Questions about the proposed rezoning of two city blocks were addressed during the regular monthly meeting of the Eupora Board of Aldermen.
Although not on the agenda, the matter was brought up Feb. 1 by Hugh Gibson (Ward 3) during discussion of another rezoning item.
Gibson offered a motion Jan. 4 vote to start the process of rezoning the two city blocks between Gold Street and Veterans Memorial Boulevard, which are within the historic district, from residential to commercial.
His motion, which stipulated that the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District be contacted for mapping purposes, was approved by the three aldermen.
During last week’s meeting, city resident Jim Brown asked Planner George Crawford of the PDD how long this process will take.
“I’m going to review what they (the city) have and add to it,” Crawford responded, adding that he did not know exactly how long it will take for the PDD to do its part.
City Attorney Joey Hood told Smith the agency will look at city ordinances and zoning maps before making a recommendation to the board.
“They’re trying to find additional information to see if the rezoning request is plausible,” he said.
Blight Prevention
Also on Feb. 1, Bruce Walters, chair of the Eupora Cleanup Committee, Brown and George Mitchell Jr. asked questions and made comments about the city’s plans to begin enforcing blight prevention statutes on the book. This was recommended by the Eupora Blight Committee, of which Brown is a member.
Hood said he can send letters of non-compliance to property owners, and that Public Works Director Scott Cooper has been appointed compliance/code enforcement officer for the city. Ward 4 Alderman Robert Gibbs said he was looking into the availability of a grant for demolishing blighted structures.
HOME Project
Crawford also addressed the board about the city’s HOME Rehabilitation Grant project.
Bids from qualified housing contractors will be opened at 10 a.m. Feb. 26 at City Hall on behalf of six homeowners in the city. Two housing units will be demolished and rebuilt, and four units will be rehabilitated. A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held at City Hall at 10 a.m. Friday.
“I’d like to get as many local people to bid on it as possible,” Crawford said.
Identity Theft
During department head reports, Chief Gregg Hunter said the Police Department had two significant reports of identity theft during January. He said the cases were referred to the attorney general’s Identity Theft Division.
“I encourage everybody to be cautious with their personal information,” he said.
Facility Request
The board heard a request from James Townsend for assistance in providing the Concerned Citizens of Eupora a facility to put on a narrated play to honor Black History Month (February). He said no school facilities were available.
Because of the pandemic, Mayor Lamar Dumas asked him to provide a more streamlined plan explaining step by step what he wants to do and said a special meeting could be called if necessary. No action was taken.
Other Action
Other action taken by the board on Feb. 1:
• approved an application for a retail beer permit and license presented by Champion Enterprises LLC, dba as Kountry Smokes, at 2817 E. Roane Ave. The nature of business is listed as tobacco store.
This is on the east side of Kountry Kitchen in the former Cooksey’s building. The application identifies the manager as Dontreze Young of Eupora. This was the second beer permit application approved by the board through the city’s qualified resort status.
• set a public hearing for 5:30 p.m. March 1 on a rezoning request by Jerry Gary. He has requested that property at 871 Veterans Memorial Blvd. be rezoned from residential to commercial.
Gary owns the lot, which is about 2.5 acres and is on the west side of the highway across from the Oak Tree Inn and O’Reilly Auto Parts
“This is for a potential fast-food restaurant,” said Gary, who as the board’s at-large alderman abstained from voting.
• selected the paint color for an elevated water storage tank being built on West Gould Avenue as part of city water system improvements, along with the color for the lettering. This was requested by Calvert-Spradling Engineers.
• accepted a police calendar donation of $1,795 to be put in the Police Department’s miscellaneous police fund.
• accepted a low bid of $2,550 from Silver Ridge Farms (Clint Mann) for grass mowing at the airport to be done three times a year. The bid was one of five submitted.
