Council member calls for action on street paving project

At an extremely brief Demopolis City Council meeting Thursday evening, Charles Jones Jr. urged his fellow council members to bring a list of streets from each district to the next meeting so that paving efforts can begin soon.

Jones said the council has previously discussed paving, but that no substantive progress has been made in recent months. “If I have to get out and pave it myself, we’re going to get some streets paved,” Jones said.

Mayor Mike Grayson asked each council member to bring a list of two streets from his respective district to the next meeting.

In other matters Thursday, Grayson noted that Demopolis Police Officer Johnathan Sommers recently completed the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Program, commonly known as the Police Academy, in Selma. Out of a class of 27, Sommers won three of the top five awards for the course. The three awards Sommers garnered were most improved physical fitness, patrol driving and academics.

Grayson congratulated Chief Tommie Reese, who was at the meeting, on his officer’s achievements.

The board approved Blair Parr to fill a vacant position on the Board of Adjustment. Parr was the board’s senior alternate, and will elevate to the active position due to the death of member Rev. Robert Shepherd. Eddie Lomax, junior alternate, will move to senior alternate, and the council will accept nominations to fill the junior alternate position at its next meeting.

The council approved a proclamation for National Night Out, to be held at the Demopolis Middle School Field Aug. 13 from 5-9 p.m. The event, sponsored by the Police Department, is an opportunity for the community to come out and meet its law enforcement officers. Other public safety entities, including the Fire Department, will be represented at the event.

No action was taken on the remaining agenda item – dilapidated housing – because City Attorney Bill Poole was out of town.