The Harpersville City Council has approved the purchase of 20 acres of land with payments to be spread over three years, approved a budget amendment of $25,000 to bail out the fire department and approved an acting fire chief.

The actions were taken at the council’s regular Monday, April 19 meeting.

On a two to one vote with Cline Rhodes and Wayne Moore voting in favor and Terry Wyatt opposed, the council approved the purchase of 20 acres of land owned by William Rayfield of Harpersville at a price of $10,000 per acre with a three year payment plan.

Theoangelo Perkins and Shirley Middleton abstained from the vote.

While Mayor Gloria Tate said the owner did not commit to a payment plan, she said he would talk about it.

It was pointed out that the council needs six acres of the land

to benefit from a park offer by the Shelby County Commission, but Councilmember Moore said the purchase of six acres of the 20 was not an option available to the council.

After a lengthy discussion, the council unanimously voted to amend the fire department budget by $25,000.

Max Roper, who was approved by the council as acting fire chief, pointed out that there are about $40,000 in revenues billed out. He said with the new transport service the fire department should generate about $70,000 and should achieve its goals.

Roper was unanimously approved the by council as acting chief after Mayor Gloria Tate reported that Fire Chief Shane Phillips has taken a job in another state. Roper said Phillips last day on the job in Harpersville was April 18