Council sets trick-or-treating date, time

The Enterprise City Council voted June 20 to maintain Halloween, which falls on Wednesday, Oct. 31, as the day for trick-or-treating.

After receiving several phone calls at city hall, city officials decided to set the date for planning purposes.

Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell said he understands many residents attend church on Wednesday and it could conflict with trick-or-treating.

After consulting with area ministers and city police, Boswell recommended maintaining the 31st, from 5-7 p.m., as the designated day and time for trick-or-treating.

Boswell said many area churches host fall festivals and those who attend church on Wednesdays will likely attend those and residents who do not attend church will likely trick-or-treat.

The main concern was if trick-or-treating were moved to the Saturday before the 31st, some residents would still trick-or-treat on the 31st.

In other news, the council approved the sales tax holiday for back-to-school shopping from 12:01 a.m. Aug. 3 through midnight, Aug. 5.

According to city clerk Steve Hicks, the city will not be participating in the severe weather preparedness tax holiday created by the Alabama Legislature from July 6-8.

The tax holiday was established by the state to allow residents to purchase certain emergency supplies tax-free.

Though the city is not participating, the 4-percent state sales tax will still not apply to purchases made within the tax holiday weekend.

The council also set municipal election qualifying fees at $50.

Members of the council also approved to amend the Motor Fuel License Tax due date from the 10th to the 20th, and the Alabama Beverage Control License Tax due date from the 15th to the 20th.

The council members also agreed to create a new part-time position at the Enterprise Civic Center.

Municipal Judge Dwain Hartwick presented the council members with a policy and procedure guide for their approval.

The guide, he said, is the first of its kind, and something he had been working on since taking the position as city judge in February 2011.

"I applaud your efforts for putting this together," said councilmember William Cooper. "This will help in moving our court system forward."

The council members unanimously approved the adoption of the new guide.

City attorney Rainer Cotter presented a memorandum of understanding between the city and the Coffee County Health Department, which defines the responsibilities of the city and health department in animal bite situations.

Cotter said nothing about the policy has changed, and the memorandum simply puts the responsibilities of each entity into written format.

Council members also approved the travel request of Detective Angela Brown, who is replacing retired D.A.R.E. officer Lt. Cindy Dunaway, to attend a school resource officer training seminar in Virginia from July 9-20 for $1,738.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for July 3 at 9 a.m. rather than its regular 6 p.m. time, due to the July 4 holiday.