You see what Im saying? These are informal meetings. She was raising two sons. She was on her own. 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. Mailing Address: 103 First Avenue NW, Suite 4, Fayette, Alabama, 35555-2627 But.. 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. 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. According to the Kppen Climate Classification system, Fayette has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. There are may things we can do together to continue providing the environment of opportunity Fayette has always enjoyed. Vying for office in Ward One are Steve Herring, Kevin Rhudy and Virettia L. Whiteside. City of Fayette Missouri - Timeless Character, Soaring Spirit. Photo editing by Bronwen Latimer. The per capita income for the city was $16,602. The mega-rich. When I get through with it, its going to look nice. Fayette Mayor Jeremy Dawson can be reached by phone at (660) 248-5246 or by email at jdawson@cityoffayettemo.com. Whys there always only one Black? Virettia said. including West Point Lake in Georgia, 15 minutes to the east and Alabama's Lake Martin, 30 minutes to the west. 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. However, that was far from the actual reason, as Porter made clear to McCrummen. Fayette is a city and the county seat of Fayette County, Alabama, United States. Farm & Heavy Equipment More Info Here . Cumberland County falls under the requirements of the Federal Voting Rights Act. Her best friend was running in the traditionally Black ward. The Fayetteville City Council is the elected governing body representing the citizens of Fayetteville. The mayor also appoints Council members to City Council committees and liaison positions. Their combined presence changed the longtime makeup of the council. If you give me time, my trailer might put a value on your home. The mayor is elected at-large. Rod Northam, Mayor But no one wants to talk about race in this town, she said. No, said Jerriolyn Lacey. (Jared. Like spitting on the sidewalk. At thesemeetings, Council receives information andasks questions. Copyright 2015 City of LaFayette Website Development by Red Sage Communications, Inc. Click Here to watch the latest City Council Meetings. Theyd talked previously about what had happened. Over the course of its history our town has been the starting point of many endeavors that became larger than the the city itself. The Council consists of seven members who are elected on a non-partisan basis in odd-numbered years. 32.8% of households were one person and 14.0% were one person aged 65 or older. Wilson died poor and obscure in Yonkers, NY, in . The mayor is avoting member of the Council. Again. Mayor Hinges on Voter Rolls, Preventing a Repeat of WWII-Era Imprisonment, Fox News Told Viewers What They Wanted to Hear. Virettias mother had shopped at his store. Get your date and time reserved early while they are available. A few days later, Virettia was still upset, and when a tenant whod helped on her campaign stopped by her office, she started telling her what had happened. Rioters were going to target downtown Fayette, where the Garden Club had planted flower beds and people gathered on holidays in the courthouse square. Fayette City Council certifies election results. The mayor is a voting member of the Council. Virettia also manages Valley Cove. The population density was 530.2 inhabitants per square mile (204.7/km2). Mayor of Fayette / 660-248-5246 . (McCrummen won a Pulitzer in 2018 for her coverage of Judge Roy Moore, the Gadsden Mall Creeper, in Alabama.) 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.. 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. We may earn a commission from these links. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post), TOP: Despite aging buildings and the occasional downed sign, Fayette has been trying to revive its downtown area. Fayette, AL 35555-2684 (205) 932-4510 . 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. Terms and Conditions. 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. 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. Her third chance came after the mayor went over the budget. All council members and Mayor Ray Nelson were present for the meeting. He needs to go to the hospital.. At the 2000 census there were 4,922 people, 2,092 households, and 1,303 families living in the city. At the 2010 census there were 4,619 people, 1,924 households, and 1,206 families living in the city. She was still saying it now, trusting that the high road people had been advising her to take would eventually bring some relief, but it did not. She needed his advice deciphering Fayettes zoning laws, but she also knew that Cedric had barely left his house since losing the election, and she was worried about him. Their combined presence changed the longtime makeup of the council. And I think developing those relationships is a good thing, the mayor said, moving on. Whitesides election messed with this informal order of things. Elections are non-partisan, with the mayor and council members serving four-year terms. [3] All the White department heads were going to be fired. Dont talk to her, talk to them, said the womans daughter, pointing to the board of three White men and one Black man. This aint the half of it, baby.. I had a fire. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Fayetteville, NC 28301-5537, Designed by Granicus - Connecting People and Government. [9] I was in the next window. Our county is fortunate to have an abundance of industries ranging from agricultural and timber to industrial manufacturing. But at a moment when old political orthodoxies were being challenged all the way down to small towns in the rural South, there were now two Black women on the Fayette City Council: one representing the Black ward, and Virettia Whiteside, 35, manager of two apartment complexes across from a vestigial cotton field on the east side of town. The population was 4,619 at the 2010 census,[2] down from 4,922 at the 2000 census. 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. She checked to see if the judge had ruled on the case; still nothing. Subscribe now! Official Facebook page for the City of Fayette Alabama Look at the state Constitution. Virettia also manages Valley Cove. 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. I think Fayette dodged a bullet.. People got to live, said the Black board member, Scott Walker, who had become visibly angry as the hearing went on. Mayor and City Council Members. The new mayor had told Virettia he supported her but had said nothing publicly. Find Vital Records and Voter Records related to Fayette City Hall. He only has one kidney. Fayette operates under the Mayor-Council form of government. (Jared Ragland for The Washington Post). 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!!!!!" The city had 4,285 residents as of 2020, according to the United States Census Bureau. The Fayetteville City Council has establishedboards and commissions. In her new role, she works to help people beyond the complex. Rod, Jerry, Eddy, Tommy, and at the far end of the dais was Councilwoman Virettia Whiteside, now writing something down to keep herself focused. We are also the home of the Sipsey Arts Alliance. The City of LaFayette, Alabama, the county seat of Chambers County, in East Central Alabama provides the perfect balance between rural and urban life. Its mine. The volunteerswho are appointed to the boards andcommissions serve as the link that connectsthe public to its governing body and serve asadvisors who make recommendations thathelp shape the policies and programs ofFayetteville. Board of Alderman . Mine will be a home too, once I get through with it.. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Fayette city, Alabama", "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990", "NOAA NCEI U.S. After she won, she spoke only of being humbled and grateful, even as she worried about what else could happen. For a full list of our elected officials and department heads including contact information, click here. Design by Tara McCarty. Im going to meet with Kip tomorrow at 11, she said, referring to the airport manager. You got some old ordinances with some old language. The Fayette time zone is Central Daylight Time which is 6 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When I moved to my house it looked like nothing, and I fixed it up. The local radio stations are WLDX Big Cat and WTXT. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.7 males. Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below. I love you, but you owe me $77, Virettia said. BOX 87 LAFAYETTE, AL 36862. The mayor acts as the official head of city government and presides at City Council meetings. Its a lot of language about us in the Constitution of Alabama thats been there since 1921.. Learn more about the history of our probate office and the people currently operating it. I lost everything. Now.. Ward One Councilwoman Linda McCraw is not seeking re-election. 433 Hay Street I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of my hometown. The per capita income for the city was $15,553. It wasnt just the house she had bought in another ward, he said, explaining why he opposed her election. 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. The syrup is still produced locally in a manufacturing facility in downtown Fayette. 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. Virettia took a deep breath. Its disguised pretty well but its right here among us. Now she called Cedric Wilson, the former city councilman who had lost his bid for mayor. All nine council members are elected from single member districts and only citizens within each district may vote for each district seat. The Council holds special meetings whennecessary; notice of the meeting must begiven to the public and media 48 hoursbefore that meeting. Under the current electoral system, the City Council consists of nine council members and a mayor. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. He lives near Boston and has three children. Fayette is a city and the county seat of Fayette County, Alabama, United States. Phone 205-932-5367. BOTTOM RIGHT: Cotton fields, such as this one in Fayette, still permeate the South. See a helpful list of local county services and agencies. Fayette Map. He pulled his hoodie over his face, pretending to avoid her. 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. About Us. In 2005, City Council began holding informalwork sessions on the first Monday of eachmonth. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.88. We would love to have you come and visit Fayette County and see rural living at its best! After upending a racial norm in the rural South, a Black councilwoman contends with defiance from a community she wants to serve, 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. But getting back to what you were saying, baby.. Information about LaFayette, Alabama City Council Members City Council District A Terry G. Mangram (334) 497-9935 Click here to email Councilman Mangram District B David Ennis (706) 518-4441 Click here to email Councilman Ennis District C Toney B. Thomas (334) 864-5335 Click here to email Councilman Thomas District D Michael C. Ellis (706) 350-9762 Its hard even now to believe how crazy with fear the protests last summer made white people in this country. For all other departments, please click here. 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 situation became so delicate that when local ministers held a prayer vigil for racial justice during the height of nationwide protests, an organizer quietly asked people not to bring Black Lives Matter signs for fear of confirming the imagined apocalypse. Every day, the woman said. Take the high road, people kept advising. 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. Our history of is one of people with the vision and daring to achieve outsized goals for a town our size. RIGHT: Aliska Hughes-Monroe, Virettia's best friend, was elected in November to represent Ward 4. 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. You can also pay your bill on-line. She punched the girl in the face, which solved the immediate problem but also began a period of acting out that she later decided had to do with feeling abandoned and wanting someone to rescue her. So yall ever voted to change the outdated laws? Virettia asked Cedric now. There were 2,239 housing units at an average density of 257.4 per square mile (99.4/km2). The Municipal Court has created an Amnesty Program for all defendants that have outstanding balances from cases prior to December 31, 2020. Her father: nothing. Just have a conversation with me. City Council - Fayette, Alabama All Events This event has passed. The Fayetteville City Council is the electedgoverning body representing the citizens ofFayetteville. One on the abatement board in a town that was roughly 73 percent White and 24 percent Black. Federal election monitors were sent to Aliceville, and in the years after that more Black people were elected, a development that led to White flight and divestment that is the story of rural towns across the South. Contact Glenda for availability and services provided by the staff. Due to federal intervention decades ago, a Black ward was created to guarantee that there would be one black member of the city council. 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. 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? Residents sit outside Mayfair Manor. The population was 4,619 at the 2010 census,[2] down from 4,922 at the 2000 census. 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. To speak before the City Council on a matter of importance fill out and submit this Agenda Request Form. Here we go pothole, pothole, pothole, Virettia said as they headed into Aliskas ward on the west side of town, past the wood-frame houses and churches where theyd both grown up in families that went back generations in Fayette. Add to calendar Details Date: In addition to these . Males had a median income of $29,857 versus $21,899 for females. Copy editing by Wayne Lockwood. There used to be no Black, Cedric said. 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. We strive to hear every single question, concern, and comment to better enhance the quality of life in our City. As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,285 people, 1,888 households, and 1,178 families residing in the city. She is the newly elected City Council member for Ward 1, which includes the complexes she manages. Population control. What bothered her was not Scottie Porters lawsuit or social media postings exactly, but the silence. An indication that the actual power structure might change surely brings the night sweats to the good white citizens of the town. Sign up for Weather Alerts because seconds matter. P.O Box 1111 Montgomery AL. 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. Mike! she said now, seeing him pass by her office. All meetingsstart at 7 p.m. and are open to the public. Virettia talks with a resident at the Mayfair Manor apartments in Fayette. Then she got a lawyer in Birmingham who asked the judge to dismiss the case, describing it as an attempt to intimidate Ms. Whiteside and to punish her for winning election to a traditionally white seat and literally an effort to keep Ms. Whiteside in her place. . Council Meetings - Fayette, Alabama City Council Meetings begin at 5:00 PM on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month in the City Hall. 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. You not ready for the next level if you allowing this pettiness to get to you, her cousin had texted back. Normally thats where the hurt comes from, thinking you know somebody. LaFayettes proximity, transportation options, access to outdoor activities and major sporting events makes it a perfect place to live, raise a family, do business or just visit. These people, these problems that she wanted the power to solve. Males had a median income of $34,271 versus $27,500 for females. Why now?. 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. My trailer is paid for, cash. Councilwoman Aliska Hughes-Monroe was absent from the meeting with all other council members present. 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?. Wade?. And I said, Sure is, which in his mind was the put-down of the century, a luxury he would normally not allow himself. The median household income was $25,714 and the median family income was $36,589. She read the post again, which gave her a feeling that reminded her of a time when she was a little girl and living for a while in a tough part of Detroit after her parents got divorced. View map of Fayette City Hall, and get driving directions from your location. 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). Black citizens are allowed to participate in local government, but not to approach anything remotely like controlling it. For every 100 females, there were 81.4 males. 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. Lord give me the strength, Virettia thought to herself. 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. The median age was 40.2 years. It was officially shortened to "Fayette" in 1898. 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. The Fayette Art Museum has over 5,000 pieces of art by nationally recognized artists. Laws were meant to be amended. A sign for a business in Virettia's ward. The Fayette Art Museum has over 5,000 pieces of art by nationally recognized artists. 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. Fayette County has four incorporated towns and cities including Fayette, Glen Allen, Berry, and Belk. Despite aging buildings and the occasional downed sign, Fayette has been trying to revive its downtown area. Were hustling backwards, Virettia said. Third party advertisements support hosting, listing verification, updates, and site maintenance. Its going to look fine. 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. Our county encompasses 630 square miles of beautiful farmland, forest, and private property. Suggest Listing . Find 6 Town & City Halls within 22.8 miles of Fayette City Hall. Listen to me. (205) 932-4510. State officials Have a question about our comment policies? The population was 4,619 at the 2010 census, [2] down from 4,922 at the 2000 census. Seeking the position of mayor, replacing retiring Mayor Ray Nelson, will be: Kevin Bass, Rod Northam, Max Weaver and current City Councilman Cedric Wilson. 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. Can You Prove Those Colonists Weren't Witches? We talked about it, Cedric said. 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. 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. Aliceville was like Fayette 25 years ago, he said one afternoon, launching into an interpretation of history that had long fueled the fiercest White resistance to change, one in which Black progress meant White loss White flight, White fear, a kind of White death. Local elections were coming up. The City Clerk's Office maintainsmeeting minutesfrom City Council meetings and publishes a schedule of upcoming City Council meetings. The City Manager is responsible for managing the Citys employees, and the finances and resources as the chief budget officer. In Ward Two, incumbent Councilman Eddy D. Campbell will face challenger Floyd Rogers Jr. for the position. THE TIMES-RECORD PO DRAWER 159 FAYETTE, AL 35555 . [4], Fayette is located in west-central Fayette County at 334131N 874956W / 33.69194N 87.83222W / 33.69194; -87.83222 (33.692068, -87.832358). 1.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. Oh no, youre not going there, said the White woman. As hed told Virettia: I felt fooled by 'em. One Black person on the City Council. 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. Location of Fayette in Fayette County, Alabama. From 30,000 feet we look at Aliceville and we know 20 years ago it had a White mayor and now it has a Black mayor, and a Black council, and its got s--- left, he continued. get driving directions from your location, Fayette County Death Certificates & Records, Voter poll locations and election procedures. what black person have you seen come to my defense Ill wait NO ONE, she had texted her cousin in a moment of frustration. 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. Here in the shebeen, we are longtime fans of Stephanie McCrummen, who is posted in the South and who writes for the Washington Post. Council members and the mayor are notfull-time City employees, but they arefinancially compensated for their time andcertain expenses. She is the newly elected City Council member for Ward 1, which includes the complexes she manages. But now it was the summer of protests after the killing of George Floyd. 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. She had replaced it with a trailer approved by the fire chief, a decision some of her neighbors were asking to be overturned by referring to a 1970s ordinance. She listened for a moment as he responded mm hmm, she said, mm hmm and then, growing impatient, she did what she finally had the power to do. Hey Jordan, she said, and began telling him what the woman had told her. There is Opportunity for You in Fayette! Im getting tired of this, Virettia said. I know its hard youre his mom and thats your baby, but Im here, Virettia said, waving over another tenant behind on his rent. Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. The racial makeup of the city was 73.4% White, 24.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Now he spent most days at his antique store, happy to share with anyone who asked his belief that if all the Black candidates had won, Fayette would have soon resembled another Alabama town he knew of, an hour to the south, which in his mind had been a charming place when White people had the majority on the City Council. BOTTOM RIGHT: Like many other Mayfair Manor residents, Zach supported Virettia during her council run. I worked for that spot. Virettia put the cap on her pen, and a few minutes later, the meeting was over. 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. Preachers: nothing. 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. All members of the Fayetteville City Councilserve concurrent two-year terms following acitywide election held in early November inodd-numbered years. ? her cousin wrote. A & E Family Restaurant has opened in the old Cruze-In location in The Triangle. The residents have got protection because weve got ordinances, said the mother, going on about declining property values, until Ericka finally stood up. You will be surprised at what you can achieve here. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Few people will say what I say, but people in this town were scared to death. 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.