Hyde new Bear Creek council member

BEAR CREEK    -  Adam Hyde, known for being community minded with a heart for the town, is now on the Bear Creek Town Council in place 3.
Hyde was administered the oath of office at the Wednesday, Aug. 21, town council meeting by the town’s attorney, Jeff Mobley.
The council voted unanimously for Hyde to fill the seat vacated in June by the resignation of Alex Price.
“As everyone knows, Alex Price resigned a couple of meetings ago and has since moved to Tuscaloosa,” Mayor Rob Taylor informed the council before the oath of office.
“(Price) did, in my opinion, what was best for the town,” Taylor added. “Every decision he made, his decisions were based on what he felt were the best for our town.
“I have spoken to Adam Hyde, and he said he would be proud to serve our community.  I think he will be an awesome fit,” Taylor added.
Taylor then called for a motion for Hyde to be appointed to the place 3 seat, replacing Price. Eric Loden made the motion, seconded by Eric Mills, with all council members voting in favor, including Loden, Mills and Chris Gillum. Council member Tom Misner was absent from the meeting.

Mobley then administered the oath of office, with Hyde placing his left hand on the Holy Bible and raising his right hand to take the oath. Holding the Bible was Town Clerk Kay Wiginton.
“I swear...or affirm that I will support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Alabama, so long as I remain a citizen thereof, and that I will faithfully and honestly discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter, to the best of my ability, so help me God,” Hyde repeated after Mobley in his oath.
Hyde then took his seat for the remainder of the council meeting.
Hyde will serve the remaining one year of Price’s term, according to Taylor.
Price was elected to the Bear Creek Town Council in November, 2020, to serve a four-year term, according to Wiginton.  Governor Kay Ivey added one additional year to all mayor and town council members’ terms after the 2020 election to move municipal elections off of presidential election years, making their terms end in 2025.
The council voted to approve Price’s resignation on June 19, and a vacancy was declared.
A vacancy in the city council for any class 7 or 8 municipality shall be filled by the city council at the next regular meeting or any subsequent meeting of the council, with the person elected holding the office for the unexpired term, according to Code of Alabama Section 11-44G-1 concerning procedures in event of vacancy.
If the vacancy is not filled within 60 days, each existing council member and the mayor may submit a name to the governor, who will make the appointment, the rule further stated.
If the governor fails to make an appointment from any submitted names within 90 days after the vacancy occurs, the probate judge shall call a special election to fill the vacancy, the law states.
In the case of Price’s resignation, the council accepted three names for the seat, but decided that Hyde would be the best fit for the town, according to Taylor.
The council’s vote to name Hyde to place 3 fell within the 60 days to make the replacement after the vacancy occurred, counting only business days and not weekend days.
Taylor noted that Hyde came highly recommended.
“Everyone was in agreement as far as Adam,” Taylor said. “He is an outstanding member of the community.  I have known Adam for over 30 years and I know nothing but good things about Adam.
“I think he is absolutely in it for what is best for our community,” Taylor pointed out. “I don’t think there is any type of personal agenda. He is here for Bear Creek and that is what we need.
“I look forward to working with Adam,” Taylor continued. “I think he’s going to be an asset to the community. He already is, but even more so in this role.”
A 2004 graduate of Phillips High School, Hyde is a veteran of the Alabama National Guard.
This will mark Hyde’s first time in public office.
“I have always had an interest in government, especially local, because I feel that is where we need to be more involved,” Hyde stated.  
“I had an interest, but the opportunity came sooner than what I thought it would,” Hyde added. “When the opportunity came, I was excited to have the opportunity to be able to serve.”
Hyde stressed he seeks to make decisions to better the town as a whole.
“This happened so fast. I was asked about it yesterday (August 20) and you saw we had our first meeting tonight,” Hyde explained.
“My main goal is to do what is best by Bear Creek, to do what is best for the citizens of Bear Creek,” Hyde explained, “to be a voice for the town and to look out for its best interest.”
Hyde looks forward to working with  Taylor and fellow council members in this new venture, he said.
“I am grateful for the opportunity, the consideration and the trust,” Hyde said. “The people look to me to uphold that position of service and I really look forward to working with them and continuing to be great for Bear Creek.
“The mayor and our current council men have done a wonderful job,” Hyde continued. “I look forward to working alongside of them.”
Hyde and his wife, Mitzi, have four children, Parker, 16, Ryder, 12, Sawyer, 9 and Bayler, 2.