The mayor of Huntsville turned down local firefighters' request for a pay raise.
Mayor Tommy Battle says he won't seek higher pay for firefighters in next year's budget after an audit presented at last night’s city council meeting found the current wages are fair.
The Huntsville Firefighters Association has been pushing for a raise since February. It says starting salaries of city firefighters and police officers should at least be equal. Currently rookie police officers make about $2,200 a year more.
The firefighters have taken on new duties since their last raise in 2007. But Byron Thomas, Huntsville's human resources director, said his department's audit found no significant justification for higher wages.
Councilman Will Culver said he wants to revisit the issue at the council's next meeting on August 27. More firefighters are expected to attend that meeting.
Tomorrow marks the 75th anniversary of the Rosenbaum House in Florence.
The house was designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The All Wright All Day event will be held at the house and will be divided into two parts featuring two guest speakers.
Libby Jordan is the director of the Rosenbaum House. She says this event is a great way for people to learn different and unique things about the residence.
“It is the only Frank Lloyd Wright structure in the state of Alabama and it is considered to be the purest example of Wright’s Usonian design. It’s just a perfectly beautiful house and it’s so different and it’s such a prime example of the house that Wright designed for the middle class.”
Jordan also says the house isn't usually open to the public in the evenings, so experiencing the home at night is a rare and special treat for guests.
If you’re what’s known as a foodie, then this coming week is for you.
Alabama Restaurant Week begins today. It’s a statewide event where restaurants offer reduced price menus to try to get new customers. 60 eateries are participating this year in Huntsville.
Pam Williams is coordinating the event for the Huntsville Convention and Visitors Bureau. She says the effort is expanding beyond lower priced lunches and dinners.
“We have some new events that were created as well. We have a progressive French dinner called ‘Tour De France, Y’all’, and then we have a whiskey tasting, so we have whiskey, wine, and cigars, and lunch included.”
The Huntsville whiskey event is this Sunday. Restaurants across Alabama are participating. You can find a list on the Alabama Restaurant Week website.