Fate of water tower on hold
Project Manager Mike Baker told the Demopolis City Council Thursday of three options for the old water tower on North Commissioners St.
The Water and Sewer Board, which owns the tower, wants to demolish it, but the Marengo County Historical Society would like to preserve it as a tourist draw. The board gave the city until Nov. 1 to decide what to do.
Baker said the city can choose to let the board demolish the tower, opt to stabilize the tower for 20 years, and, if the second option is chosen, give the MCHS the opportunity to propose how to use the tower.
City Attorney Scott Stapp said the Water Board is willing to give the city the money it would cost to tear down the tower. It cannot determine the cost unless it goes out on bid, but by law it must then carry through on demolition.
Mayor Pro Tem Charles Jones Jr. said the council will set up a work session to determine the course of action by the Nov. 1 deadline.
The Planning Commission had approved the rezoning of the former hotel at the yacht basin for a multi-family dwelling. Only after the approval did area residents write a letter in opposition.
The Council, denying the request for rezoning, sent the matter back to the Planning Commission for further review and to get input from those objecting to the move.
The Council approved refinancing $3.07 million in bonds, taking advantage of a 16-year low in interest rates.
Lee Garrison with Frazer-Lanier complimented the city. “You should be very proud,” he told the Council. Demopolis has a AA- credit rating, which is “huge” for a city of its size.
Jason Pendergrass got the okay from the Council to apply for a grant to build a new terminal at the Demopolis airport. The grant would be for $666,666.66, and the city’s responsibility would be 5 percent, funds which are already set aside.
Bambi Hamilton, director of the SALT program for senior citizens, asked the Council for permission to put up an 8-by-8-foot structure in the Public Square over the holidays.
Hamilton said the structure, still in the design stage, would act as an “Angel Tree” for senior citizens. Their unfulfilled wishes would be placed on structure, and individuals or groups could choose a wish to grant.
The director said organizers hope the design will be a three-sided star. The wishes would be written on smaller stars, and once the smaller stars are removed, light would shine through.
She said the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce has been consulted to make sure the structure would not interfere with any Christmas on the River events.
The acting mayor reminded members of the candlelight vigil Thursday night for the two Demopolis High School students who drowned last Friday and of their joint funeral Sunday at 11 a.m. at DHS.