By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune
MOODY – The Moody City Council approved a memorandum of understanding or MOU to apply for a grant to be used for the city’s upcoming Moody Museum at the Crossroads during a meeting on Monday, March 11.
The meeting began with reports from department heads for the month of February. Police Chief Reece Smith reported 1,421 calls, 33 traffic accidents, 82 citations, 121 reports completed, 61 misdemeanors, 22 felonies, four juvenile crimes, and vehicle maintenance expenses were $3,774.16.
Fire Chief Larry Horton reported 171 responses, nine fires (all woods, grass or rubbish), 91 emergency medical calls, eight vehicle wrecks, 17 public services, 17 lift assists, 29 false alarms, mutual aid given three times and received once. There were 25 annual inspections, seven re-inspections and one fire pump.
Later the council passed the resolution to approve the MOU. Councilwoman Linda Crowe said that the MOU was to give the museum the go ahead to apply for a $75,000 grant from the Alabama Historical Commission.
The museum will feature an array of locally important historical items. Crowe said that the public is welcome to donate such items to the museum. She added that some of the items to be featured are arrow heads, a fossil found near the landfill, records, pictures, and an old desk that possibly used by the first mayor of Moody, A.E. Moore, among others.
She said that the museum has received some funding from the St. Clair County Commission. Though she was not sure she expressed hopes that the museum would be ready sometime this summer.
Toward the end of the meeting the council approved a request made on Feb. 12 by developer Charles Kessler to rezone one parcel of land (4.58 acres) from AG-1 to B-3 and another parcel (22.37 acres) from AG-1 to R-2.
The request was made during a public hearing in which several citizens voiced their concerns with potential problems posed by rainfall that could cause flooding, as well as possible traffic congestion due to construction.
At the March 11 meeting Public Inspections Director David Crowe said that three surveys were done on the area to address those concerns.
Additionally, Joel Wallace, owner of Oh Sherri Pub spoke about a St. Patrick’s Day celebration that he will be putting on from Saturday to Sunday. The Saturday event will be oriented to children while the Sunday event will have Irish music and dancers. He asked for permission to keep the event going through to midnight, which was granted.
In other business the council:
- Approved the purchase of a handheld radar system for traffic enforcement for the police department for a cost not to exceed $1,400,
- Approved sending Smith to the Summer Chiefs Training in Orange Beach on July 28-Aug 2, with lodging costs not to exceed $2,000,
- Approve purchasing new picnic tables for the Splash Pad for $5,126.75,
- Approved a request from library director Sara Roberts to purchase four picnic tables for $413.95,
- Approved a request from Horton to have preventive maintenance done on E-3 for $1,650, and
- Approved a request from Public Works Director Steve Mitchell to surplus a 2013 Kubota Tractor.
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.