Council approves sale of property

By David Snow (Contact) | Demopolis Times

Published Thursday, September 4, 2008

The Demopolis City Council approved placing the coliseum and its property up for sale at its meeting last night.

The coliseum is located on Floyd Street between U.S. Highway 80 and Pettus Street.

District 1 councilman Thomas O. Moore told the City Council that the building committee recommended that the council turn over the sale of the property to a realtor. The committee rejected an offer from the utility department.

“It was not a fair offer,” Moore said. “That property is worth more than the offer.”

The coliseum and property were appraised at $116,000.

District 4 councilman Woody Collins asked the council to consider putting other city properties up for sale, but Moore said he just wanted to deal with this one property at the meeting.

Moore made the motion to turn the property over to a realtor to sell within the next six months, after which time the council would consider other alternatives. The motion initially passed 3-2, with Moore, District 2 councilman Charles E. Jones Sr. and District 3 councilman Melvin Yelverton voting for the motion and Collins and District 5 councilman Jack Cooley voting against.

Collins asked Mayor Cecil P. Williamson if she would vote on the matter, as a “no” vote from her would tie the vote. After some consideration, Williamson decided to vote in favor the motion.

In other Demopolis City Council action:

•Williamson told the council that River Walk project manager Josh Pierce said that he was told that the benches and tables for the project would be available on Aug. 25, and were not. Cooley made a motion to turn the matter over to City Attorney Woody Dinning. That motion passed 4-0, with Jones abstaining.

•Demopolis Parks and Recreation Board chair Mark Pettus told the City Council that the expansion of the Theo Ratliff Center was moving along.

“It’s going to be attractive as well as useful,” Pettus said.

•The City Council heard from Marengo Co. Economic Development Agency executive director Debra M. Fox speak on behalf of John Laney, the chair of the Demopolis Industrial Development Board.

Laney wanted to ask the council which engineering firm to use for the access road at the airport industrial park. The council voted to recommend using the engineering firm originally selected when the project began by a vote of 5-0.

•The City Council unanimously approved allowing the Marengo County History and Archives Museum Foundation Inc. to write a grant for architectural fees for the Rosenbush Building on Walnut Avenue. Museum representative Kayte Melton said the grant would cover $525,000, while the state would provide $420,000, leaving $105,000 for the project.

•The City Council approved an alcohol license for Alabama CVS LLC, following its name change from Big B Inc. An application for an alcohol license for Lakeside Tackle Box LLC was tabled until the next meeting.

•The council approved the certificates of election from the Aug. 26 city election.

•Jones asked DPD Chief Williams about the increase in the theft of copper throughout the city. Williams said that his department had discussed the problem and were looking into it.

Moore spoke to Williams about vandalism on the 100 block of Strawberry Avenue. Williams said his department would look into that.

The next scheduled Demopolis City Council meeting will be on Thursday, Sept. 18, at 5:15 p.m. at Rooster Hall.

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