By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune
LEEDS – The public comments section of a meeting of the Leeds City Council on July 17 became somewhat contentious between Councilman Eric Turner and Mayor David Miller.
This began when resident Albert Daw asked the council if the city would ever establish a recreation center. Miller said that they had tried to do so before with help from an ad valorem tax increase that failed but supported the idea if it can be made feasible by revenue.
Daw then addressed a rose garden project that he wanted to create at a property owned by the city but was declined. It was mentioned that the property was being looked at by Main Street Leeds for them to use for a temporary pop-up facility.
Turner asked if a proposal would be given to the council for consideration but a member there said that they could not get it on the agenda. Turner said he believed they were told that they would have the item on the agenda.
Miller replied that they were not told that they wouldn’t be on the agenda, but rather, he received a request to be included on the agenda or sign up for public comments. Turner said that Miller had sent a message recently to Main Street Leeds in which he reportedly said that the council did not support the idea.
Turner went on to say that several others were copied in the message, including prosecutor Lee Barnes, but none of the council members.
“I didn’t say the council was not for it,” Miller said. “I said that there were concerns.”
Turner reiterated Barnes being copied. Miller mentioned that he had been on the Economic Development Board, with Turner pointing out that he is not a resident of Leeds, though Miller replied that he owned a business in the city.
Turner also pointed out that he had been on the board but that they have not met for several years. Miller said that he was taken off after resigning from the Finance Committee.
“I was not told that,” Turner said. “That’s a lie. That’s a lie. Tell me when I was taken off the board.”
He then asked Councilman Johnny Dutton, who was on the board as well, if they had met recently, to which he said that they had not. Turner further criticized Miller, saying that Barnes “had no business” being copied in the message.
Before the public comments section, the council again delayed an ongoing action to modify the zoning ordinance for R-5, Garden Home District and take R-6 Patio Home District out. The change would require newly built homes to put driveways in the back for aesthetic reasons.
A public hearing was held where Jacob Meyer said that he was familiar with the aesthetic value but raised concerns about traffic issues that it could potentially cause. Afterwards Susan Carswell spoke and said she understood Meyer’s concerns but supported the change and urged the council to adopt it.
A motion was made to approve it but was not met with a second, causing it to be pushed to the next meeting.
The council also discussed adopting the fiscal year 2022 city audit by Cork, Hill and Company. Before adopting it, Turner asked about RDA payments for contract services for $129,000. Audit representative Joe Chapman said that he would have to look at the report but estimated that it was the annual payment for contract services.
Turner asked what specifically the services were, to which City Attorney Scott Barnett said that he knew a portion of them, such as for marketing, but did not know what else. Turner then asked about RDA expenses for $593,000 and was told by Chapman that they generally involved repaving, signage and similar projects.
Dutton asked if the firm issued a clean opinion and Chapman said that they had. The audit was accepted shortly afterwards.
Additionally, Police Chief Paul Irwin honored Officer Zack Harrison, saying that he is on the SWAT team and is a U.S. Marine Corp veteran. Earlier that day he arrested an individual who was prohibited from having a firearm, Irwin said.
“He’s very intentional,” Irwin said. “Going out looking for people who have warrants and bringing them to justice.”
In other business, the council:
- Declared buildings on Maine Avenue and Alabama Avenue to be unsafe,
- Declared a property on Farley Avenue to be a public nuisance,
- Allowed a 60-day extension for a building on Whitmire Street being considered unsafe,
- Allowed a 30-day extension for a property on Kent Avenue being considered a public nuisance,
- Heard from several residents about a house owned by the cement plant to complain that it was becoming dilapidated, with Miller saying that they would have an inspector assess the building,
- Adopted and ratified the April and May 2023 city expenditures and payables, and
- Renewed the facilities permit and use agreement with the Leeds Youth Athletic Association.
Meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of every month at City Hall on 1400 9th Street Northeast. Agenda packets can be seen online at the City of Leeds website.
Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.com.