Still no word from AG on alcohol vote
By Jim Cox Co-Publisher

The alcohol issue was tabled again at Monday's Thomasville city council meeting.

Mayor Sheldon Day at the beginning of the meeting moved to strike the items "discuss alcohol control ordinance" and "discuss alcohol referendum date/election ordinance" from the agenda because the Alabama Attorney General's office has not responded to a request to clarify the law enabling a referendum.

Alcohol opponents suggested after signatures had been gathered on petitions requesting a referendum that the last general election, not municipal election, should be the basis for the number of signatures required. Signatures were gathered based on the last municipal election, as similar enabling laws in Jackson and Monroeville provided for. Thomasville officials to be sure decided to seek an AG's opinion.

That has delayed the council setting a date for a referendum on whether or not alcohol sales will be permitted within the city.

Day said he understood that an opinion should be received soon but did not suggest a specific date.

The council voted to change its April 23 meeting date because city officials will be attending the Alabama League of Municipalities annual convention. The council will meet next Monday night but Day said if an AG's opinion is received before then the alcohol issue will not be discussed. He said he did not want anyone to accuse the city of discussing the hot topic anywhere but at a regular council meeting.

Other business

Day highlighted activities in the city. He said a heavy equipment business is expected to locate in the industrial park. A "nice" restaurant is also looking at locating in town. Two new doctors have also opened practices in Thomasville.

The council approved a resolution to vacate an alleyway in the Choctaw Heights subdivision. The alley is behind The Grill restaurant, the property where Walgreens is expected to build a new pharmacy. The Grill closed recently to make way for the new business.

The council authorized an option be issued to Blackbelt Industries for 10 acres of property in the south industrial park where Blackbelt proposes to build a $12.5 million plastics plant that would employ 75 people. The price is $10,000 per acre, $100,000 total and an unspecified amount of earnest money has been received. Richard Pugh, a Clarke County native living in California, is the CEO of Blackbelt Industries.

Work continues on a program to establish help for housing and neighborhood developments through the Community Revitalization Committee.

Council members were told to soon expect a draft ordinance to limit used vehicle sales on private property in the city. The ordinance is aimed at used car sales along highway frontage, such as at the Thomasville Mart Shopping Center.

No decision on the city's contribution to the new Twin Rivers Economic Development Partnership was made. The new organization seeks to partner Choctaw and Clarke counties to promote economic development in a way similar to other regional organizations in the state. Some council members have suggested the organization duplicates efforts already funded by the city. Mayor Day said, however, that council members are starting to realize the importance of such a group and that the city could benefit from help in luring prospects. Twin Rivers is "well on the way" to securing $1.5 million in commitments over a five-year period, Day added.

The council voted to revoke the city license of Midsouth Wholesalers a business that solicits residents and business owners. There have been numerous complaints about the company's business tactics, Day said, and there are no records to indicate that the company has ever paid any sales taxes owed the city.

The council agreed to seek proposes for civil engineering services to help with paving and other needs of the city. Engineer Wilbur Downey assisted the city on such projects for years but has retired.

The council approved some $44,000 in payments for work on the new civic center. Both the mayor and City Clerk Debbie Ballard appeared surprised when council member Charles Allen voted with other council members to pay the bills. Allen has been an outspoken critic of the project and has voted against items connected with the work in the past. Allen said that he was voting to pay the bills but he wanted the city to keep track of the project and any cost overruns. Day said he was working to do that.

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