BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH
KENDYLH@
OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
SMITHS STATION —
During the month of February, the Smiths Station City Council talked zoning and approved funding for a new event this spring, among other business.
The Feb. 28 regular meeting saw the council approve an amendment to its Zoning Ordinance to fix the process of approving home occupation permits. The council also approved a request for a property on Cynthia Drive to be rezoned from R-1 (Residential Single Family) to R-3 (High Density Single Family District). According to Planning and Zoning Administrator Taylor Verbowski, individual lots are smaller in R-3 zones, usually equating to about three home lots per acre.
A couple citizens raised concerns about the pre-zoning of two parcels of land on Lee Road 464 from A-1 (Agricultural) to R-3. They expressed opposition to a possibly permanent change in the wetland behind their property from a pond to a retention basin. They also expressed concern about construction vehicles utilizing the dirt road and the road being used for entrance into the high-density property.
While some construction vehicles are having to use the road to access the lot, Verbowski said it will not be used for entrance into the finished property.
The council ultimately approved the pre-zoning request for Lee Road 464, as well as the annexation petitions and requests for pre-zoning of two properties at Cummings Road and Railroad Avenue to R-1 (Residential Single Family). Copeland gave the only “no” vote — for the property at Lee Road 464.
Work also began Feb. 27 to patch and repave the front portion of Cummings Road as part of the road’s improvements project. The project was set to last approximately two to three weeks and without major or prolonged disruption to the flow of traffic.
Earlier in the meeting, the council approved $5,000 of funding for the city’s inaugural “Rockin’ On The Rails” event, scheduled for April 22 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time.
“This was requested by our event coordinator, Kami Billingslea, and is the same amount budgeted for our annual Tree Lighting Ceremony event we hold in December,” said City Clerk Morgan Bryce.
“It’s going to be an all-day event — barbecue cook-off, tug-of-war, music … so on and so forth,” said Mayor F.L. “Bubba” Copeland. “It’s going to be a good day for people to come together, so I’m all for it. I’m excited about it.”
Copeland said the city hopes to make this an annual event.
Next, the council approved the purchase of a 2016 Ford F-250 truck for about $31,000 from the ALDOT Equipment Bureau’s surplus property listing. The truck is to be used for the city’s trash services.
“We are trying to expand our fleet for the city’s Public Works Department,” Bryce said.
“We’ve been waiting in line for a good vehicle — a good dump truck — so this is a good pickup truck, an F-250, that we need for our fleet to continue our trash business,” Copeland added. “This money is not coming out of the General Fund. … This money will come out of Solid Waste because of it being a trash truck.”
The council also approved the financial statement for January 2023 at the Feb. 28 meeting. The city finished in the black — with nearly $141,000. According to Bryce, this is due to business license renewals and ad valorem taxes from the county, as well as other tax season payments coming through.
The Feb. 14 meeting saw the council approve contract renewals for two city employees: Parks and Recreation Director Jason Stewart and payroll services provider Lyn Stephens.
The council also approved a change in the rental agreement for The Pavilion on the government center campus. The change prevents for-profit events from being held on city government grounds. In addition, the council approved four upcoming event requests at The Pavilion scheduled for March 4, April 29, May 6 and May 27.
Smiths Station City Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for March 28 at 6 p.m. Eastern, with a work session preceding at 5:30 p.m. Eastern. The meetings will be held at the city’s government center, located at 2336 Panther Parkway (Lee Road 430).