Gadsden Council approves move of money, use of 'Riverfest' name for upcoming concert

The City of Gadsden on Tuesday approved budget amendments that should provided added money for street improvements.

The council approved moving about $600,000 in HUD Community Development Block Grant money set aside for administration costs to street improvements.

At a recent work session, Renee Baker from the city's planning department explained that those funds include money each year for administration costs for the program, and the city has not used the administrative funds since 2015.

The council also approved the use of the trademark "Riverfest" for an upcoming concert event in Gadsden.

Riverfest at RiverRocks, on Oct. 29 brings Robert Jon and The Wreck, Damon Johnson and The Get Ready and Dashboard Jukebox featuring Jon Player to River Rocks Landing on River Road for the concert.

When The Chamber of Gadsden & Etowah County stopped staging its annual summer concert after 2013, the trademarked name was given to the city. The city approved this one-time use of the name for the upcoming show.

In the council's work session, council member Thomas Worthy asked Finance Director Lisa Rosser to clarify something about recently approved pay raises, regarding part-time and seasonal workers. He said he'd received calls from a number of employees who didn't get raises.

Rosser explained that the city approved pay increases for all employees making less than $9 an hour to bring all salaries to that rate. She said there were some part-time and seasonal employees who made more than $9 an hour, and they did not receive an increase.

Seasonal and part-time employees didn't receive a step raise, Rosser said, because they are not fulltime employees and are not part of the city's pay plan.

Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Gadsden council approved budget change, lends Riverfest name for show