By Morgan Bryce
Editor

National Merit Scholarship finalist Madison Brandt was honored with a proclamation recognizing her accomplishments during last Tuesday’s Smiths Station City Council meeting.
Prior to reading a proclamation in Brandt’s honor and presenting her with a challenge coin, Mayor Bubba Copeland spoke on how much the recognition means to the community. The city’s last National Merit finalist was Steve Elliott in 1990.
“I was on the (Lee County) School Board for 13 years before I became a mayor. Every single year, we wished for a merit finalist,” Copeland said. “Once I was made aware of your progress and how well you did, I knew that we needed to recognize (Brandt). I want you to know how proud that I, the city council and city as a whole are of you for this accomplishment.”
“Some people that are great in the classroom do not get the recognition, but you are the quarterback for the brain and brawns.”
With plans to attend the University of Alabama this fall, Brandt’s winnings include “full tuition for up to five years, four years of on-campus housing, $3,500 Merit stipend, one-time allowance of $2,000, National Study or Travel Abroad grant for $2,000 and $500 for books each year for four years,” according to the proclamation read by Copeland.
The council also approved a resolution for renewing a one-year contract with Premier Landscaping to assist in bimonthly roadside clean-ups across the city.
“Twice a month, this company goes and takes care of the debris found on roadsides … we don’t have prisoners in Smiths Station that we can use and we’re all kind of busy to do it. Renewing this is a no-brainer with them,” Copeland said.
In other business, the council:

  • approved an annexation petition for residents Jose and Sarah Silva, whose property will go from unzoned to R-1 residential.
    The Smiths Station City Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, with a work session beginning at 5:30 p.m. EST and regular meeting at 6 p.m. Their meetings are held within the council chamber of the Smiths Station Government Center, which is located at 2336 Lee Road 430. For more information, call 334-297-8771.