By Nathan Prewett
LEEDS – A new member was sworn in during a meeting of organizational matters of the council following municipal elections held several months ago.
The organization of the city remains almost entirely unchanged with the exception of council member DeVoris Roscha Ragland-Pierce for District 5, previously held by Linda Miller. According to the municipal results on the city’s website, Ragland-Pierce won with 52.40% of the votes.
Ragland-Pierce served on the council from 2012 to 2016 and had run for mayor at one point before being reelected to the council recently.
“I’m very happy to be back,” she commented. “My goal is to serve the community and I’m ready to let people know exactly what we do at the council and to let them know that we’re here for them and help them in any way that we can.”
Leeds Mayor David Miller and the council were sworn in by city judge Cliff Price.
After the swearing in ceremony the meeting turned to public comments. Several residents voiced concerns starting with Ernest Mitchell, who asked about the district zones, saying that there was no map for the city. He expressed confusion about where the districts are drawn in the city. Miller responded by saying that district lines will be updated after the U.S. Census is approved and released.
Afterwards, Mitchell and Miller exchanged thoughts over polling places in the, with Mitchell saying that he understood that City Hall was the only polling place. Miller responded that it was for municipal elections but that polling places for the national election were the civic center, the Episcopal church, and the Methodist church.
Mitchell said that there were no notices posted for elections, but Miller disagreed, saying that there were. He said that he would not argue with Mitchell further on the matter and called for the next commenter.
Resident Zachary Scarvey spoke next and said that he contacted the city approximately a year ago about a sinkhole under a sidewalk near his house. After a friend of his stepped into and went approximately a foot and a half into the hole he said that he was advised that gravel be put into it.
In spite of this he said that he believed that the hole could still be potentially dangerous and asked that it be addressed again. Miller advise contacting the city’s street superintendent. Public Works Director Johnny Warren said that he would come by and have the hole repacked.
Lastly was Susan Barnett, who said that there was a problem in her area (bordered with St. Clair County she said) with drug use and mobile homes being placed close to her property. She said that disputes have risen between residents and that there has been harassment from some over the St. Clair County line.
She added that she has received mixed answers over what district her property falls under, making it confusing for her when contacting police departments to address the problems. Zoning Administration Brad Watson determined that her address was in an unincorporated area of St. Clair County and that the county’s sheriff’s department should be contacted. Leeds Police Chief Jim Atkinson said that the Leeds department still answers calls in the area regardless of jurisdiction.
Barnett further expressed concerns about mobile homes and their legality there. However, Miller said that there was nothing to be done due to the area not being within city limits.
A meeting will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. for a zoning request, followed by a regular meeting on Nov. 16 at 6 p.m.