Civic Corner: Board of Aldermen Recap May 19, 2026
Robert Chapman
By Robert Chapman, Alderman-at-Large
Clinton’s Board of Aldermen opened the May 19, 2026, meeting recognizing the Clinton Fire Department during National EMS Week. The Board thanked them for their tireless work and continued efforts at growing professionally.
The Board heard from Director of Communications Marlee Price-Cook. She showcased several metrics showing the City’s growth on social media, online and through the TextMyGov efforts. She also mentioned a blueprint to revamp the City’s website that will integrate calendar items as well as a twenty-four-hour two-way communication tool.
Moving into the Action/Discussion portion of the meeting, the Board of Aldermen nominated Mayor Will Purdie as the City’s MML voting delegate for the 2026 summer meeting and Alderwoman McSparrin as the alternate delegate.
City Clerk Jimmy Baldree requested WGK be appointed to provide engineering services for the CDBG Briars project slated to start soon.
Police Chief Ford Hayman informed the Board that Officer Dickerson has been slated to retire at the end of June and requested he be allowed to purchase his service firearm, as is traditional upon the retirement of police officers.
Chief Hayman also requested approval to purchase five tasers, fifty cartridges and ten batteries for the department from Axon at the state contract price of $10,419. He informed the Board that these items were purchased from the sale of firearms previously approved by the Board.
Department of Public Works Department Phillip Lilley asked the Board for the approval to have the Booster Station Hydropneumatotic Tank sandblasted and repainted by Stephens TPS, Inc. for $18,000.
He also asked for approval to accept the bid for $827,547.40 offered by ADCAMP to complete the paving projects for 2026.
The Board took action on an unkempt property before approving the hiring of two firefighters, a traffic control technician and a reclassification of a public works employee as well as a grounds technician for Parks and Recreation.
In other news, a change order for work on the softball concession stand at Traceway was presented due to the need to convert a metal pipe to a larger PVC pipe at the price of $12,369.34.
Also, the City was notified about a small piece of land less than one-hundredth of an acre that was being maintained by a citizen that happened to be classified as City property. City Attorney Josiah Burns enacted the process to vacate ownership of this small strip of land, which is being sold along with an adjacent piece of land, deeding it to the buyer upon sell.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Space will be provided in each issue of The Clinton Courier to the Board of Aldermen for a recap of each meeting. Aldermen are asked to volunteer to provide this recap for the Courier.
