[16], Coordinates: 334131N 874956W / 33.692068N 87.832358W / 33.692068; -87.832358. 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. LaFayette has a mayor-council form of government. Few people will say what I say, but people in this town were scared to death. Youre going to see some things, Cedric said. 2023 County Office. .css-umdwtv{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#FF3A30;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:background 0.4s;transition:background 0.4s;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #d5dbe3 50%, #d5dbe3);-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;}.css-umdwtv:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;}In her latest work, McCrummen tells the tale of a Black woman named Virettia Whiteside, a member of the city council in a place called Fayette, Alabama. 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. There are may things we can do together to continue providing the environment of opportunity Fayette has always enjoyed. . P.O Box 1111 Montgomery AL. Sherry Settle represented the Fayette County Board of Registrars at the meeting. Thats why theyre so mad.. People got to live, said the Black board member, Scott Walker, who had become visibly angry as the hearing went on. Our county encompasses 630 square miles of beautiful farmland, forest, and private property. Im getting tired of this, Virettia said. 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. City of Fayetteville [9] 54 were here. BOTTOM RIGHT: Like many other Mayfair Manor residents, Zach supported Virettia during her council run. I had a fire. The town would go bankrupt. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.7 males. Her father: nothing. Its mine. Growing up in Fayette during a time of growth and initiative I know the citizens of our town have the heart to continue the progressive actions that have always characterized our town. In May 2000, voters approved the current election system of nine Council members elected by single-member districts and a voting mayor elected at large. Incumbent Jason Cowart did not qualify for re-election in Ward Three, leaving qualifiers Brad Cox and Tommy Williams to battle for the position. One percent of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. The cameraman who live-streamed all the council meetings swung the lens toward Virettia, who cleared her throat. The median age was 40.2 years. It might look better than yours. They drove past the apartments, past an old plantation house, a Christian supply store and out along a strip of highway where there was a Ford dealership, two local banks and a small airport. 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. BOTTOM RIGHT: Cotton fields, such as this one in Fayette, still permeate the South. What he had told her was that she would learn her own lessons, and so she was trying, going one evening with Aliska to observe a hearing of the zoning board of adjustments. Tornado activity: Fayette-area historical tornado activity is slightly above Alabama state average.It is 134% greater than the overall U.S. average.. On 4/3/1974, a category F5 (max. That the judge had dismissed the lawsuit. Mayor Hinges on Voter Rolls, Preventing a Repeat of WWII-Era Imprisonment, Fox News Told Viewers What They Wanted to Hear. 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. Council members and the mayor are not full-time city employees, but they are financially compensated for their time and expenses. Cotton fields, such as this one in Fayette, still permeate the South. As hed told Virettia: I felt fooled by 'em. The Fayette City Hall, located in Fayette, AL, provides municipal services for residents of Fayette. There used to be no Black, Cedric said. Appointees are to serve on only one boardor commission at a time and shall attend atleast 75% of regularly scheduled meetings onan annual basis from the date of theirappointment. All ninecouncil members are elected from singlemember districts and only citizens withineach district may vote for each district seat. We are conveniently located 40 miles from the City of Tuscaloosa and approximately 90 miles to the City of Birmingham. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Fayette city, Alabama", "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990", "NOAA NCEI U.S. Phone 205-932-5367. What do you expect people to do???? Information found on CountyOffice.org is strictly for informational purposes and does not construe legal, financial or medical advice. [3] Its hard even now to believe how crazy with fear the protests last summer made white people in this country. She is the newly elected City Council member for Ward 1, which includes the complexes she manages. Scottie Porter had responded to the post. Again. At the 2010 census there were 4,619 people, 1,924 households, and 1,206 families living in the city. One Black person on the City Council. It is time to renew your membership. He only has one kidney. speckle park bull sales 2021 847-461-9794; fayette, alabama city council. In 2005, City Council began holding informalwork sessions on the first Monday of eachmonth. It was like living through Rod Serlings old Twilight Zone episode, The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street, over and over again. City Council - Fayette, Alabama All Events This event has passed. RIGHT: Aliska Hughes-Monroe, Virettia's best friend, was elected in November to represent Ward 4. Her first chance to say something came with the first item on the agenda, covid-19. She walked by them, took her seat and began looking over the agenda, thinking about what she might say once she had a chance to speak. 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. About Us Contact Us For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post), Share your feedback by emailing the author. And I think developing those relationships is a good thing, the mayor said, moving on. The median age was 42 years. One world order. TheFayetteville City Councilis an elected body representing the citizens of Fayetteville. Under the council/manager form of government, the Fayetteville City Council performs the legislative functions of the City, establishing laws and policies, sets strategic priorities and adopts the annual budget. We are also the home of the Sipsey Arts Alliance. It began with the gift from Lois Wilson, a Fayette native, of her art collection, which ultimately totaled 2,600 pieces of her own and of other artists' work. FayTV is available on Spectrum Cable on Channel 7 and video content is also available for viewingonline. The Fayetteville City Council has establishedboards and commissions. She was not the first Black person on the City Council in the rural town of Fayette. The multiracial tenants include fast-food workers, veterans and elderly and disabled people. What mattered about her election what had spawned a lawsuit aimed at unseating her and nervous rumors about what her victory could mean was that she was the first to win outside the traditionally Black ward, breaking through what had seemed to her and other Black residents of Fayette to be the informal Rule of One. She walked by the men chatting in the corridor and took her seat next to her colleagues, wondering if they had supported Scotties lawsuit. Generally, no votes are taken. That creates the opportunity for minority representation on the council roughly equal to minority representation within thecity'spopulation. Her second chance came a few minutes later, after the police chief gave his report. In Ward Two, incumbent Councilman Eddy D. Campbell will face challenger Floyd Rogers Jr. for the position. [3] When Fayette County was created in 1824, the town's name was officially changed to "Fayette Court House", though it was also known as "Fayetteville", which was the name shown on maps and on the U.S. Census in 1880 and 1890. Fayette County has four incorporated towns and cities including Fayette, Glen Allen, Berry, and Belk. Virettia also manages Valley Cove. Email Address: Follow The Municipal Court has created an Amnesty Program for all defendants that have outstanding balances from cases prior to December 31, 2020. The syrup is still produced locally in a manufacturing facility in downtown Fayette. 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. The mayor is avoting member of the Council. See a helpful list of local county services and agencies. For a full list of our elected officials and department heads including contact information, click here. 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. We strive to hear every single question, concern, and comment to better enhance the quality of life in our City. I love you too, but theres no work around here, the man said, and that was how it went all day long, a parade of people with problems that could be as small as needing a ride to the grocery store and as large as not being able to afford medication and as difficult as what had happened the night before, when Virettia had been asleep in her apartment when she heard someone crying. This is the position that Mayor Pro-Tem Wilson will vacate to make a run for the mayors job. The local radio stations are WLDX Big Cat and WTXT. Four days later, a sheriffs deputy knocked on her door and handed her a lawsuit aimed at overturning her election based on the residency issue. Im right here, she said to the woman. Im talking to you all, Ericka said. Council meetingsare held in the first floor Council Chamber ofCity Hall, 433 Hay St. Fayette is a city in Fayette County, Alabama. 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. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.88. From its beginning as one of the earliest towns in northwest Alabama, industrious citizens have captured the future with their visions and dreams. She was a full-fledged councilwoman without challenge. Her third chance came after the mayor went over the budget. The building houses government offices, including the Fayette legislative body, and provides public records, government services, and information about Fayette services. 1.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. The Fayette Art Museum has over 5,000 pieces of art by nationally recognized artists. All members of the City Council are elected to represent you. Subscribe now! For every 100 females, there were 81.4 males. All of the City Council's regular meetings are broadcast live onFayTV, the City of Fayetteville's Government Access Channel. No FBI Agent Should Just Trust Trump to Tell Truth, Republican Senators Form Wingnut Xylophone, How to Line Your Pockets While Reshaping the Court, SCOTUS Ponders Whether to Dub Loans Unforgiven, Effort to Recall N.O. So yall ever voted to change the outdated laws? Virettia asked Cedric 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. Design by Tara McCarty. Copy editing by Wayne Lockwood. But now it was the summer of protests after the killing of George Floyd. The story takes a twist at the end which I will not reveal, but suffice it to say that McCrummen has brought us a cautionary tale from a small place that brings us a lesson about a number of big things, including who we really are as a nation, which should stump us no longer. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.85. City government is comparable to a private corporation under the council/manager form of government. Rod, Jerry, Eddy, Tommy, and at the far end of the dais was Councilwoman Virettia Whiteside, now writing something down to keep herself focused. Their combined presence changed the longtime makeup of the council. This is bigger than me.. Whitesides election messed with this informal order of things. At the time, two Black women were organizing Black voters to try to change that when they were accused of absentee ballot fraud, convicted by all-White juries and given the maximum sentences of four and five years in prison. In addition to these . Hes sick. She is the newly elected City Council member for Ward 1, which includes the complexes she manages. The tentacles are just so far-reaching, Scottie said. Thornell authors economic development book. what black person have you seen come to my defense Ill wait NO ONE, she had texted her cousin in a moment of frustration. Virettia held her hand as the board voted, each of the White members siding with the White neighbors, and the one Black board member siding with Ericka, thwarting the unanimous vote needed to block the trailer. She had been on the phone last May with her boss, talking about how she felt the needs of her tenants and working-class families were being ignored in Fayette when her boss said, So what are you going to do about it?. All members of the Fayetteville City Councilserve concurrent two-year terms following acitywide election held in early November inodd-numbered years. 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. Aliska Hughes-Monroe and Scottie Carl Porter are seeking the council position in Ward Four. Its disguised pretty well but its right here among us. Residents sit outside Mayfair Manor. The City of Fayette is located in Fayette County in the State of Alabama.Find directions to Fayette, browse local businesses, landmarks, get current traffic estimates, road conditions, and more.According to the 2019 US Census the Fayette population is estimated at 4,249 people. There were 2,239 housing units at an average density of 257.4 per square mile (99.4/km2). Mike, come in here, Virettia said, waving him in. People think we dont have a problem, but we do. Look at my heart., But that was not reality, she was saying the next morning, sitting in her office. I worked for that spot. 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. BOTTOM LEFT: Residents sit outside Mayfair Manor. At the 2000 census there were 4,922 people, 2,092 households, and 1,303 families living in the city. CountyOffice.org does not provide consumer reports and is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). 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. She got up and followed the sound outside where she found a tenant she knew as a veteran with PTSD, saying over and over I did a lot of bad things, and so she had held his hand for a while, saying We serve a God thats a forgiving God until he calmed down. Name Fayette City Hall Address 203 Temple Avenue North Fayette, Alabama, 35555 Phone 205-932-5367 Hours Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-4:00 PM . 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. Suggest Listing All right, well call the meeting to order, the mayor said. Address, Phone Number, and Hours for Fayette City Hall, a Town & City Hall, at Temple Avenue North, Fayette AL. After she won, she spoke only of being humbled and grateful, even as she worried about what else could happen. Pictured is the Fayette Civic Center, where the Fayette municipal elections will take place from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25. The new mayor had told Virettia he supported her but had said nothing publicly. They have breakfast at 5 AM and dinner as late at 8 PM. Yet.. Hed never told her about the notes he got in his mailbox with messages like Shut your mouth, n-----. Or the restraint he had to summon to ask White colleagues who still used the term boy to refer to Black men: If you know the gentlemans name, would you please call him by his name? He had not told her about feeling like you werent there.. (205) 932-4510. Preachers: nothing. Learn about the county commission that cares for our region of Alabama. Have a question about our comment policies? Yeah you had mfs like me and my sis in your corner, Virettia wrote back. The per capita income for the city was $16,602. She was on her own. Add to calendar Details Date: See complete story in The Times-Record. The city is situated on the southern edge of the Piedmont Plateau. (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. 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. The Fayetteville City Council meets regularlyin formal session on the second and fourthMonday of each month. Rod Northam, Mayor We are also the home of the Sipsey Arts Alliance. Fayette Mayor Jeremy Dawson can be reached by phone at (660) 248-5246 or by email at jdawson@cityoffayettemo.com. Take the high road, people kept advising. Fayette is organized in a mayor-council form of city government, with a mayor elected citywide and five council members elected from districts. 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. You see what Im saying? All the White department heads were going to be fired. I dont have anything tonight, she said, looking out at the faces in the audience, and then at the 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. Im going to meet with Kip tomorrow at 11, she said, referring to the airport manager. Hey Jordan, she said, and began telling him what the woman had told her. How a White woman hed known for years had asked him to get on a video call so she could see his face when she asked if he really was going to fire all the White department heads if he won, which was not true. LaFayette, Alabama maps, city districts, nearby cities, location Gas: 205-932-5269 After Hours: 205-270-0088. Each council member is assigned oversight for a unit of city government. People say it could never happen here. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The mayor is elected at-large. The population was 4,619 at the 2010 census,[2] down from 4,922 at the 2000 census. Virettia was alone in her office, and after she hung up, she allowed herself a moment to feel an unexpected sense of vindication. Under the current electoralsystem, the City Council consists of ninecouncil members and a mayor. Whitesides subsequent experiences surely stemmed from the same kind of panic. Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. Our history of is one of people with the vision and daring to achieve outsized goals for a town our size. The population density was 530.2 inhabitants per square mile (204.7/km2). This Was Gerrymandering Cloaked in Civil Rights. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mayor of Fayette / 660-248-5246 . (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post). Virettia talks with a resident at the Mayfair Manor apartments in Fayette. Like spitting on the sidewalk. Besides the Mayor, there are five council members. For faster navigation, this Iframe is preloading the Wikiwand page for Fayette, Alabama . Wednesday, August 19, 2020 - 11:04:46 AM. He needs to go to the hospital.. We are conveniently located 40 miles from the City of Tuscaloosa and approximately 90 miles to the City of Birmingham. Mine will be a home too, once I get through with it.. Wade?. The history of that town, called Aliceville, suggested a more complicated reality, one of Black voter suppression that extended into the 1980s, when White officials still held nearly every position of power, even though the population was roughly 40 percent Black. She told her thank you, but no, and as she changed into a skirt and heels and drove over to City Hall in the early evening, she weighed whether this was the moment to bring her feelings out into the open. The City of LaFayette Alabama website home page WELCOME TO THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE The City of LaFayette, Alabama, the county seat of Chambers County, in East Central Alabama provides the perfect balance between rural and urban life. Four Black candidates were running for major positions, something that had never happened before in Fayette. The city had 4,285 residents as of 2020, according to the United States Census Bureau. The Fayette City Council meets the Second and Fourth Tuesday of each month. Learn more about the history of our probate office and the people currently operating it. BOX 87 LAFAYETTE, AL 36862. 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. You can also pay your bill on-line. wind speeds 261-318 mph) tornado 19.6 miles away from the Fayette city center killed 28 people and injured 272 people.. On 3/3/1966, a category F5 tornado 32.6 miles away from the city center killed 58 people and . Hes been out, so we scheduled a meeting for tomorrow, so next meeting, Ill be able to bring an update on the airport.. She was raising two sons. Theyd talked previously about what had happened. Fayette has a variety of things to see and do during your visit. Okay his medication: Hes taking it every day? Virettia asked. No, said Jerriolyn Lacey. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. She listened as the mayor opened the first regular meeting of the new council. Cumberland County falls under the requirements of the Federal Voting Rights Act. County Office is not affiliated with any government agency. She said he was being ignored, that he needed help and she needed help, and so Virettia called a deputy at the jail, a White man she knew who was planning to run for sheriff and would need her support. The Fayette City Council is shown at its Sept. 1 meeting that was called to certify the election. Every day, the woman said. Hed run for the wards City Council seat against her best friend Aliska, losing 244 to 51. 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. The reality was that she could not afford to make a scene, she said, not in a town like Fayette, not with so much at stake. Others with regional and national reputations have also called Fayette home. The Rule of One really was broken. Charles P Pierce is the author of four books, most recently Idiot America, and has been a working journalist since 1976. I know its hard youre his mom and thats your baby, but Im here, Virettia said, waving over another tenant behind on his rent. . See complete story in The Times-Record. Ultimately, Donald Trump Beat the System. In the afternoon, she read a complaint that a constituent had posted on Facebook: asking for my neighbors and friends in ward one now that the new City transition has taken place who can they ask about someone fixing a water leak., Hahahahahaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!" Virettia took a deep breath. He answered after two rings. It wasnt just the house she had bought in another ward, he said, explaining why he opposed her election. Fayette County was founded on December 20, 1824 by an act of the Alabama Legislature and was named in honor of Revolutionary War hero General Marquis de Lafayette. Check back often to see our calendar of upcoming events and our latest county job openings. Someappointees must have special licenses ormeet certain professional requirements. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post), Virettia stands in Mayfair Manor's Community Room. You not ready for the next level if you allowing this pettiness to get to you, her cousin had texted back. Stand behind me show up! Virettia had texted then. What bothered her was not Scottie Porters lawsuit or social media postings exactly, but the silence. Learn more about our 15-man engineering crew and view their contact information here. All nine Council members are elected from individual districts, and only citizens within the city limits can vote for those seats on the Council. A city residentwishing to become mayor must specificallyrun for that office. Always one, a situation that had long described the reality of entrenched White power outside big Southern cities like Birmingham or Atlanta. These are informal meetings. 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. She was sued by a local white antique dealer named Scottie Porter, a failed council candidate himself and a Trumper to boot, who sought to invalidate Whitesides election on spurious residency grounds. This aint the half of it, baby.. I cant understand why all of a sudden we are allowing this, said a White woman sitting in the front row with her daughter, addressing the board. Jordan, she said, interrupting. Here lately Ive just been down in the dumps, the woman said, and after they talked awhile, another tenant came by to discuss her sons mental illness. There were 2,336 housing units at an average density of 273.0 per square mile (105.4/km2). Seeking the position of mayor, replacing retiring Mayor Ray Nelson, will be: Kevin Bass, Rod Northam, Max Weaver and current City Councilman Cedric Wilson. Others with regional and national reputations have also called Fayette home. Our county is a wonderful place to live with tremendous opportunities for growth, development, and industrial development with our proximity to the I-22 Corridor. One on the zoning board. The per capita income for the city was $15,553. Aliska Hughes-Monroe, Virettia's best friend, was elected in November to represent Ward 4. The mayor is a voting member of the Council. Citizens only vote for a candidate running in their respective districts. City Council March 8, 2016 @ 5:00 pm Add to calendar Details Date: March 8, 2016 Time: 5:00 pm Venue City Hall 203 Temple Avenue North Fayette, AL 35555 United States + Google Map Phone: 205-932-5367 View Venue Website (McCrummen won a Pulitzer in 2018 for her coverage of Judge Roy Moore, the Gadsden Mall Creeper, in Alabama.) How he wasnt exactly upset that he lost, but that he lost behind all those things that were said by people he thought he could trust. The park will serve residents of the city and surrounding rural areas, offer a recreation area for people coming to work in LaFayette, and provide a gathering place for families, friends, and out-of-town visitors. What is the reason for that? She had imagined a big speech about love and fear and bravery that would end with her telling people, It doesnt matter if youre rich, poor, old, young, Black or White, I care about you. Black citizens are allowed to participate in local government, but not to approach anything remotely like controlling it. 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. The mayor acts as the official head of city government and presides at City Council meetings. It was also because he believed she had run for nefarious reasons including his belief that she was part of a vast plot by national Democrats and billionaires like George Soros and Bill Gates to retain power at any cost.