The Demopolis City Council extended the lease on the Marengo County History and Archives Museum Foundation’s downtown location by more than two years during Thursday night’s regular meeting.

Kayte Melton and Kirk Brooker told the council that the museum would not be ready for a Jan. 1, 2009 opening as originally hoped, and they asked for an extension of the lease, which was granted by a unanimous vote.

In other business, the council:

Re-appointed Aliquippa Allen and Keith Yeager to the city’s historic preservation commission. That commission still has one open slot with the loss of Yancena Perry, who relocated to Georgia following the 2007-08 academic year.

Re-appointed Rick Dunn as a member of the Demopolis Housing Authority. This is Dunn’s third term on the board.

Heard from attorney Barrown D. Lankster, who represented Helen Adams, who occasionally works as a palm reader in Demopolis. Lankster sought relief for his client from business fees she says are too high and effectively driving her out of business.

Elected to make a one-time lump sum payment of more than $7,000 in total to eligilble benefit recipients in the city whose effective retirement is prior to Oct. 1.

Heard a report on the sharing emergency management equipment and duties with Choctaw County from Fire Chief Ron Few.