Retirees happy to get pensions back

PRICHARD, Ala. (WALA) - Prichard pensioners haven't gotten a check from the city in 20 months. The city said it couldn't afford it, but after Friday’s agreement, pensioners could see a check in a few weeks, and some pensioners are thankful that they're getting something.

A short drive in downtown Prichard shows it's a city on its knees - boarded up windows, dilapidated buildings. However, this city used to stand tall.

"Prichard used to be a major city. We were in the top seven cities in Alabama. We had 51,000 people at one time," pensioner Henry Phillips said.

Henry Phillips is a lifelong lover of Prichard. From the 1950s until the 1990s he served the city. He worked in the recreation department. He was a police officer, a court bailiff, a judge and a city council member. He ran for mayor, and he was also a janitor.

"We didn't make much money - hourly pay - but I hung on because we had a good retirement program, to be knocked in the head like it is now," Phillips said.

After Prichard stopped paying pensions, Phillips was hit hard.

"It hurt me pretty bad financially because it knocked close to $1100 out of my pocketbook once a month,” Phillips said.

His wife had to help make ends meet.

On Friday, Mayor Ron Davis signed an agreement that would give pensioners a check equal to one third of what they're owed, plus a lump sum to cover a percentage of back pay. The agreement also says one third of any revenue generated by the city must go to pensioners.

"I think they're good people. They're just short of money,” Phillips said.

A pensioner spokesperson said 18 pensioners have died since the payments stopped. Phillips has no hard feelings against the city officials. He feels they have their hands tied. He's just glad something is finally being done.

"The councilman from Eight Mile and the mayor said they wanna make it whole like it used to be, and I think they gonna try,” said Phillips.

A judge will have to sign off on the deal. If everything goes to plan, pensioners could expect to see a check as early as next month.