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Greenville officials appointed a new city attorney during Monday night’s council meeting, filling the position vacated following the death of longtime counselor Richard Hartley.

Greenville native Brandon Simmons was unanimously hired by the council to finish out the remainder of the 2016-20 administration. His legal services retainer was approved at $750 per month, which includes providing legal advice via telephone and casual in-person advice during routine consultations of not more than 15 minutes to those authorized by Mayor Dexter McLendon and council as well as availability for and attendance at city council, planning commission and board of adjustment meetings.

Following the approval of Simmons’ appointment, McLendon welcomed him to the city.

“We’re glad to have you,” he said.

Simmons, 41, has been practicing law in Greenville since 2003, only two months after passing the Alabama State Bar. He performs general practice law with more than 17 years of experience in both civil and criminal matters from his office located at 506 E. Commerce St.

As a 1996 graduate of Greenville High School, Simmons said that it’s great to be serving his community.

“It’s awesome; great,” he said after the meeting. “It’s an honor and privilege — I’ve been here in Greenville my whole life.”

Following high school, Simmons attended Auburn University of Montgomery and received a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2000. He received his juris doctorate from Jones School of Law in Montgomery in 2003.

When offered the opportunity to take over as city attorney, Simmons did not hesitate.

“I was very receptive of the opportunity,” he concluded. “I look forward to meeting a lot of people and to help the city move forward.”

Simmons is the son of Lane and Dale Simmons of Greenville. He is married to Danielle James Simmons. The couple has 10-year-old twin boys, Costner and Lausen.

In other business, the council:

• Authorized Mayor McLendon to enter into an agreement with Clint Coker for the purchase of recently declared, city-owned surplus property located at 628 Milner St. for $1,000.

“The plans are to take down some houses that are in terrible shape and have been gone for some time and use the property to build some really nice homes there,” McLendon said. “We are going to have pictures of before and after.”

The agreement requests that the property be subdivided into two parcels.

• Awarded Taylor Lawn Care the grounds maintenance and mowing services contract for Magnolia and Pioneer cemeteries through Oct. 31. The low bid amount was $3,150 per cut, which is approximately $150 less per cut from last year’s contract, according to McLendon.
• Awarded C&C Lawn Care the Greenville Horticulture Departments other service location grounds maintenance and mowing service contract through Oct. 31. The low bid amount was $4,450 per cut, which is $25 less per cut from last year’s contract, according to McLendon.
• Adopted the city’s revised Flood Plain ordinance.
• OK’d payment of $3,456.60 to A.D. Starr for baseballs, softballs, bat bags, helmet bags and youth size bats budgeted for the Greenville Parks & Recreation Department’s youth baseball and softball programs.
• Approved the city’s quarterly reports.

The next regular city council meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on March 9.