Laurel council confirms city positions

By Eloria Newell James, community@laurelleadercall.com

June 04, 2009 10:28 am

— The Laurel City Council confirmed several city positions Tuesday while also granting a business’ zoning exception for the sale of beer.
The council with a 5-1 vote, with Councilman Johnny Magee voting against it, granted a one-year special exception to Your Store My Store, a convenience store located at 1538 North 1st Ave.
The special exception will allow the store, which is located in Ward Four, to sell beer in a C-1 zoned area.
C-1 zoned property is a restricted commercial district, which does not allow the sale of beer without the granting of a special exception. State and local laws require that an establishment, which sells beer be located not less than 400 feet from a day care, church or other similar facilities.
According to documents submitted to the council, the day care that was previously operated on the site is closed.
The closest church, Emanuel Apostolic Church is located at 1750 North 1st Ave., which is 498 feet from Your Store My Store, according to the documentation.
The Council also unanimously confirmed the appointment of Charlotte Myrick to the city’s Planning Commission.
According to city documents, Al Moore was appointed the to the Planning Commission as a representative of the city at-large and “Moore has now taken a job in another city and is therefore precluded from attending meetings.”
Myrick, according to the documents submitted to the council, has expressed her willingness to serve on the City Planning Commission for the duration of the five-year term ascribed to Moore with said term commencing immediately and expiring on June 20, 2011.
Also Tuesday, the council, with a 5-1 vote with Magee voting against it, confirmed the appointment of Mac Foster to the Building Board of Adjustments and Appeals.
According to city documents, the term of Josh Heying, who was appointed to the Board of Adjustments and Appeals as a certified (HVAC) air mechanical contractor expired on May 31, 2009.
Magee questioned where Foster lived.
City officials said Foster lives in the county, but does a lot of work in the city.
“It is necessary to appoint a certified air mechanical contractor to replace Mr. Heying on the Board of Adjustments and Appeals in order to comply with the International Building Code of 2003; and Mr. Mac Foster, a certified (HVAC) air mechanical contractor has agreed to serve on the board,” according to city documentation.
The council confirmed Laurel Mayor Melvin Mack’s appointment of Foster to the board with the appointment to begin immediately and expire on May 31, 2014.
In other business Tuesday, the council unanimously approved the re-appointment of Albert Ray to the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Authority of Jones County.
“HB5 Local and Private Laws of the First Extraordinary Session of 1983 created the Economic Development Authority of Jones County and authorized the mayor and city council to appoint three resident citizens to the Economic Development Authority,” according to city documents.
Ray is currently serving as one of the city’s three appointees. His term is scheduled to expire on July 1, 2009.
“The City of Laurel has been notified by the Economic Development Authority that Mr. Ray presently serves as secretary-treasurer of the Board of Directors of that body and is a hard-working, cooperative member who has served on the executive committee since 2000,” according to city documents. “Ray has expressed a willingness to serve another term as the city’s appointee.”
With the council’s approval Tuesday, Ray will be appointed to serve a three-year term beginning July 1, 2009 and it will expire June 30, 2012.
Also Tuesday, with little discussion, the council approved the naming of some city facilities in honor of some living residents.
The council with a 6-0 vote approved an order naming the tennis facility at the Sportsplex in honor of Donnie Walker.
According to documents submitted to the council, the Planning Commission found that the request met all requirements as set forth in the ordinance No. 1347-1999 with the exception of that requirement that the honoree be deceased.
Walker is still alive.
Greg Butler, coordinator of the Pine Belt Tennis Local League in Ellisville, made the request to the city in a letter.
“Walker grew up in Laurel playing tennis,” Butler said. “He taught tennis in the Laurel City School Systems for five years. ...He was one of the founders of the Laurel Community Tennis Association in the 1970’s.”
Also Tuesday, the council approved an order naming the baseball field at K.C. Bottoms Park in honor of J.C. Hosey.
Also in a separate matter Tuesday, the City Council approved several budget amendments and heard several concerns from residents about safety and cleanliness of the city.