City moves to demolish tower

In a very short meeting Thursday, the Demopolis City Council voted to start proceedings to demolish the old water tower on North Commissioners.

On a motion by Councilman Charles Jones Jr., the council agreed to engage an engineer to prepare a bid document to obtain the information needed to tear down the tower.

The Marengo County Historical Society had wanted to preserve the tower as a tourist draw. The Demopolis Water and Sewer Board, which owns the tower, wants to demolish it and is willing to give the city the money it would cost. The cost cannot be determined unless the project goes out on bid, but by law the city must then carry through on the demolition.

During the 15-minute meeting, the Council approved the request for the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce plans for Christmas on the River.

In the only other action, the Council approved the reappointment of Freddie Armstead Jr., Diane Brooker and Chip Hammons to the Industrial Development Board.

Mayor John Laney read a letter from the Personnel Board of Jefferson County thanking Police Chief Rex Flowers for his work in evaluating their police officers up for promotion.

He also read a thank-you letter from the Canebrake Players for the city’s part in helping secure funding to build handicap access at the Old School.

Councilman Bill Meador raised an objection to letters being sent to homeowners offering insurance for water lines. The letter is printed in a way that it looks like the city is offering the insurance, which it is not.

The mayor tossed out the suggestion to consider changing the intersection of Main Street and Capitol Avenue. With no objection from the Council, he assigned the research into the roundabout to Project Manager Mike Baker.