City ordinances passed, postponed, not needed
The Demopolis City Council Thursday passed one ordinance, discovered it didn’t need to hold a public hearing on a second one that had been previously approved and postponed action on a rezoning because not enough eligible members were on hand to vote.
Approved was a new ordinance concerning security plan requirements at apartment complexes. The proposed wording stated the rules would apply to complexes with more than two units. Councilman Charles Jones Jr., who is renovating a duplex with a third unit in the attic, questioned whether he would need to follow the guidelines since only two entrances would be involved. The Council agreed and amended the ordinance to apply to complexes of more than three units.
Mayor Woody Collins said confusion arose over whether public hearings had to be held before any ordinance was passed. After research was done, he said public hearings are required to raise taxes, give money to private entities and to change zones.
For that reason, he said no further action is needed on the ordinance to allow food trucks to do business in the city that was passed Feb. 3.
A previous public hearing was held to rezone the property at 207 U.S. Hwy. 80 W from O-1 Office Institutional to an R-1 Single Family Residential. Voting on the matter was tabled since only three councilmen were in attendance, and Councilman Jim Stanford has to recuse himself. He is working with the property owner on financing.
The Council approved the mayor’s request to hold a public hearing at the next meeting on rezoning of a portion of northeast Demopolis known as the brickyard from R-3 to R-4. Earlier the Council requested the Planning Commission study the proposal, but the commission did not return it. Collins asked the Council to allow residents of the area to have a say and be able to request a variance.
Two resolutions passed at the meeting concerned the special tax renewal election May 22. The first was for the appointment of election officials and the second, compensation for the absentee election manager.
Collins said some confusion has arisen over the city’s financial obligation for the new construction at the City Landing. He said initially Demopolis was obligated to contribute $200,000 toward the $1.2 million project. When bids came in, however, the cost of the project jumped to $2.9 million, creating a $1.7 million shortfall. Thanks to other governmental entities stepping in to contribute, the project will go forward. Demopolis will pay another $75,000 as its share for a total of $275,000.
Councilman Jones gave a formal announcement to the Council that he has qualified for the Marengo County Commission District 1 seat. The primary will be held in May.