Attalla mayors bill dies in regular session and will be reintroducted in special session

A bill to make the mayor’s position in Attalla full time failed to pass in the regular legislative session, but will be reintroduced in a special session expected in August, according to Rep. Craig Ford.  Ford sponsored the bill, which had been requested in February by the Attalla City Council. It passed the House of Representatives May 28, but died in the Senate.  Ford blames Sen. Phil Williams, R-Rainbow City, for the bill’s failure. Williams, however, said he was not properly notified about it in advance.  Attalla Mayor Larry Means said all members of Etowah County’s legislative delegation were notified by letter in February about the council’s unanimous request for the bill, and Ford’s agreement to sponsor it.  Williams said he did not receive the letter in February, but Ford sent him a copy after the bill passed the House, and he questioned Ford about it.  Williams said there was no time to sign the bill out and move it forward to the floor “in the middle of what became the last 24 hours,” and several other local bills suffered the same fate.