Winfield council, water board create cooperative district

WINFIELD — The Winfield City Council voted to approve the creation of a cooperative district between the City of Winfield and the water works and sewer board to help manage and maintain development around I-22 during its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
The cooperative district would be under a board consisting of two members appointed by the city and one appointed by the water board.
The cooperative district would allow the city and the water board to work together more seamlessly and allow the other to use each other’s property and more easily handle finances between the two entities for managing capital projects as the area around I-22 continues to be developed.
At the beginning of the meeting, the council voted to pass a proclamation honoring Winfield City High School sophomore Tori Rainey for saving the life of one of her fellow students by performing the Heimlich maneuver, as covered in a separate story in this week’s issue.
The council was deadlocked on a decision to either reappoint a park board member or appoint a new member.
Mayor Randy Price recommended reappointing Leanne Lenahan based on the park board’s recommendation, but councilman Brad Burroughs said that Drake Hall was also interested in the position, and Burroughs said he felt Hall would be an “ideal candidate.”
Neither motion gained enough votes to pass, and both motions fell dead, ending the discussion with no appointment made during the meeting.
A theater board appointment was tabled before Police Chief Brett Burleson recommended hiring Nathan Morrison back as a police officer. Morrison had worked in Winfield previously before taking a position in Walker County.
Burleson said he was impressed by Morrison during the interview and would like to welcome him back, which the council approved.
The council also passed a resolution for an intent for a bond issue for a transaction with Big Mike’s Steakhouse. The details of the bond issue are not yet final, but the resolution is required simply to state the city’s intent to issue one.
In other business:
- Councilman Miles Miles suggested looking into making sure recently acquired city vehicles received a city logo painted on the side;
- Miles also suggested re-striping Pike Road, which runs behind Walmart then by Faith Church and State Bank and Trust, as well as the Winfield City Career and Technical Academy;
- The council discussed road paving projects and the ongoing pickleball and tennis court projects at the park; and
- City Administrator Mike Watkins submitted his retirement, stating his last day will be Feb. 1, 2026, which will give him time to close out the administrator position.