By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune
LEEDS – A meeting of the Leeds City Council became tense on Monday, Nov. 7, when a resident confronted Mayor David Miller during public comments about grievances he had with the city.
The agenda was short, with only two items listed. The first was under an old business in which property on Mountain View Lane was being considered for declaration as a public nuisance. Later the council approved a 60-day extension to have it cleaned up.
The other item was considering a building on Moton Street unsafe. Councilman Kenneth Washington advocated for an extension as people are currently living there.
The building was home to Harry England, who was arrested for drug offenses. Police Chief Paul Irwin said that the house had a history of drug use and trafficking.
LaShunta Boler stood and spoke, saying that she is an attorney that was retained by the heirs of the property. She requested that 30 days be given for her to research and assess the situation with the house.
However, the issue of the house’s condition was the focus of the resolution. Developmental Services Director Brad Watson said that structural flaws in the building made it uninhabitable.
“I don’t want to put anybody out on the street, elderly people or whatever,” said Councilman Eric Turner, “But I have to listen to the chief, and I do know what went on there, so I can’t in my mind vote to continue to let that house continue to exist.”
Despite this, Washington motioned to allow an extension, but the motion failed when half the council voted yes and the others no. Later the resolution to declare it unsafe passed, leading to its eventual demolition.
Before public comments occurred, Turner brought up a music festival to be held by Leeds Main Street at Rails and Ales on Saturday. He said he was notified that the festival would require a nonprofit special events license, which Leeds Main Street Director Amber Vines did apply for through Avenu Insights, used by the city.
He said that Vines later received a call telling her that Watson notified Avenu that the wrong license had been applied for. The “wrong” license was $65, while the correct one would be $283. She was also told that the program might have to pay taxes on items sold at the festival.
He then criticized the notion of Main Street paying taxes, alleging that some efforts have been made to stop it.
“Do the schools collect taxes when they sell t-shirts? Does the band? Does the little league? Never. Never collect taxes for that,” he said. “When the fundraiser was organized to raise money for the slain Moody officer, was a special permit required? No. Why does an organization whose sole purpose is to help downtown Leeds continue to hit roadblocks every time they do anything?”
Turner motioned that the council waive any permits required for the festival. The council then approved the action.
Afterward, attention turned to public comments where several spoke. Among the speakers was Judd Moore.
Before the meeting began, a flyer was passed around with a list of grievances against the city, similar to a letter that was discussed in November 2021, alleging ethics violations. As with that letter, the flyer mentioned Watson’s filing for bankruptcy several times.
Moore criticized Miller for appointing Watson to the position of overseeing the city’s budget. He then spoke on the regulations of establishing an entertainment district, saying that the city has been inconsistent with telling people how they work as he referred to a past meeting where resident Chad Anderson spoke in public comments to ask about the district.
Miller said that the legislature changed certain rules regarding establishing such things but that the city would still qualify for having an entertainment district. Moore accused Miller of lying, which he immediately denied.
Moore also brought up the controversial blocked-off doorway at the Leeds Main Street meeting room but was stopped by Miller, saying that his time was up. Tensions then rose as an exchange between Miller and Moore began, with Moore saying that a public records request was submitted to the RDA that was reportedly never responded to.
During this time, the audibly discontented audience began shouting, some booing.
Irwin then escorted Moore from the podium as Miller stood and left the room. Irwin then told Moore that he had to leave the building. Most of the people in the room left along with him.
Washington took Miller’s seat for the remainder of the public comments before Miller eventually returned to adjourn the meeting.
Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.com.