Alston to take office on January 17

Published 9:00 am Wednesday, December 28, 2022

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During the delegations portion of the December 20 Linden City Council meeting, a Linden resident and employee of Linden Lumber Company approached the council about creating an RV campground for construction workers.

Current Linden Police Chief Robert Alston, Jr. will formally take office as Sheriff on January 17. He will take his oath of office at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 10 in the Marengo County Courthouse Courtroom. A new Linden Police Chief is expected to be named at the January 3 city council meeting.

Alston was elected as Marengo County Sheriff during the November 8 general elections.

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At the time of the meeting, the location has not been zoned as permission from the City is needed first. The property is where the old Larry Walters business was before it moved to Main Street. Linden City Attorney Woody Dinning, Jr said that to rezone the property, anyone who lives within 300 feet of the proposed camp area would have to give their permission for the zoning.

Dinning agreed to go over maps of the area and would make a signature form to take around to landowners. Mayor Gwendolyn Rogers said that once all the paperwork has been completed and turned into the Council, they will vote on whether or not to allow the rezoning.

Under standing committee reports, Councilmember Byron Vice reported that five residents and four workers at the Linden Nursing Home have COVID.

Under the Mayor’s Report, Rogers said that she has received several calls from residents about city workers still using non-street legal golf carts in their work. At an earlier meeting, the council voted to ban non-street legal vehicles on city streets. Rogers said there are kits that would make the vehicles legal. A kit can be purchased for $164. The council voted unanimously to purchase the kits.

Other items discussed by the Council:

  • Rental price for the new Thomas Terrace was set to $30
  • The Council agreed to have Sonny Breckenridge clean out a ditch behind the old Family Dollar building for a one-time cost of $1500