BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Following a fairly routine Bay Minette City Council meeting Monday night, the council went into executive session to discuss "threatening litigation."

Information about the litigation was unavailable.

In another matter, the  council will have to fork out nearly $1,000 to the city of Atmore for a firefighter hired away from the nearby city.

"We hired two people a few months ago, which y'all had approved. One was volunteer certified and had to go through five weeks of training to become career certified," Fire Chief Phil Bryars said.

"The other firefighter came to us already trained and certified. If we had put a new recruit through the required training it would have cost us around $16,000," he said. Instead the City will pay approximately $9,700.

District 5 Councilman Chris Norman asked about the firefighter paying the money. "I thought the person was responsible for paying back the training fees if they left," he asked.

Bryars said state law requires the hiring agency to reimburse the former agency. "If he had been there over two years - and he was close - we wouldn't owe anything," Bryars said.

"This is to safeguard you all as much as other cities," he said. "We have four under contract. If they were to leave to go to another city, that city would have to reimburse us," he said.

Money was the topic of the evening, as the Rotary Club approached the Council to ask for more money to help fund the annual Fourth of July fireworks show.

"This is one of the biggest events for Bay Minette all year," Craig Caldwell, Bay Minette Rotary Club president said. "Last year the money raised was $8,300 and we had to go back to members who had already given and ask them to give more."

Caldwell said the price for fireworks has gone up every year, and this year's total is $9,700 — a $3,000 increase over last year.

"For the last four years we've gone in the hole," he said. Additionally he said the sinking economy is hampering fundraising efforts.

"Businesses that have donated in the past are not donating this year," he said.

Caldwell asked the council to appropriate another $2,875 in addition to the alloted $2,000. Council members were hesitant and threw around suggestions and questions until City Clerk Rita Findley offered a viable solution.

"Why doesn't the council offer to pay up to $4,875 and then let them present a bill and the council can pay the difference," she said. The council and Rotary members agreed. The resolution passed unanimously.

Rotarians present said they will continue the fund-raising effort in the hopes that the City would not have to put out as much money as requested.

District 1 Councilman Mike Phillips suggested the civic organization put out bids for next year's show to see if they could get the fireworks for a lesser price.

"This has been an ongoing (event) for years, I'd hate to see it end. We can (help) this year, but then we need to sit down and look at what to do in future years," he said.

Norman agreed and said if something can't be done about the price, there may come a time when the City will have to draw a line.

"There has to be a point where we just can't do anymore," he said.

In yet another plea for funding, Police Chief Michael Rowland requested $804.70 to send Police Chaplain Robert Gates to the Basic Chaplain Training Course in Knoxville, Tenn., July 13-17.

"We will take this out of the auxiliary account, because he's attached to the auxiliary. Pastor Gates on his own has paid for all but two classes. This will pay for those two classes," Rowland said.

"This is a nationally recognized program, this will professionalize what we're doing," he said. "Since he volunteered it would be nice if we could donate to his training."

Rowland said the $800 was only half of what was required for the classes and expenses of the trip.

"This is only half of the cost, he's paying the rest," Rowland said. "We are splitting the cost with him down the middle."

Rowland said 13 other ministers attended the last Police Chaplain meeting and twice that are expected at the next meeting. He said by providing Gates with this training, the pastor would be able to come back and share what he learned with the other pastors.

Lastly, Mayor Jamie Tillery announced that because the next council meeting would not be until May 11, a special called meeting to review the payables is scheduled for May 1 at 8 a.m. "This will only be a 10-minute meeting," Tillery told council members.