By Cady Inabinett, Managing editor of content 

The Montevallo City Council recognized several community members and groups at their April 10 meeting, including recognizing country radio host “Dollar” Bill Lawson—who is retiring after 50 years on the air. 

In his proclamation honoring Lawson, Mayor Rusty Nix highlighted Lawson’s career, including his time co-hosting the radio show “Dollar Bill & Madison” on Birmingham-based station 102.5 The Bull. Nix also emphasized Lawson’s charity work, pointing out that he has a history of raising money for charities such as Children’s Miracle Network, Easter Seals, Muscular Dystrophy Association and St. Jude. 

Nix also called Lawson “the voice of Montevallo”—a title derived from his role emceeing parades and events in the city. 

Lawson, who was present at the meeting, shared his personal connection to Montevallo, pointing out that he met his wife in the city. 

“I’ve been coming to Montevallo for 30 years and if it hadn’t been for this city, I wouldn’t have had my wife Mary,” he said. 

Lawson also highlighted his love for the city, saying, “This is a great little city that a lot of people don’t know. It’s a jewel, and it’s been such an honor and pleasure and a blessing in my life to have been spending so much time in this city.” 

Other recognitions made at the council included recognition of three members of the Montevallo Community Choir, recognition of Kenny Davis—a Montevallo city employee who has worked for the city for 30 years and is retiring in May—and recognition of the Montevallo Middle School Leaders of Tomorrow who were attending the meeting. 

The council also approved several construction-related projects at the meeting. Two of these projects aim to make the City Hall Annex building on Main Street ADA complaint by adding an ADA complaint restroom to the building and constructing an ADA complaint sidewalk at the front of the building.  

Construction of the restroom will cost $14,000 while the construction of the sidewalk will cost $6,400. Both expenditures will come from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funds. 

The council also voted to approve a project adding left turn lanes on State Road 119 and County Road 22. This project is being done in conjunction with the Alabama Department of Transporation. 

When discussing this project, Nix asked City Clerk Steve Gilbert for an update on the ongoing Highway 25 sidewalk construction project. Gilbert said that the city is waiting to receive a final signal maintenance agreement from ALDOT regarding the upkeep of walk signals that will have to be placed at the intersection of Highway 25 and Middle Street, but that, once that is received, the city will be able to begin the bid process for construction contracting. 

During Montevallo Police Chief Jeremy Littleton’s report to the council, council member Martha Eisenberg requested that police officers, “make an effort to be more prominent in the schools,” suggesting that officers go and eat lunch with students at Montevallo schools—even offering to pay for the officers’ lunches herself. 

“I think the more we could get our police officers in the schools and to be around the children— all ages, especially our teenagers— it would be beneficial to them and to our city,” she said. 

Littleton agreed to pass that along to his officers, but added that he feels that the department has a, “good relationship with our youths.” 

At the conclusion of the meeting, the council entered into executive session. Executive sessions are not open to the public, but the meeting’s agenda said that the session would be used to discuss pending litigation. 

The next city council meeting will be held Monday, April 24, at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at City Hall and livestreamed on the city’s Facebook page.