By Terry Schrimscher, For the Tribune
CENTER POINT – The city of Center Point City Council met for the second regular meeting of the month, Thursday night, Oct. 19. The Council reserved time at the beginning of the meeting for two public hearings on zoning requests.
Members of the Center Point City Council listen to plans for a rezoning request across the street from City Hall. (Credit: Terry Schrimscher)
The first property under consideration was located at 12 22nd Avenue NW. The commercial property was previously used as office space by Bento Construction, which is moving out of the city. Foster Wrecker Service, located at a lot behind the property at 28 22nd Avenue NW, requested a change in zoning designation in order to acquire the building to use as office space.
“It is currently zoned commercial. My business, we’re located right behind it, we are a towing company,” said Chad Montgomery speaking on behalf of Foster Wrecker Service. “In order to operate a towing company, we would have to have it rezoned to be light industrial.”
Montgomery said his company has not yet purchased the property. The Council approved the request during the regular business portion of the meeting.
The Council also held a public hearing to amend zoning at 2321 Center Point Parkway to allow a local catering and food truck business to open a fine dining restaurant and serve alcohol. The request for the restaurant failed to be seconded in the regular meeting and was not approved.
The Council paused consideration on a plan to demolish a home at 405 Kim Drive after residents from the street complained about a proposal to plant a community garden on the lot. According to Mayor Bobby Scott, the home has been vacant for several years, has roof damage from a fallen tree, and has extensive mold in the interior of the home.
The proposal to demolish the home is on hold until the Council can review options for the building or uses for the lot.
In other business, the Council approved an update to the existing agreement with Goodwyn Mills Cawood on the resurfacing of Polly Reed Road. The agreement was approved pending written confirmation that ALDOT will reimburse the cost. The original agreement was for $436,493. The new price is $1,064,935.
Captain Chris Horn, of the Center Point Fire District, gave an update for the month of September. Horn reported 861 total calls for the month, which brings the year-to-date number to 7733. Horn also announced the promotion of Interim Fire Chief Brandon Dahlen to Fire Chief.
In his report at the close of the meeting, Scott cautioned parents to talk to their children about firearm safety, citing recent gun injuries of teens in the city.
“We had an incident probably about a week ago of two teenagers getting injured by gunfire,” Scott said. “Kids are playing a game now where they’re drawing their weapons to see who can draw their weapon the fastest.”
“I think this is a ridiculous way to spend time and very very dangerous for teenagers to be doing,” Scott added. “So, I (want) to kind of put that bug in parent’s ears. Make sure you are checking on your kids. Teenagers should not have guns (and) should not be congregating in areas where there are guns.
“It was accidental. It was not intentional because they were all friends, but still it only took a second for something to go wrong.”
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, Nov. 2, at 6:30 p.m.
