Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
Top Photo: Members of the Millbrook Cook Team which have helped from the beginning of AWF’s Alabama Wild Game Cook Off were recognized during the meeting.
The Millbrook City Council had the first reading of an ordinance at their regular meeting this week, designating a Main Street Development area for downtown. It is just another part of a plan moving forward, in the city’s plan to design and build an official downtown for the city.
A public hearing was held regarding the ordinance, but no one spoke in favor or against.
Over time, the city has acquired several pieces of property along Main Street and Grandview Road which will be incorporated as part of the development area. Officials announced earlier about Big Mike’s Steakhouse is coming downtown, but there will be more announcements in the future, according to Mayor Al Kelley. This recent ordinance covers 5.9 acres where Big Mike’s will be, and the city-owned property in that area that borders Mill Creek.
If the ordinance passes at the next regular meeting, it would change the zoning map for the designated areas to from C1 (neighborhood/commercial) to B1-A (Central Business) for six adjacent parcels already owned by the city with a combined total of 5.9 acres.
Over the years, the city has been placing city services and quality of life projects downtown, including a new park, a Senior Center, plans for an expanded walking trail along Mill Creek. Several years ago, they purchased an old bank property and moved City Hall into the renovated building. The old city hall became the home of the Economic Development Department and Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce.
Plans are to tear down the old and derelict police department on Grandview Road hopefully soon, which will allow for future development of that property.
In other business, the council also declared excess property for the Parks and Recreation Department. The council authorized the sale or donation of that property. The city hopes to work with the Town of Pine Level in offering them the equipment to bolster their Parks and Recreation programs.
The Council also authorized the purchase of bookshelves for the Millbrook Library. The shelves will be purchased from J.F. Ingram Technical College at a cost not to exceed $5,774.16.
The Council also authorized the city to purchase new equipment for the Parks and Recreation Department including two John Deere Gators at a cost not to exceed $14,035.20; one Isuzu truck for $83,150; one Walker Mower for $18,099.80. This is a total of $129,320.20.
The Council also increased the budget for Parks and Recreation to allow for the hiring of another person to help with the workload. The cost is not to exceed $22,700.
During comments from the public, the council heard from Catherine Vinson,
who owns property in Paige Hills. She said she is asking for a permit to place a mobile home on her property after losing her husband recently. Her daughter currently has a home on the property, but Vinson said she would like to have a small home of her own behind her daughter’s house. “I would like to move closer to my daughter. I have health problems, and I need to be closer to my daughter,” she said. She said she would like to place the small mobile home behind her daughter’s home, and it would not been seen from the roadway.
City Clerk Anita Weaver pointed out that she had already talked to Mrs. Vinson about this issue, and the problem is the property falls within corporate limits and Vinson’s property zoning does not allow for manufactured mobile homes. Other properties right next door and on the street are not within corporate limits, and so trailers are in place on those properties.
Weaver advised Vinson she could build a residence on the property, but a mobile home is not allowed.
Richfield resident Susan Smith then spoke to the council
. She said she was representing the Richfield neighborhood and wanted to offer thanks for the city recently handling an issue of abatement on a property located on Myrick Road. She and officials agreed that the property has been an eyesore for many years, and encouraging the property owner to maintain the property has not worked. The property owner was recently jailed for failing to comply with the city ordinance, and the property was cleaned at the city’s expense. The property owner has an upcoming court date and will be billed for the expense of cleaning up the property.
“The Lord put it on my heart to make homemade brownies,” she said. “It is a thank you from our subdivision. We have waited for years for this, and it has finally come to fruition. Everyone that drives by has a smile on their face. People are talking about it, and it is just so wonderful. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
In his report to council, Millbrook Mayor Al Kelley said
, “The Alabama Wildlife Federation is a tremendous, valuable asset for our community. We also try to be a valuable asset to the Alabama Wildlife Federation in return. I have asked Executive Director Tim Gothard to come to the meeting today. We enjoy doing a project with AWF called Wild Game Cookoff.”
Mayor Kelley asked members of the city’s cook team to stand and be recognized, and for Gothard to come forward to talk to the council.
Gothard said, “This year represents AWF’s 90
th
anniversary. Twenty-two of those years have been right here in Millbrook. I want to thank you (Mayor Kelley) from the beginning when I came here to talk to you privately and all of the help that you gave, and to the city council that has been 100 percent supportive of what we do. They continue to do that every day.”
Gothard said he was before the council to talk about the Wild Game Cook Off which has been held now for the past 18 years.
“We are blessed with a lot of people that help but what is really meaningful is when you look back and see the people who have helped from day one. Trying to feed 2,000 people is a really big deal. The only way we can do it is people like you helping us do that. I want you to know from me personally, our entire board of directors and our organization, we recognize how much that means to our success in that event.”
With that, Gothard passed out 90
th
anniversary AWF hats to each member of the cook team present.
The next Millbrook City Council meeting will be Tuesday, June 24 at 6 p.m., with a prior work session at 5:30 p.m.
