Hamilton Municipal Plea Schedule to change in 2025

HAMILTON — The City of Hamilton’s Municipal Court System is changing its plea court schedule in 2025.
A request for the change was made during a city council meeting on Nov. 18, with the approval made to begin after the first of the year.
The municipal court will now hold plea court on plea days from 2 p.m.- until, so as not to coincide with the county court’s plea schedule of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
With some defendants needing to be at both locations, as well as attorneys and other court officials, Municipal Judge Wyatt Howell had made the request to try to resolve the overlapping schedule problem.
Municipal Court is located on the south end of the Hamilton Police Department at 422 Second Street, S.W.
In other business, the council:
• Approved longevity pay (A.K.A. Christmas Bonus) for all city employees. Bonuses were based on years and months of service. The estimated cost was $19,200. Bonuses were broken down as: Up to 1 year of service and part time workers - $50; 1-plus up to 5 years of service - $100; 5-plus up to 10 years of service - $300; 10-plus up to 15 years of service - $400; and 15-plus years of service - $500.
• Approved the city’s holiday schedule. City hall and city departments were off Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as well as New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
• Approved the payment of various invoices for water projects from the city’s American Rescue Plan Funds. The water department has applied for grants for all of these projects, but the invoices will be for items not covered by the grants. There was no total estimate given, as the process is ongoing. Projects include the Cooper Lift Station, the Mitchell Hill Pump Station, the County Road 49 Water Project and the Alternative Water Supply Project (County Road 42).
• Approved the purchase of five lots for $10,000 (plus closing costs) that adjoin the Oakhill Subdivision and surround property the city’s sewer lift station is located on. By making this purchase, the city will be able to keep the road closed to help protect the infrastructure of the sewer station.