Council delays zoning issue; speed bump approved
Residents in the Braswell Drive neighborhood are tired of showing up at Demopolis City Council meetings to oppose new mobile homes being placed on property in their area.
“My neighborhood has been fighting this for 15 years,” said Willie Basil, a spokesman for the residents, told the Council Thursday. “We just need to get this done so we can protect what we have invested.”
Basil said homeowners are asking the Council to remove the special exception to the zoning law that allows new mobile homes to replace those that are removed. He said they are trying to protect and increase the value of their homes and provide for future growth.
Council members were hesitant to make any changes with a new administration taking office in November. Instead, they decided to vote on a moratorium at the next meeting.
Councilman Harris Nelson told Basil that none of the Council members opposed what the neighborhood was asking. “We just want to make sure it’s done right.”
In response to a petition from residents along Center Street, Councilman Nathan Hardy asked the Council to approve a speed bump to slow traffic. Police Chief Rex Flowers added that there are no speed limit signs in the neighborhood. The Council approved posting 15 mph signs in the area and placing a speed bump on Center Street.
Jason Pendergrass, director of the Demopolis Airport, received Council authorization to enter into a five-year Master of Services agreement with Barge Design Solutions to be the engineering firm for the airport. The agreement is subject to approval by the city attorney, Scott Stapp.
Roman Alley was back on the agenda. Councilman Hardy requested the Public Works Department begin laying the pipe for the street extension so it can be determined if more pipe will be needed to complete the project.
Test results from samples of water taken from the ditch behind Richard Fountain’s home on South Ash Avenue have not been returned. Fountain has complained for 25 years about the ditch carrying raw sewage and compromising the health of him and his wife.
He expressed his exasperation to Council members Thursday.
“Would you want that behind your house?,” he asked.
Project manager Mike Baker asked the Council to pass a resolution for the city’s Transportation Plan. Demopolis will receive $38,000 annually from the gas tax money as part of the Rebuild Alabama Act. To receive the funds, the city must post the resolution in City Hall.
In other business the Council:
- Approved the July 2020 financials.
- Approved the advertisement of a public hearing on digital billboards on city property.
- Tabled the lease agreement with Wallace State Community College at the Demopolis Higher Education Center and the New Era Building until further information is gathered.
- Put off the approval of the 2020-2021 operating budget until the new Council takes office.