east and Alabama's Lake Martin, 30 minutes to the west. At thesemeetings, Council receives information andasks questions. City of LaFayette 50 Alabama Ave W LaFayette, Alabama 36862 334-864-7181 info@cityoflafayetteal.com. All members of the City Council are elected to represent you. Cumberland County falls under the requirements of the Federal Voting Rights Act. Suggest Listing Jordan, she said, interrupting. Dont talk to her, talk to them, said the womans daughter, pointing to the board of three White men and one Black man. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post), During her campaign, Virettia knocked on doors in Haughton Acres, a predominantly white, middle-class neighborhood in her ward. She is the newly elected City Council member for Ward 1, which includes the complexes she manages. The Fayette Art Museum has over 5,000 pieces of art by nationally recognized artists. She was on her own. The mayor acts as theofficial head of City government and presidesat City Council meetings. Males had a median income of $29,857 versus $21,899 for females. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. [3] BOX 87 LAFAYETTE, AL 36862. She was walking home on her first day of school when a classmate started pushing her, and another girl told her, Youre going to have to fight. Virettia had never fought in her life but standing there in the strange snow in a strange city, she realized no one was coming to help. He pulled his hoodie over his face, pretending to avoid her. You see what Im saying? Under the current electoral system, the City Council consists of nine council members and a mayor. Mayor of Fayette / 660-248-5246 . The meeting begins at 5 PM at the Fayette City Hall, 204 Temple Avenue North. You may rent any of several rooms, including the auditorium, for your special event. Virettia also manages Valley Cove. The Fayetteville City Council is the elected governing body representing the citizens of Fayetteville. speckle park bull sales 2021 847-461-9794; fayette, alabama city council. Black citizens are allowed to participate in local government, but not to approach anything remotely like controlling it. An indication that the actual power structure might change surely brings the night sweats to the good white citizens of the town. She had imagined another version of the moment, one where she had turned to the camera and said to the whole town of Fayette, Why are you so frightened? ? her cousin wrote. The Fayette City Council with members Tommy Williams and Virettia Whiteside meets at City Hall in the small Alabama town in January with Mayor Rod Northam in attendance. The womans daughter stood up: My daddy would roll over in his grave if he knew there was a double-wide in there I cannot believe this, she said. Charles P Pierce is the author of four books, most recently Idiot America, and has been a working journalist since 1976. Council Lady Whiteside? the mayor said, turning to his left. The population was 4,619 at the 2010 census,[2] down from 4,922 at the 2000 census. She checked to see if the judge had ruled on the case; still nothing. We are fans because she goes out and finds those small stories in small places that nevertheless teach us big lessons about what kind of country we actually are, a question that has stumped us pretty badly so far in 2021. That she had won. Shown from left: Councilman Cedric Wilson (sitting in chair at far left), Councilman Jerry Nichols, Councilman Jason Cowart, Mayor Ray Nelson, City Clerk Dawn Clapp, Councilwoman Linda McCraw and Councilman Eddy Campbell.
