By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune
MOODY – The Moody City Council adopted its 20-year comprehensive plan, otherwise known as Moody at the Crossroads, during a meeting on Monday, Sept. 25.
Mayor Joe Lee on Sept. 25, 2023
The plan was adopted by the Moody Planning Commission on Sept. 12 before it came to the council, which was approved unanimously. While compiling the plan, the commission surveyed citizens, took contributions for an online map and held meetings to receive.
The plan seeks to keep Moody’s “rural, small town identity” but includes growing commerce and industry with light manufacturing, tech-flex spaces, warehousing, distribution, research and processing, among others.
The plan also includes a “gateway node” at the intersection of Park Avenue and Kelly Creek Road, giving it the title of the gateway to Moody from I-20.
“Redesigning this intersection and enhancing the area will encourage future investment and development, focusing on retail and service uses,” said a description in the plan.
Another goal is to establish a town center at the intersection of US 411 and Park Avenue, which is also known as “the Crossroads.” Setting up a town center would serve as a way to identify the city to both visitors and residents, with modifications to the intersection being designed by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT).
A high-resolution file and low-resolution file outlining Moody at the Crossroads can be accessed here.
Additionally, the council voted to make allocations to educational and commercial growth. The resolution comes after the council voted to pass its budget at the previous meeting. City Attorney James Hill explained that the allocations are given to the board of education and the chamber of commerce respectively.
“In that budget, we contemplate making certain allocations to certain entities that we recognize as having a public purpose,” Hill said. “Two of those in particular are education for obvious reasons. Of course, the law allows us to give money to schools because the law contemplates those having a public purpose but in that resolution, we speak to the fact that we recognize that giving money to our schools serves a public service towards the education of children in the city of Moody.
“Second of all we believe that having a vital commercial development arm is serving a public service to the city of Moody, so likewise we reallocate money towards our chamber of commerce.”
Hill said that over the years, the city has helped the local schools with various sports-related upgrades as an example of the regular allocations made to the board.
“We try to work hand in hand with the board of education regarding the needs of the city of Moody,” he said. “For example, last year if memory serves, there was a request updating some of the athletic facilities in different ways, maybe some of the locker rooms. I think we did things for the band department, a whole variety of assistance over the years to the board of education.”
In other business, the council:
- Approved a request from Police Chief Reece Smith to repair the transmission of a department vehicle for $5,500,
- Approved a request from Library Director Sara Roberts to advertise for and hire a part-time library assistant, and
- Appointed Mike Martin to the Moody Planning Commission.
Meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at Moody City Hall on 670 Park Ave.
Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.com.
