By Terry Schrimscher, For the Tribune
CENTER POINT – The city of Center Point City Council met for the second regular meeting of September, Thursday night, Sept. 21. One of the items on the agenda was a zoning change request that has appeared before the Council several times over the last few months.
The site of a potential new shelter to be operated in Center Point by Project Success Ministries.
The zoning request was postponed from the July 6 meeting and denied in the August 3 meeting of the Council after Councilmember Tiffany Moore expressed concerns about the request. Project Success Ministries, a local nonprofit serving a variety of needs, asked to change the zoning of the property at 100 20th Avenue NW from C-1 to Institutional 2 in order to turn the property into a shelter for homeless seniors who have been released from local hospitals needing additional recovery time.
Project Success board member Bridget Taylor spoke to the Council at the Sept. 7 meeting and agreed to present more specific plans to city leaders. The proposal was accepted and cleared during the Sept. 21 meeting.
“We’re just glad to get in and start helping people,” said Morris Jolly speaking to The Trussville Tribune. Jolly serves as vice chair of the Project Success board of directors. “We’re all on one accord with the city. The city came through for its citizens like we were comfortable that they would.”
“We’re going to be feeding breakfast for the homeless and for families,” said Taylor. “The elderly may not have food but volunteers for the elderly in Center Point will deliver hot breakfast every morning, Monday through Friday, and we will have sack lunches. They can come by and get a little lunch.”
In other business, the Council held a public hearing on the demolition of several units at Woodside Condominiums. No one spoke during the hearing and the Council approved a resolution ordering the removal of the buildings later in the meeting.
The condominiums have been in the news several times in recent years after fires in 2019 and 2020. The city increased police patrols in the area in recent years due to an increase in crime at the complex. The condominiums have been the site of several crimes including the kidnapping and murder case of Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney in 2019.
The Council also approved an agreement with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department to provide four deputies to the city at the cost of $35,749.98 per month. The enhanced coverage agreement lowers the number of deputies from six to four. Mayor Bobby Scott said the city plans to increase its own public safety department to include hiring officers and adding vehicles.
The Center Point City Council meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month at City Hall located at 2209 Center Point Parkway. The next meeting will be held Thursday, Oct. 12, at 6:30 p.m.
