By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune
LEEDS – The Leeds City Council formally accepted a $15,000 grant from the Jefferson County Commission during a brief meeting on Monday, Sept. 18.
The meeting began with Mayor David Miller congratulating the police department on netting an estimated $300,000 from drug arrests, in which he said that the city will be able to keep a percentage of the money.
Police Chief Paul Irwin added that officers recently took an accused murderer into custody who had been at large for three years and had been allegedly selling drugs in Birmingham until his arrest. He was found to have a fully automatic Glock pistol.
Miller announced that the equipment for the anticipated expansion of the playground at the city park has been installed and is available for the public.
Afterwards, the council voted to accept the grant from the commission.
The center has undergone renovations and has expanded since temporarily closing during the COVID pandemic. It is open to those who are 60 years old and over, and offers a number of activities including exercise classes, Bible studies, games, arts and crafts, and others.
Senior Center Director Audrey Bryan said that the grant will go to continuing their services.
“Basically, what it helps us do is we provide meals four days a week, lunch, and then we have activities,” she said. “We do field trips, and so basically what it does is supplement our meals and activities.”
The senior center is located at the Leeds Civic Center on 1000 Park Drive. It is open Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
During public comments, Jerry Trott asked Miller about replacing a trash can at the pump station, saying that trash has been collecting along the highway and being deposited in the can. But now that the can is gone, he asked if he could be approved to replace it.
Miller said that this would be a matter for the Water Works, though Turner and Councilwoman Angie Latta said that they would call the Water Works and inquire about it.
Trott also asked about trash pileups that have appeared at Clayton Drive for several months but Miller said that it was outside of the city limits, being located in an unincorporated community. Trott then advised the council to attend to a pothole on Oliver Road before the winter, to which Miller said that he would look into it himself.
In other business, the council approved a one-month extension to complete documents regarding the upcoming sports complex and purchased a mower for the fire department in an amount not to exceed $16,000.
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.