Council extends face mask ordinance to Sept. 17

In a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Bill Meador opposing, the Demopolis City Council Thursday voted to extend the face mask ordinance in the city until midnight Sept. 17.

In making his motion to extend the ordinance, Councilman Harris Nelson said the numbers of reported COVID-19 cases in Alabama and in Marengo County have decreased since the state-wide mandate went into place. He cited the threat of the virus spreading now that schools have opened.

Meador said he felt the state has the experts who advise the governor and believes it knows better how to address the virus. The state face mask expiration is Aug. 31.

By a unanimous vote, the Council approved a General Obligation Warrant of $2.7 million from Trustmark Bank for the paving projects approved at the last council meeting.

Projects director Mike Baker presented adjustments to the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 budgets. The Council approved cancelling a drainage and paving project from the current budget and moving them to next year and adding the purchase of a street sweeper for $124,000.

For the 2020-2021 budget, the Council moved the purchase of a chipper to the current budget since it already has been bought. The budget for the next year will be up for approval at the Sept. 3 meeting once the changes have been entered.

Public Works director Ashford Jackson told the Council the Beautification Committee had donated $2,000 toward the purchase of a lawnmower. He asked the money that was donated be placed back in the department budget, which the Council approved.

In other business, the Council:

• Granted an ABC application to The Mustard Seed for retail beer and table wine off-premises only.
• Declared three vehicles in the Public Works department as surplus.
• Approved the June financials.
• Learned that the test results from samples of water taken from the ditch on South Ash Avenue have not been returned.