The resolution requests introduction of a local bill during the state legislative session that would allow Talladega County to conduct a referendum on whether to allow retail Sunday alcohol sales. Councilman Tom Roberts made the motion to adopt and Councilman Shannon Darby seconded it before a 5-0 vote. The cities of Talladega and Lincoln passed similar resolutions this week.
“I think all five of us and the mayor would agree we have been approached during our campaign and since we’ve been sworn into office of opportunities for economic development,” Council President Rocky Lucas said. “We have heard some positive and negative feedback, but for myself, the positives far outweigh the negatives.”
Mayor Doug Murphree has said Sunday alcohol sales would provide much-needed additional tax revenue and help in recruiting national chain restaurants to the area.
Also at Wednesday’s meeting, Cleanup Day chairwoman Sandra Friday shared details of a community cleanup day to be held April 6.
“For many years, our town was overseen by a large water tank that had the words ‘Beautiful Sylacauga’ on it,” she said. “That tank had to be removed because of erosion. Now that we no longer have this reminder, it seems that our pride in our town has also eroded. We’ve forgotten that we are a beautiful city.”
Friday said cleanup volunteers should meet at City Hall between 7-8 a.m. on April 6 to pick up trash bags and other supplies. Businesses and clubs throughout the city will be asked to participate and all area residents are encouraged to join, she said.
In other business, the council:
• Approved a $5,837 proposal for an asbestos survey of City Hall from ERG Environmental of Pelham.
• Accepted $10,000 from the County Commission and distributed those funds to the Animal Rescue Foundation.
• Accepted a $5,000 contribution from the Utilities Board and distributed those funds to the Magic of Marble Festival to be held April 9-20. The council also authorized a budgeted expense of $5,000 to the festival from city funds.
• Approved expenses for: the mayor, city council and city clerk to attend 2013 Alabama League of Municipalities annual convention May 18-21 in Montgomery – registration is $300 each for a total of $2,100; Airport Board members Tommy Dobson and Wade Pruitt to attend Alabama Airports workshop March 20 in Montgomery, fee is $125 each; Police Officer Christopher Vinson to attend annual Taser recertification training April 23 in Moody, fee is $175; fire Lt. Jon Williams to attend biannual backflow recertification training March 14-15 in Leeds, fee is $175.
• Heard Lucas announce that, effective immediately, the council will require a representative from any group requesting funds for a training event to be present at a council work session to explain the event before it will take action on the request.
• Approved a request from the Drew Court Parent Committee to use the field behind East Highland School for a Headstart Easter egg hunt March 29 from 2-5 p.m.
• Authorized payments totaling $114,785.57 for accounts payable for February.
• Held a public hearing to consider closing a portion of Reynolds Avenue between East Fifth Street and the south eight-of-way of the L&N railroad as requested by Donnie Watson of Watson Paint and Body and the mayor. No comments were made, and the council approved closing that portion of road.
• Recognized recent pageant winners: Miss Sylacauga Ashley Payton, a Sylacauga High School senior who will represent the city at Miss Alabama with a platform of autism awareness; Miss Ingénue Meaghan Pearce, an SHS junior with a community service platform; and Miss Sylacauga Outstanding Teen Caitlyn McTier, an eight-grader at Nichols-Lawson Middle School with a platform of ending childhood hunger.
• Heard Darby commend the pageant winners, Joe Hogan announce that Magic of Marble brochures and information are available at City Hall and B.B. Comer library and The Arc will hold its annual yard sale March 22-23, Roberts encourage citizens to step up their awareness and participation in upcoming community events, and Parks and Recreation Board member Pam Landers thank the local businesses and sponsors of the Miss Sylacauga and Miss Marble Valley pageants.
The next council work session is March 18 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, and the next regular meeting is March 19 at 6 p.m.
Contact Emily Adams at eadams@dailyhome.com.
