Margaret, Alabama: Council Meets, Divide Persists

0:00In Margaret, Alabama, the city council finally held a meeting on Sunday after weeks of no-shows killing their quorum. That gridlock stall key votes on spending and repairs, leaving urgent city business in limbo, especially for the fire department's worn out gear. Fire Chief Brett Thomas explained they've got apparatus needing fixes or full replacements, and they even lined up a new truck but couldn't pull the trigger without council approval. Mayor Matt Tortoris, warned that with just two solid rigs left, one breakdown could cripple response times across departments. Meanwhile, the real beef is between the mayor and some council members, with Tortorists saying, communications gone dark. They won't meet or talk. Councilman Rae fired back that they've shelled out around $31,000 on issues without getting the invoices or docks they requested. Sunday's session dug into the backlog, covering fire updates, staffing, ordinances, and funding, but it didn't patch up the divide. Both sides claim they want progress, yet trust remains shaky.

1:02Leaders expect more talk soon to clear the decks and get back to running the city's move. I'm Corey, with the story, and you've been listening to Birmingham News today, AI-powered