By Patrick McCreless

PATRICKM@CULLMANTIMES.COM

HANCEVILLE — City improvement and the restoration of citizens’ faith in local government were the main topics of discussion Monday during the Hanceville mayoral candidates forum.

All four Hanceville mayoral candidates attended The Cullman Times and Cullman Chamber of Commerce sponsored event, including Connie Martin, Bobby Brown, Kenneth Nail and Doug Batemon.

When asked how he would restore citizens’ trust in city government after a string of controversies in recent years, Brown said all residents need to do is look back at his record.

“You won’t find a lot of turmoil and strife,” said Brown, who spent 12 years as mayor of Hanceville. “I’ll continue on the same route as I did those 12 years in office.”

Martin said she would make sure the mayor’s office door was open to every citizen.

“I know I will have an open-door policy,” Martin said. “The people’s voice needs to be restored.”

Martin added that as mayor, she would establish a municipality improvement board, whose sole purpose would be to communicate with citizens and come up with ideas to better the city.

“I will always tell the truth,” Nail said. “It might not be what you want to hear, but I’ll be honest.”

Like Martin, Nail said he would have an open-door policy to restore citizens’ trust. He also said during his first week as mayor, he would hold a public forum for citizens to explain what they want done in the city.

“And I’ll try to get more public involvement in council meetings,” Nail said.

Batemon said the way to restore trust is to return the voice to the people.

“And I’m already doing this,” he said.

Batemon said throughout his campaign, he has been asking citizens what they want from their government and what do they want him to do.

Due to Wallace State Community College’s predominance and influence in Hanceville, the candidates were asked how they would encourage and sustain the institution’s growth.

“I’d like to use my position to promote Hanceville and this wonderful school,” Martin said. “We can use computer skills ... I’ve used them to market myself. I’d like to see the city partner with Wallace using computers to market.”

Nail said he wants to have a spirit of cooperation with the college, but noted that Wallace would stop growing if the city’s sewer problem was not addressed.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management has hit the Hanceville Water and Sewer Board with a string of violations in recent years due to unpermitted overflows from the city wastewater treatment plant.

“We don’t need a moratorium on the system ... if we do, there won’t be another building at Wallace.”

To Batemon, luring more housing and businesses to the city would help the college grow and prosper.

“And we need to change the attitude of Wallace being a suitcase college,” he said.

Brown said he has seen the college grow over the years and more help from the city is needed to continue that trend.

When asked what he most hoped to accomplish if elected, Nail said he wanted faith restored in the mayor’s office.

“I want open government,” Nail said.

Batemon reiterated that he wanted to return the voice to the people, but also to bring efficient and professional government.

“I expect to spend money wisely,” Batemon said. “I will not hide anything.”

Brown said he would work to recruit industry to the area.

“We have the resources at the college,” Brown said. “When we do this, we’ll see the town grow.”

Martin said she planned to partner with all of the city’s schools.

“I’ll see our schools have money,” she said.

She also said she wanted to partner with businesses.

“I’ll work with people to invest here.”

After briefly touching on the subject of the city’s aging sewer system, Nail as well as the other candidates were asked how they would address the problem.

“I think with the city working with water and sewer board and obtaining grants, we can correct many of the problems,” Batemon said. “I think the city should put “X” amount of money in the budget for obtaining grants and help the board move forward.”

Brown said many of the city’s sewer problems could be fixed in-house, adding that he would support the water board financially.

“If we don’t work together, we won’t be working at all,” Brown said.

Both Martin and Nail said they would do everything they could to obtain sewer grants, including traveling to Washington D.C.

Over the last four years, multiple lawsuits were levied against the city and the Hanceville Police Department. To reduce such lawsuits in the future, Nail said more training is required for city employees.

“And a lot of times if you treat people with respect, you won’t have trouble with these lawsuits,” Nail said.

Batemon agreed that citizens should always be treated with respect, including city employees.

“Even if I disagree with someone, I will not take a personal vendetta against anyone to get rid of them,” he said.

Several years ago, the pay for the position of mayor in Hanceville was reduced from $30,000 a year to $9,600. When asked if the position should be a full-time job Batemon said there should be no question on the matter.

Batemon said an city ordinance was passed in 1988 to make the job full-time and nothing has been done since to change that decision.

“I expect to work full-time,” Batemon said. “I plan to work a minimum of 40 hours a week ... some in the office and the rest of the time I’ll be out with the people.”

Brown, Martin and Nail also agreed the job should be a full-time no matter what the pay.

“I decided I wanted to run for mayor because I love this town,” Nail said.

When asked about citizens’’ lack of interest in the political process (which was evident due to the less than 50 people who attended the forum) and what she would do to increase involvement, Martin said she would communicate with the public.

“I think a good leader listens to what everyone has to say,” Martin said. “And if I’m accessible, polite and business-like, I think that will draw people in.”

Nail said the trick would be to ensure all council meetings are open and inviting to the public.

“We have to set aside time for people not on the agenda,” Nail said. “And if you ask to be put on the agenda, you will be put on the agenda.”

In addition to having more open council meetings, Batemon said he would improve council work sessions.

“Work sessions have been hush, hush,” Batemon said. “I want work sessions where you can hear people’s interests.”