Display ads were purchased Friday morning by the city and were scheduled for publication in today’s edition of The Daily Home, notifying residents of public hearings scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.
“Notice of public hearing relative to the possible acquisition of property formerly owned by Avondale Mills,” states one public notice.
That hearing is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers at City Hall.
“A public hearing will be held to obtain information and comments from the general public relative to the acquisition by the City of Pell City of properties formerly owned by Avondale Mills for use as a site for the proposed Pell City Replacement Library and other uses,” one notice states.
Another public hearing notice, published in today’s newspaper, pertains to the city entering into an agreement with a private company to manage the city’s Water Department.
That public hearing is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday in the council chambers at City Hall.
“A public hearing will be held to obtain information and comments from the general public relative to the City of Pell City entering an agreement with a third party to manage the city’s water department,” the notice states.
Four companies submitted proposals to the city on Friday, pertaining to the private management of the Water Department.
Mayor Bill Hereford said Saturday the hearings set for Tuesday and Wednesday will provide an opportunity for public comment.
“I don’t consider it a big deal,” he said.
Hereford said the city has an opportunity to buy the Avondale Mills property, while also resolving the city’s lawsuit involving the old Avondale Mills well site.
Recently, the city appealed a condemnation ruling in St. Clair County Probate Court, which condemned the one-acre well site currently owned by Pell City Tifton Properties LLC, which is a subsidiary of Thunder Enterprises of Chattanooga.
The probate court ruled the fair market value of the old Avondale Mills well site on U.S. 231 South was $750,000. City officials contend that’s too much and appealed the ruling to St. Clair County Circuit Court.
Hereford said Saturday the city could purchase the well site, along with the old Avondale Mills plant site, located between U.S. 78 and Cogswell Avenue, for $2.2 million or all former Avondale Mills property scattered throughout Pell City for $2.47 million.
“We have an opportunity to buy it,” Hereford said. “It (Tuesday’s hearing) will give people the opportunity to be heard.”
Hereford said several years ago there were heated debates as to where a new library should be located. Those proposed sites included the Avondale Mills property, as well as areas near Jefferson State Community College, Lee Motel, Colonial Bank, the recreation property owned by the city on 19th Street, and property next to Williams Intermediate School on Hardwick Road.
“The Avondale property appears to be the site everyone would agree on,” Hereford said. “It’s the site I prefer, no doubt.”
Hereford said he would discuss in more detail the possible acquisition of the old Avondale Mills property on Tuesday.
He also said he does not believe the Avondale Mills property has any environmental problems, such as soil contamination, even though the textile mill operated on the property for more than 100 years.
“Avondale was the heart of the city,” Hereford said. “It would be a wonderful thing to build a new library on that property.”
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