Board appointments fill short City Council meeting

Appointments to City of Demopolis boards highlighted most of the short City Council meeting Thursday.

Mayor Woody Collins reappointed Jo Wille Jones to the Demopolis Housing Authority. The Council appointed Kirk Stephens to the Industrial Development Board. A second appointment to the IDB will be made at the next meeting.

Judge Claude Neilson and Jason Pendergrass were reappointed for a second term to the Marengo County Economic Development Board, and Michael Mullins was appointed to MCEDA for his first term.

Mayor Collins said the ongoing problem with drainage and sewer issues on Ash Street are coming to an end. “I hope we’re on the road to recovery with that issue,” he said.

Cameras determined the water leak starts behind Gaineswood, and it is being repaired. The sewage issue stemmed from a grinder pump being used at a home in the neighborhood. The owner has been made aware of the issue, and the Water Board has informed ADEM of its findings.

In a separate Water Board issue, the mayor said William McGillivray reported incorrect water bills and a backed-up ditch, both of which are being addressed. The misaligned dates on the bill are due to a software glitch. The ditch has been cleaned, but a downed tree will cause problems in the future.

The Council okayed the request from the Public Works Department to put into its budget the money received from selling scrap iron. It also approved a budget adjustment for the Police Department.

The legality of the city’s procedure to declare a street vacated led to the issue being tabled until the next meeting. During the interim, the city attorney, city clerk and Alabama League of Municipalities will study the matter to make sure Demopolis follows the correct method.

The mayor announced that the city’s First Responders will have a “parade” through all five precincts of the city on Wednesday, Dec. 23, with Santa Claus and the Grinch visiting each neighborhood.