LIVINGSTON-The Livingston City Council welcomed a new friend to town Monday in new Wal Mart manager David Gaither. Gaither comes into the job with eight years in the company and a desire to partner one of Sumter County’s most important businesses with the community.

Livingston Mayor Tom Tartt said the council looked forward to working with Gaither on community projects and hoped the two could partner together to benefit the people of Livingston.

“WE are happy to have David here and look forward to having him and his family as part of the community,” Tartt said. “We told David earlier that we would like to do whatever we can to promote the well being of our Wal Mart and anything we can to do to facilitate the expanding of the Wal Mart and maybe getting a small super center we will be willing to do.”

Gaither, who has worked all over Alabama and the Florida panhandle, said he stresses community involvement heavily. He said he would continue to stay involved in local projects.

“In one of my previous jobs I was over community involvement which involved grants, donations and things like that,” Gaither said. “I will continue that here in Livingston so if I can possibly help you in any way let me know.”

Gaither said he and many local leaders had already discussed how they could work together. He said this was the first step toward accomplishing big things.

“We plan to stay in touch,” Gaither said. “That is a step in the right direction.”

When the introductions were complete the council meeting took on a serious tone when council member Gary Busby also addressed a problem he has observed during the warmer months of the year. Busby said he has noticed more and more people parking in restricted areas and has been very disappointed by this selfish act.

“We have a lot of people that are parking in handicapped parking spaces,” Busby said. “They do not have any kind of stickers on their cars and this is happening all over town. I have a father who is handicapped and it is very frustrating to find people that are not using the system correctly.”

Busby asked motorists to remember the spaces are there for a reason and there are people there who need the spaces for easy accessibility, not to beat the summer heat.

“That is very frustrating,” Busby said. “Especially with the heat the way it is right now. We just need to remind them not to do that and to honor our handicapped people.”