20210420 Andalusia City Council Meeting April 20 2021
Date: 2021-04-20 Type: Regular Meeting
Quick Summary
Council approved the previous meeting minutes. The council adopted Resolution 2021-14 to expand the commercial historic district for state and federal tax-credit eligibility and adopted Resolution 2021-15 ordering junk abatement at 418 2nd Street. Council also approved a $5,000 donation request for the Alabama High School Rodeo Association and considered participation in the state’s back-to-school sales tax holiday.
Key Decisions
- Approved the minutes of the prior meeting (motion and hand/voice vote).
- Adopted Resolution 2021-14 to expand the commercial historic district for the National Register of Historic Places to enable use of state and federal tax credits (motion by Mr. Powell; council voted in favor by raised hands).
- Adopted Resolution 2021-15 declaring junk/ordering abatement at 418 2nd Street (motion by Wells, second by Mr. Dicks; council voted in favor).
- Approved a $5,000 donation request for the Alabama High School Rodeo Association to come from the mayor’s contingency fund (council indicated approval).
- Considered and moved to participate in Alabama’s back-to-school sales tax holiday by approving the related ordinance (council vote taken by raised hands).
Notable Discussion
- Mayor explained that expanding the historic district would allow more downtown property owners to access state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits and does not cost the city.
- Staff presented a photo and description of 418 2nd Street as a junk/overgrowth issue (not a dangerous building) requiring cleanup.
- The Alabama High School Rodeo Association will host state finals in Andalusia (June 2–6) and is expected to bring about 700 people; they requested $5,000.
- The city attorney/senior attorney reviewed the dangerous-building process, noting notices and procedures; original notice dated June 2020 and an official municipal letter sent August 24, 2020.
Action Items
- Record approvals (minutes, Res. 2021-14, Res. 2021-15, rodeo donation, sales-tax ordinance) in meeting minutes.
- Proceed with administrative steps to expand the commercial historic district so qualifying properties can apply for state and federal tax credits.
- Initiate junk-abatement actions and cleanup for the property at 418 2nd Street per Resolution 2021-15.
- Allocate $5,000 from the mayor’s contingency fund to the Alabama High School Rodeo Association as approved.