NOTEBOOK: Northport Council OKs New Liquor Store, Appointments
NORTHPORT, AL. — The Northport City Council held its first full regular meeting since new members and the mayor were sworn in earlier this month, with the majority of Monday's actions focusing on public proclamations, addressing various bids and appointments to different boards.
Click here to subscribe to our daily email newsletters and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices for free. You can also support local journalism by donating as little as $5 a month to become a supporting member or by downloading our free Patch mobile app.
Here is a rundown of action taken by the Northport City Council Monday:
The City Council unanimously ruled in favor of awarding a liquor license to Bravo Investments, LLC, for Cheers Wine and Spirits to open at the former Hardee's location on Highway 43 at the intersection of Mitt Lary Road. A public hearing was held on the matter and no one spoke in opposition to the liquor license request.
District 2 Councilman Woodrow Washington III was formally sworn in during his first Council meeting on Monday. Washington missed the initial swearing-in ceremony after testing positive for COVID-19.
District 3 Councilman John Hinton gave an update for the Council's Administrative Committee, which met on Nov. 12. City of Northport Development Coordinator Max Snyder addressed the committee, with Hinton saying he discussed an educational grants project for schools within the Northport city limits, coming in at a total of $300,000 budgeted for program improvements for the schools. The funds will come from the city's one cent sales tax revenues. "Grant applications were due today," Hinton said. "We have 10 schools in Northport receiving grants ... all 10 have turned them in by today. Each project must be approved before schools begin implementation and we believe this project will make a difference in our schools."
Hinton said the Administrative Committee received a briefing on Victus Advisors, the firm selected by the City Council to conduct a feasibility study on the city's proposed water park and sports complex. He said Victus Advisors — a feasibility consultant firm out of Salt Lake City, Utah — will begin the process soon, with the expressed timetable of about 12 weeks until completion once the study begins.
The Administrative Committee, according to Hinton, also discussed the job description for the open city administrator’s position and plan to have it to the Council for a vote in early January. The role is currently occupied by interim City Administrator Hardy McCollum. Hinton expressed the Committee's desire to begin the formal search after the holidays.
Mayor Bobby Herndon honored the undefeated 2020 Echols Middle School volleyball team with a proclamation for winning the city-county championship.
Council President and District 5 Councilman Jeff Hogg said the Council's Projects Committee will have an update for the public at the Council's next meeting Dec. 14. This will be the only meeting of the month, due to the Christmas parade falling on a Monday this year.
Herndon and District 1 Councilwoman Christy Bobo named Mark's Market as November's Business of the Month, presenting the owner with a proclamation.
The City Council unanimously appointed Clay Randolph as the mayor's designee to the Northport Planning and Zoning Commission. The Council also unanimously approved naming James McKinney to serve as an administrative official to the Commission. Both terms will last until Nov. 4, 2024. Herndon pointed out that as a land surveyor, it would be a conflict of interest for him to appoint a representative to P&Z and said the Council had made the decision for him.
The City Council unanimously named Randy Fondren to represent the city of the Tuscaloosa Public Library Board. His term will last until August 2021.
Follow Patch here for updates or on Facebook and Twitter. You can also download the Patch mobile app, free for Apple and Android mobile devices.
This article originally appeared on the Tuscaloosa Patch
