DEMOPOLIS &8212; After approving the bylaws for the Marengo County Economic Development Authority at their last meeting, the next step for the City Council was to weigh in on four appointees to the new authority.

At the request of Mayor Cecil P. Williamson, Kathryn Friday of the Marengo County Extension office &8212;who has worked to help create this authority &8212; provided the council with the names of individuals from Demopolis who regularly attended meetings during the process of creating this authority. From that list, the council made their appointments. The mayor also had one other factor in mind before appointments were made.

The council went on to appoint William Martin, Katherine Meador and Augusta Waters. Furthermore, at the request of Rock-Tenn, Councilman Woody Collins suggested they allow the manager to appoint someone to the board as well. The council agreed to allow the company to appoint one person at their

discretion.

Beautification and Tree Commission

After weeks of discussion, the council came to an agreement on the establishment of a Beautification and Tree Commission. In previous meetings, the council has disagreed on both the authority and the purpose of the commission.

Councilman Jack Cooley began last night&8217;s discussion by saying, &8220;I&8217;d like for us to come together on some kind of agreement.&8221;

Councilman Charles Jones first brought up his dissatisfaction with language in the ordinance that would give the commission any kind of authority over the city horticulturist.

The mayor followed suit by saying the ordinance does not outline any purpose for the commission other than &8220;managing a city employee.&8221;

According to Williamson, the commission should function to see the city &8220;through other eyes,&8221; and to take on other projects like painting the merry-go-round in the city square or approaching the hospital about removing a fence along Cedar Street.

With these concerns in mind, the council agreed to pass the ordinance to establish a commission with a few changes, including changing the word &8220;approval&8221; to &8220;input&8221; in reference to the commission&8217;s relationship with the city horticulturist.

In other business, the council:

4Approved Ann Hunter to serve the unexpired term of Herman Williams for the Board of Adjustments.

4Approved a zoning change of 1614 Highway 43 South to residential so that Emma Morris could build a home there.

4Announced the City Development Block Grant to add facilities to the Theo Ratliff Center was approved.

4Approved looking in to allowing Fire Chief Ron Few to obtain previously approved funds from the 2007 fiscal year to be used in the current fiscal year to pay for registration of fire college and gear for six new firefighters.