Downtown Bonifay shows signs of revitalization

Bonifay City Council announced in the Oct. 24 regular meeting that downtown Bonifay is finally starting to get a facelift with the repaving of the parking lot and mural in progress at Eureka Square.

Brandi Jordan has been hard at work on the 12-foot by 36-foot mural that pays homage to Bonifay’s historic Hotel Eureka that hasn’t been in existence for decades but helped put Bonifay on the map.

In old business, the council appointed a committee to review the city’s charter. Each council member nominated a member for the committee that will be made up of Josh White, Ben Harrison, Melea Flanary, Stacy Walters and Henry Pitts.

The council passed a motion to purchase four surplus patrol vehicles at a cost of $3,000 each with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Bonifay Police Department will receive three 2012 Chevrolet Tahoes and one will go to Bonifay Fire-Rescue.

In new business, the city hired Tracy Walker for the bookkeeping position after interviewing four candidates.

The council voted to take the first step toward adding the capability to read water meters electronically. For now, the city will spend $5,920 on software, a tablet and training for technicians to transmit data electronically to city hall when out reading the meters manually.

In the future, the city would like to install about 1,800 digital meters at a cost of $250 each. This would be funded with excess city funds and additional grant funding the council is seeking.

Bonifay will soon have its own liquor ordinance. The item was tabled in the meeting until Attorney Michelle Jordan drafts the ordinance which will largely mirror the county’s ordinance.

The council passed a motion to spend $2,400 of ARPA funds on a new automated external defibrillator, or AED, for the fire department. It will replace the old one that’s been in use for eight years.

The next regular meeting will be held Monday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m.