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Thomasville Council sets date for zoning ordinance hearing The Thomasville City Council formally accepted the proposed zoning ordinance and map from the Planning Commission at its Monday night meeting, moving zoning one step closer to adoption. The full ordinance will be published in The Thomasville Times next week and a synopsis will be published the following week, city attorney Edmon McKinley explained. The council will hold a public hearing no later than 15 days after that. The council can vote on the adoption of the ordinance anytime after the hearing. The public hearing was scheduled for Monday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. The Planning Commission has already held a hearing on the matter but the council must hold one too before zoning becomes a law. Mayor Sheldon Day said some changes have been proposed that will likely be made but the ordinance will be published as it has been submitted by the Planning Commission. The council can make changes before the ordinance is finalized. Thomasville is the only city of its size in the region that does not have zoning. The issue has been deemed more important since the city can now hold a municipal referendum on the legalization of alcohol sales. Wet forces have not formally requested a referendum on the question, agreeing with city leaders to hold off until a zoning ordinance is in place. However, a referendum will likely follow soon after zoning is approved.
Applies for pilot housing program The council authorized Mayor Day to apply for an Alternate Housing Pilot Program, a 100 percent grant of up to $2 million to help replace or revitalize housing of lower income people. Day admitted that he did not know much about the federal program promoted by FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security but said Thomasville had been asked to apply to be a pilot program and he said the opportunity to help people is too good for the city to pass up, especially since no local matching dollars would be required. He said he was told the program could be countywide, reaching beyond Thomasville's limits with the city being its administrator.
Mayor's report Day said he and economic developer Debra Fox attended a NASA Small Business Conference in Huntsville recently. He said Thomasville was the only municipality invited, a direct relation to the two supplier conferences the city has hosted. He said NASA is interested in helping Thomasville develop new business. "And I want to help them help us," the mayor laughed. The city industrial board has applied to the State Industrial Access Board for funds to help build a road into the new south industrial park. Also, plans are being completed for a new spec building in the park and prospects are already showing interest in the building. The LifeTech Center in the old mental health facility has moved its open house date to Dec. 7. Day added that residents of the center are helping to spruce up the downtown area and the city is looking at ways to use the talents of others housed at the Pardons and Parole facility. The civic center committee will meet again this week to review revised plans for renovating the old high school. Bids on the first proposal far exceeded budget sending the long debated idea back to the drawing board yet again. A new hospital for the Southwest Alabama Medical Center, the city's hospital, is still on tab. Day said the hospital's parent company is to start a recruitment program soon for doctors.
Other business The city agreed to sell the "Old Barn" street maintenance location on Highway 43 to Lewis Proprties, LLC for $71,125. The deal will be closed Oct. 15 but Lewis won't take possession until the city take possession of the Lower Dixie Timber location on Bashi Road where the street department will relocate. Lower Dixie is building in the new south industrial park. The council approved a resolution supporting a Mobile National Cemetery annex in Baldwin County. Veterans from this area wishing to be buried in a national cemetery would be eligible for the site. The council agreed to refer two issues regarding mobile home parks to the Planning Commission for consideration. The council approved 11 building permits, including one for Pine Hill Excavating to build a new office in the industrial park. Oct. 23-28 has been set as cleanup week in Thomasville. The council approved a parade permit for Thomasville High School to have an old-fashioned homecoming parade downtown followed by a pep rally today (Thursday) at 5 p.m. The council also agreed for the annual "Ghost Walk" to be held in the downtown area on Saturday, Oct. 28. Thomasville native and noted author and storyteller Kathryn Tucker Windham will be on hand telling ghost stories. The city also designated Oct. 31 as Trick or Treat night. Council member Grace Megginson was absent Monday.
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