By Hamilton Richardson
Elmore/Autauga News
Top Photo: Rev. White had questions about redistricting he presented to the City Council Tuesday evening.
Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, in which Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie was absent, was jam-packed with resolutions and ordinances as well as a few moments of public comment from two concerned citizens about the way the City of Prattville does business and its proposed redistricting map.
On the approved Consent Agenda were three resolutions for councilmembers to consider.
Resolution Number One was to set a public hearing for a Lounge Retail Liquor-Class II (Package) License for Corks and Wine LLC d/b/a/ Corks and Wine. The second resolution was to set a public hearing for a Lounge Retail Liquor-Class II (Package) License for Guvva Realty LLC d/b/a/ Bama Spirits. Third on the list was a resolution to support the City of Prattville in its application for grant funding through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Land and Water Conservation Fund for the Newton Park Tier 1 Renovation Project.
Five ordinances were next on the agenda, each having been first introduced at the April 5, 2022 City Council meeting.
Ordinance Number One amended Chapter 26- Fire Prevention and Protection, Article II-Fire Prevention Codes. Number Two was a measure to adopt City of Prattville Code of Ordinances Chapter 67-Property Maintenance Code. The third ordinance was to amend Chapter 105, Buildings and Building Regulations of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Prattville.
The fourth ordinance was to pre-zone property outside the city limits located at 1060 Spring Street, Prattville to R-5 (Single Family High Density Residential). The last ordinance was a petition for annexation of 1060 Spring Street, Prattville.
Next on the agenda was a spate of resolutions including one focused on the results of the 2020 Census.
The first resolution was to set a public hearing to review the Draft Map 2-25 proposed district boundaries pursuant to 2020 Census Data.
Councilman John Chambers, in reading the resolution, said that the results of the 2020 Census data showed that the population of the city was not equally distributed among the seven districts. He went on to say that the city entered into an agreement with Alabama State University Center for Leadership and Public Policy to assist with the city’s redistricting project. The draft proposal will be the subject of the public hearing.
A public hearing to rezone property located inside the city limits at Newton Street and Gillespie Street from B-2 (General Business) to R-2 (Single Family Residential) was next on the list. This resolution was held to June 7.
A public hearing to rezone property located inside the city limits at Moncrief Street from M-1 (Light Industrial) to R-3 (Single Family Residential) was also up for consideration. This resolution was held to June 7.
The next measure was to set a public hearing to rezone property located inside the city limits at East Main Street between Moncrief Street and the railroad tracks from M-1 (Light Industrial) to B-2 (General Business). This resolution was held to June 7.
The next resolution dealt with setting a public hearing to rezone property located inside the city limits at Maple Street and Bridge Street (Parcel C of Daniel Pratt Apartments Plat 1) from R-4 (Multi-Family Residential) to O-1 (Office). This resolution was held to June 7.
Resolution Number 11 was to disclaim interest in certain real property located on Gin Shop Hill Road from City of Prattville, to Prattville Land Company, Inc.
With the next measure introduced, the mayor would be authorized to enter into a lease agreement between the City of Prattville and the Autauga Creek Improvement Committee, Inc. (ACIC) to lease certain property on West 4th Street.
The purchase of a FLYGT Lift Station Mixer for the South Industrial Park Lift Station was the next measure. If authorized, the purchase would be from Jim House and Associates, Inc. for the Wastewater Division of the Public Works Department at a net cost not to exceed $22,985.00.
Also the purchase of a control panel for the Sunshine Lift Station from Jim House and Associates, Inc. for the Wastewater Division of the Public Works Department at a net cost not to exceed $12,419.00 was presented.
Last on the long lost of resolutions was an authorization for the mayor to enter into an agreement with Hydro Engineering Solutions to assist with the development of a Watershed Model for the Pine Creek Watershed for the Public Works Department at a cost not to exceed $98,750.00.
All resolutions that were not held until a future meeting were passed by the council.
When it was time for comments from persons present, Rev. Ell White II approached the group.
“I know you set a public hearing to review Draft Map 2-25 but let me make it clear about that proposed district boundary,” White said referring to the first resolution of the night. “If you do what you’re currently doing for that map, you’ll be in direct violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you do it like you’re doing it now, you won’t have majority minority representation.”
After White sat down, Patrick Lucas approached the council.
Lucas made a few comments similar to White as it related to districts and said, “In this city, the minorities really don’t have much of anything. To do that would be an absolute disgrace.”
After a few closing comments from councilmembers, the meeting was adjourned.
