Council passes $11 million budget
Demopolis will operate on a budget of $11,071,215 for the 2019-2020 year after the City Council voted Thursday.
The only amendment to the budget was the addition of $20,000 for the salaries of two part time employees in the Public Works Department, raising their salaries to $30,000.
They also agreed to switch a $46,960 allotment to the Industrial Development Board to capital funding. The funds will be transferred back once the IDB needs the money for its projects.
Expenses are estimated to be $9,964,093, leaving a surplus of $1.1 million.
The main source of income for the city will be an expected $8.4 million in taxes, with another $1.2 million from business licenses. General government costs are estimated to be $2.2 million; Public Works, $1.2 million; Fire Department, $1,87 million, and Police Department, $1,87 million.
As Mayor John Laney read a proclamation declaring Sept. 20, 2019 as POW/MIA Recognition Day, Demopolis Fire Chief Keith Murray and USCG Petty Officer 1st Class Jay Butterfield presented the city with a POW/MIA flag.
Both Murray and Butterfield are members of the VFW which is sponsoring the annual remembrance. At the conclusion of the meeting the two raised the flag in front of City Hall.
After the Council opened a public hearing, Greg Staggs with AT&T Wireless requested a change in zone from R-2, or single family residential, to I-1, light industrial, for a 195-foot telecommunication tower on property southwest of Wal-Mart off U.S. Highway 80.
Staggs said the multi-carrier tower will accommodate 5G and FirstNet, providing communications during an emergency. The tower also will have back-up power.
The $300,000 tower will be a six-foot diameter pole without guy wires. The company is leasing the 100-by-150-foot property from the landowner for 99 years.
The Council suspended the rules requiring a second public hearing for the tower on a vote of 4-1 and then passed the zoning change unanimously.
Police Chief Rex Flowers said three arrests have been made and warrants for two others have been issued in response to a series of burglaries in the city. Four homes and three businesses were broken into.
In addition, his officers have recovered four of the five stolen vehicles reported in the last few weeks as well as two vehicles from other cities. He encouraged residents to lock up their homes and vehicles to prevent thefts.
Flowers’ recommendations for changes to speed limits on city streets was approved unanimously. Among the changes are lowering the Janet Street speed from 30 to 25 mph; changing the limit to 20 mph on Mayton and Olive Avenues, Dow, East Whitfield, East Lyon, East Monroe, Earl, McGhee, Boundary, Glover and B Streets; Mason Ridge, Greenwood and Eastern Circles, and Gaineswood and Elmwood Drives.
Councilman Harris Nelson said a resident had requested a speed bump on Cedar Crest. The Council directed Flowers to contact other residents on the street before making a recommendation.
Bids for replacing water and sewer pipes in District 1 came in far above the engineer estimates of $450,000. For the city to receive the CDBG funds, the Council approved serving as a pass-through agency for the Water and Sewer Board which will pay the difference in costs.
In other action, the Council approved a liquor license for the Family Dollar Store for the sale of beer and table wine for off-premises consumption only and passed resolutions authorizing the mayor to sign a purchase agreement and to declare surplus property.
Councilman Bill Meador said the Building Committee is working on a list of plans to upgrade and enhance the Civic Center. No changes in regulations are being recommended at this time, he said.
Mayor Laney announced Randall Smith has been appointed to the Housing Authority, and Lorenzo Moore will complete the term vacated by Will Moore.
He reminded everyone of the next Demopolis In Action meeting Sept. 26 to develop a comprehensive plan for the city.
At the request of Councilman Nathan Hardy, members voted to change the time of the meeting Oct. 17 to 11 a.m. No work session is planned on that date.