Mayor: Demopolis one of few cities with no MLK street

Mayor Mike Grayson recommended that Demoopolis re-name Jackson Street for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Thursday evening’s city council meeting, but the council chose to delay further discussion until its next meeting.

“In traveling around, I’ve found that Demopolis is one of the few cities that does not have a street named for Dr. King,” Grayson told the council. He recommended renaming the portion of E. Jackson from Cedar to Fourth in honor of the civil rights leader, but council members Bill Meador and Charles Jones Jr. expressed concern over re-naming part of a street. The proposed re-naming does not include the portion of W. Jackson that runs from Cedar to Lock Street.

“If we’re going to re-name a street, we need to re-name the whole thing or choose another street,” Jones said.

Grayson said one reason E. Jackson was chosen was because of its historical significance. “Dr. King spoke at Morning Star Baptist Church,” the Mayor noted. He added that one downside to re-naming Jackson Street is that some residents will have to change their address, but said an alternative is to give a street an honorary name as opposed to officially changing its name.

In other business Thursday, Grayson welcomed back City Attorney Bill Poole, who said he is in the process of reviewing files from interim attorney Scott Stapp and will have updates regarding dilapidated housing at next meeting.

Also, the council discussed a Demopolis Board of Education vacancy, but made no nominations. The matter will be discussed further at next meeting. BOE member Laura Foster has served the two-term maximum.

Grayson recommended Lucinda Mason to fill the unexpired Board of Adjustments alternate member position vacated by Blair Parr. The council will vote on Mason’s nomination at next meeting, unless other names are submitted at that time.

The Mayor noted that the city is preparing the park downtown for the July 5 Songwriters Festival, and noted that the street resurfacing project will begin May 27.

Grayson congratulated Police Chief Tommie Reese for his department’s $2,000 grant award for the current “Click It or Ticket” safety belt awareness campaign.

He also noted that city revenues were down slightly for March as compared to last March, but are up year-to-date.

The council approved a request for the Mayor to attend the Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway Conference May 22-23. Grayson said the event is a good opportunity to “network and build support for our port.”