Demopolis council adds teeth to business license ordinance

After discussion at several recent meetings, the Demopolis City Council approved a stricter business license ordinance Thursday night.

The new ordinance invokes a 15 percent penalty for license fees not paid by Feb. 1 each year, and a $100 per day penalty – in addition to the 15 percent – starting Feb. 15.

On March 1, businesses that still have not paid will receive a summons to appear in Municipal Court to pay the initial fee plus penalties and any additional court costs.

Mayor Mike Grayson noted that all businesses have paid for 2014. At last meeting, four businesses had still not paid.

After considerable discussion, the council approved a base bid of $890,841 for resurfacing of various streets, and approved alternate projects to resurface a portion of Main Avenue and the downtown parking lot behind the Mustard Seed.

The council discussed the dilapidated property at 605 W. Pettus, the scene of a February, 2013 house fire that claimed the life of resident Robin Clifton.

City attorney Scott Stapp noted that Clifton was the owner of the house, and the city would be required to open an estate and serve the estate administrator in order to have the property cleared.

Stapp noted that Demopolis businessman Jay Shows had agreed to pay $2,500 toward the approximate $5,000 cost of improvement.

The council took no action, but will consider alternatives for clearing the lot.

“We’re getting calls from neighbors complaining about rats, snakes another wildlife that are finding refuge there,” Grayson told the council.

The Mayor announced that March sales tax collections were down 1.42 percent from last year, but up compared to February collections. Year-to-date collections are up 4.09 percent through March.

Grayson informed the council that he has requested minutes from the hospital board’s March 3 meeting, at which the board discussed a Labor and Delivery task force proposal for keeping the unit open.

“They have chosen not to send those,” Grayson said. “I’m going to request again, and hopefully they’ll have a change of heart on that.”

The board agreed to meet with auditors at 3:30 p.m. on May 1 to discuss the city’s audit in advance of the regular 5:15 p.m. meeting. The pre-meeting is open to the public.

At meeting’s end, Charles Jones Jr. suggested naming the old New Era building in honor of Chuck Smith, who Jones noted was instrumental in getting activity and training programs into the facility.