In an effort to attract and retain better employees – especially police officers – Florala city officials are now re-exploring offering state retirement benefits.

City Clerk Kathy Rathel said a previous estimate to join the Retirement System of Alabama (RSA) would’ve cost the city more than $68,000.

“Then, we had three employees with over 30 years of service,” Rathel said. “Under (RSA’s) requirements, we would’ve had to purchase 10 years of time for each of them. Now, that number is down to one employee, so we’re hoping that buy-in price is cheaper, making it an affordable option for the city.

“We’re losing more and more police officers who are going to departments who have state retirement,” she said. “The council agreed we needed to do something.”

At present, there are 25 employees eligible for retirement benefits, if the city elects to participate in the RSA program.

In other business, the council:

• appropriated $3,000 to pave Second Avenue between Lakeshore Boulevard and Fifth Avenue.

• approved a liquor license for Sorabal, a new Asian restaurant that is set to open April 10.

• agreed to negotiate a loan on behalf of the fire department to purchase a new brush truck.

-Stephanie Nelson