By Terry Schrimscher, For the Tribune
ARGO – The City of Argo passed Resolution 2023-04-10 Monday night, April 10, during the first regular monthly meeting of the city council. The resolution was the next step in the process establishing a Planning and Zoning Commission in the city.
Six Argo residents were chosen from 24 applicants who were introduced during the March 27 meeting. The board was officially created by ordinance 2023-02-13, which was approved in February.
The board will consist of nine members including an administrative official appointed by the Mayor and one city council member elected by the Council to serve as an ex officio member.
The six Argo residents appointed to the commission are: Randy Hettich, Lanie Kendrick, Matt Vincent, Bob Carter, Chase Gober and Michael Stanley. Members will serve six-year terms although some seats will face earlier reappointment to stagger future appointments to the board.
“Everybody that filled out an application was great. I wish we could put them all on the zoning board,” said Mayor Bradley. “If you didn’t get chosen for the zoning board, you may still get chosen for the zoning board of adjustments, which is just as important as the zoning board.”
City Clerk Tiffany Westbrook was appointed by Bradley to fill the administrative role on the board. Council member Thomas Suggs was elected by the Council to fill the ex officio role.
Mayor Bradley will serve as the final member of the commission. The terms for Bradley and Suggs will coincide with their terms in elected office.
Members of the board will elect a person to serve as chair and individual roles and responsibilities and establish terms of eligibility for future reelection.
A special public meeting has been scheduled for April 18, at 6 p.m., specifically to discuss zoning based on the Argo Comprehensive Plan. The plan was produced by the City of Argo, the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham, and the consulting firm of Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC). Representatives from GMC are expected to be present to answer questions about zoning proposals.
The Council also approved the creation of a Building Inspector position and $1,300 for certification for the role.
In other business, the Council moved into executive session to discuss issues related to development of the former Crazy Horse restaurant location at 8885 Gadsden Hwy. Developers are planning to create a gym, children’s play gym and office space in the former restaurant. The building once served as a fire station and City Hall for Argo. The request to make changes to a promissory note on the property was tabled in March but was approved unanimously after executive session.
The Council also approved payment of $1,131 to O’Cet for work done on roads at Cedar Creek.
Council member Dennis Griffin as voting delegate at the annual meeting of the Alabama Municipal Insurance Corporation.
Argo joined other cities in around Alabama by issuing a proclamation to declare the month of April to be Fair Housing Month.
The proclamation is part of an effort by the Birmingham Association of REALTORS® (BAR) to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the signing of the Fair Housing Act by getting 55 proclamations during the month of April. Lewis Pitchford, Government Affairs Coordinator for BAR, was present to accept the proclamation.
The Birmingham Association of REALTORS® covers six counties: Blount, Chilton, Clay, Jefferson, Randolph, and Shelby and has, to date, received more than 30 of the 55 municipal proclamations. Argo is located in Jefferson and St. Clair counties.
Fair Housing Month is celebrated nationally each year in April. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey issued a proclamation in February recognizing Fair Housing Month statewide. BAR issued a release on the local effort.
“In 1968, in the wake of the assassination of Dr. King the passage of this landmark Act was a huge step in the right direction. Over the years, the Act has been amended to address additional issues, which is just a testament to how far we have come as a Nation, but still have a long journey ahead,” said 2023 BAR Diversity and Fair Housing Vice Chair Scott Ford.
The Fair Housing Act was part of the 1968 Civil Rights Act, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson one week after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The next regular meeting of the Argo City Council will be April 24. The meeting begins immediately following the 5 p.m. work session.