By Terry Schrimscher, For The Tribune
CLAY — Mayor pro tempore Becky Johnson presided over a brief meeting of the Clay City Council on Dec. 20. The city council usually meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month but met on the second and third Tuesday due to the holiday break.
In his regular report, City Manager Ronnie Dixon updated the council on upcoming vacancies and possible appointments to city boards, including planning and zoning, zoning adjustments, and the library.
“BZA hasn’t met in 10 years,” Dixon said. “That’s a good thing. That means your zoning ordinances are working correctly.”
The council unanimously approved four ordinances establishing meeting times for 2023.
The city council will continue to meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month in 2023 except for December, when the holiday schedule will require the second regular meeting to move up a week like this year.
The Planning and Zoning board will meet on the third Thursday of each month. The Board of Zoning Adjustments will meet as needed when they have an agenda. The Library Board will meet on the fourth Tuesday of each quarter.
The Clay Senior Center will be closed for the holidays beginning Dec. 22 and will reopen in 2023 on Jan. 4.
Dixon updated the council on plans for building a Chick-fil-A restaurant in the city. The restaurant closed on the property on the corner of Chalkville Mountain Road and Old Springville Road across from Publix. The council expects updated plans from engineers this spring and indicated it could be a drive-thru-only location.
Dixon said another restaurant and convenience store has purchased property at the intersection of Tyler Loop Road and Sweeney Hollow Road. No decision has been made on the type of restaurant but said it could be a fried chicken franchise.
To close the meeting, Dixon mentioned an armed robbery that took place earlier in the day. He urged caution as people are shopping in town.
“It was a store that was robbed, but it was at gunpoint, and they did run away. Just caution everybody to be careful,” Dixon said.
The next meeting of the Clay City Council is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Jan. 10.