Demopolis Council unanimously approves new fire chief, considers fate of iconic water tower

Mayor John Laney conducted the swearing-in ceremony for Demopolis’ new fire chief, Keith Murray, immediately after Murray received a unanimous vote from the City Council at its meeting Thursday.

Murray was one of five candidates interviewed by a panel of fire chiefs from around the state. He had been deputy fire chief of Demopolis prior to his selection.

The Council also began steps to annex the Airport Industrial Park off U.S. Hwy. 80, excluding Two Rivers Lumber. Even though the city owns the land, it cannot levy property tax since the land is not part of the city.

Alabama law allows the city to annex property that it owns without having to include the property between the existing city limits and the new area. Laney said the city was doing all the work but not receiving any of the benefits. Any taxes on the property now goes only to Marengo County.

Advertising to annex the Industrial Park will begin now so that the state legislature can vote on it in the 2020 session.

All the council members expressed support of the proposed Outboard Drag Boat Association (ODBA) races being held in Demopolis, but they also hesitated to approve funding the event this June.

At the last council meeting, Paul Sager asked the city for a $12,000 loan to put on the event. Citing the lack of time to prepare for the races, the council members told Sager to ask for funding in the budget for next year.

He also was encouraged to work with the Chamber of Commerce and the Park and Rec Board and use their experience to help plan for the two days of races.

Sager said some 50 boats would be expected to take part, each team spending up to $1,500, and another thousand spectators would also spend money in the city. Other revenue would come from lodging tax, admission and vendors.

The council also discussed the following:

• Councilman Charles Jones Jr. said the Demopolis Water Board has plans to tear down the water tower next to the Civic Center. The Marengo County Historical Society would like to preserve it. Funds for the demolition could go toward preservation, but it would cost more to preserve than demolish.
• Building inspector Julius Rembert said work is progressing for demolishing properties on Front, Strawberry and Commissioners streets. Paperwork is being completed for a practice burn for property on East Pettus.
• Councilman Bill Meador said a recommendation on an ordinance on golf carts will be ready for consideration at the next meeting.
• Victoria Coleman was presented as a candidate to be appointed to the Cemetery Board, but with another vacancy to be filled, the council postponed action until the next meeting.
• Acting on the request of David McCants, the council directed city attorney Scott Stapp to prepare an ordinance to change the speed limit on Grayson Road. The unpaved road, while in the city limits, belongs to the county. McCants has complained for years that the 45 mph speed limit is too fast. The ordinance is to be voted on at the next meeting.

In his comments, the mayor said he attended a meeting in Montgomery on the 2020 census. He said it is critical for a correct count to be made since Alabama is in danger of losing a representative in the U.S. Congress.

The time of the next council meeting was changed to 9 a.m. Thursday, April 18.