By Morgan Bryce
Editor
Members of the Smiths Station City Council and Mayor F.L. “Bubba” Copeland approved a resolution forgiving late payments for the city’s solid waste customers during Tuesday’s meeting, which was held via teleconference.
Copeland said the purpose of this resolution is to lessen the financial hardships being faced by many during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re not saying you don’t have to pay your bill, we’re just not going to charge any late fees for people who may be behind this quarter,” Copeland said.
The council renewed its annual contract with the East Alabama Chamber of Commerce, a membership that has paid Smiths Station dividends according to Copeland.
“We’ve done a lot with and through the (chamber) this past year. Its help put Smiths Station on the map and is a great way to let industries know that our city is open and ready for business,” Copeland said.
In other business, the council:
-approved an ordinance for the rezoning of city-owned property on Lee Road 2000 to A-1 Low Density Residential and General Agriculture status.
-approved February’s general fund budget report
-approved the renewal of a contract with Premier Landscape for the maintenance and trash removal of the city’s roadways
-approved the renewal of a contract with AVENU, the city’s tax reclamation service provider and
-approved a special use permit for Verizon to make modifications to an existing cell phone tower on Lee Road 248.
The Smiths Station City Council regularly meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. After meeting regulations are lifted, meetings will return to being held within the council chambers of the Smiths Station Government Center, which is located at 2336 Lee Road 430. For more information, call 334-297-8771, follow the City of Smiths Station’s social media pages or visit www.smithsstational.gov.