By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune
LEEDS, Ala.–The Leeds City Council held a brief meeting on Monday, Sept. 16 where they approved the city’s fiscal year 2024-25 budget and adopted the required Rebuild Alabama Transportation Plan, which opens up funding for road projects.
Prior to the council passing the items on its agenda, Mayor David Miller gave an update on the playground at Leeds Memorial Park, saying that the project to upgrade it has begun.
“We have the equipment, we have the contractor under contract and it won’t be long before we have a brand new, first class, state-of-the-art children’s playground there,” he said. “So, it’s something we can be really proud of.”
Police Chief Paul Irwin also reminded the public that the National Night Out event will be held on Oct. 1 at the Memorial Park at 5 p.m.
Afterwards the council voted to approve the budget.
An overview of the budget provided in the packet agenda presents a “forecast” for the city’s expenses in the coming year with several “key” economic factors, these being consumer spending and retail growth; housing and construction; tourism and hospitality and infrastructure and public works.
The forecast projected a positive trend for Leeds, especially because of its proximity to the Birmingham Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The budget credits investments in retailers like Buc-ee’s in an expected expansion in retail growth and consumer spending, calling it a “vital source of sales tax revenue.” In tourism and hospitality, Barber Motorsports Park was credited with contributing to the economic growth since its establishment.
However, there are also economic risks, the overview notes. This is namely in inflation, especially with construction costs, labor expenses, and material shortages, and in interest rates that can affect the housing market as well as capital projects.
The full budget can be viewed in the agenda packet below.
The council then approved the 2024 Rebuild Alabama Transportation Plan that Miller said was mandatory for cities in order to have funds to spend on road projects.
“What happens is the gas tax is divided up between the state, counties and municipalities and we have to agree on adopting it before we can spend that money and it has to be spent on what is allowed in that document,” Miller said.
The resolution states that, with adopting the plan, it is estimated that there will be an “anticipated” allocation of $158,000 from the act, though with increasing allocations for each following fiscal year.
Of note in the transportation plan is the Highway 78 widening project.
Lastly the council approved a liquor license request from James Carroll, owner of Neon Moon, which is set to take over the old Lynn’s Office Lounge on 8040 Parkway Drive. The request was subject to discussion for the past two meetings in which Carroll was initially declined due to the building’s 100-foot proximity to a church and library.
The council heard from Carroll before eventually drafting and later approving an amendment to the policy that now allows exceptions to places considered entertainment districts.
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.
Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.com.