The Tallulah City Council met Sept. 25 in the council chambers at City Hall, with all members present.
The council approved an occupational license for Covington Casket Company based in Alabama that is locating a warehouse in Tallulah at 118 Depot Street. The council also approved, without opposition, a proposal for an occupational license for Clean for Healthy Living, Inc. to provide family sanitation supplies and cleaning items as well as workshops at 700 North Cedar Street, with a goal of reaching 100 families.
E&P Consulting Services presented a quote for selling the cities adjudicated properties, with Wesley Johnson presenting. Johnson said, “We are boots on the ground for you guys.”
The council then discussed city boundaries. Surveyor Jeffrey Messinger estimated the cost of preparing a corrected map at $6,500, based on work with the Tax Assessor, Police Jury, and City Attorney. He said current maps did not show correct boundaries. Alvin Bagby spoke about how a 2020 census and claimed the ordinance was submitted incorrectly, which was confirmed by Interim Mayor Yvonne Lewis. Councilman Wells said the ordinance should be taken to the clerk of court’s office and filed to comply with federal law and funding requirements.
Wells made a motion for City Clerk Odom to file the ordinance the following day. Lewis responded that whether or not a motion was made, she was not going to file it. A motion and second were made. Bagby raised concerns about gerrymandering.
Discussion followed about which streets are or are not paying city taxes. Wells asked when the last legal description of the town was completed. Messinger said 2005.
The council voted on a motion to file an ordinance passed in December 2021. The measure failed, with three voting yes and two no.
Mayor Lewis said she would confer with the city attorney, who was absent from the meeting, about next steps. Wells said the law required the ordinance be filed.
The Section 8 report was presented by Section 8 Executive Director Merunda Brown. The report listed 54 participants and housing assistance payments of $24,424.47 to date. Brown asked the council to adopt new fair market rents, which were set at $616 for an efficiency, $688 for a one-bedroom, $903 for a two-bedroom, $1,177 for a three-bedroom, and $1,516 for a four-bedroom. The report was accepted unanimously.
The council approved the minutes of the Sept. 11 meeting by a vote of 4-1 after Councilman Wells objected that a letter from the mayor was not included as an addendum. The council agreed to include the letter, as it had been asked to be included during the previous meeting.
Members then discussed the Coca-Cola building property at 701 East Green Street. An appraisal valued the site at $29,900. The appraisal determined the highest and best use of the property is for commercial purposes. The building has deferred maintenance and portions of the roof and interior are in disrepair.
Council members discussed whether to restore or sell the property. Wells suggested the building be turned into a museum and questioned when the city would begin generating revenue from its properties. Lewis said the matter would benefit Tallulah and that the city is not in the museum business. Judge Joy Jackson said restoring historic buildings is expensive and she did not think revenue could be generated from a museum.
The council voted to move forward with the next steps to sell the Coca-Cola building, with one member voting no and four voting yes. The vote was marred by Wells refusing to cease speaking and Lewis attempting to move the meeting forward.
During public comment, Wells said he had filed an open meeting violation against Lewis, Day, Scott, and Love.
The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn as Frank Williams attempted to give his opinions on things that needed to be fixed across the city.
