Calera Council tabled approval on a planning and zoning code after the town’s attorney advised them they did not have everything in place.
The council met at 3 p.m. Tuesday for its regular monthly meeting. Chris Jones, the town attorney, told the council they must have a board of adjustment in place. Jones said that a board of adjustment is a board that would hear appeals to zoning decisions and that this board must be made up of five members who are not on the council or the planning and zoning board.
The town currently has a planning and zoning board.
He said state statute requires a board of adjustment and he also recommended the town hire an attorney to make sure everything is properly established.
“You need to implement everything 100 percent for it to work efficiently and properly,”Jones said.
Action on approving fees and permits for planning and zoning was also tabled.
Patrick Latona, head of the planning and zoning board, said they will be meeting with someone who wants to put in a paintball gun store and he hopes to present the information from that meeting to the council during its next meeting.
New council member Eric Pyle took the oath of office. Pyle and incumbent David Westbrook were elected during municipal elections held earlier this month. Pyle’s parents, Choctaw Nation Chief Greg Pyle and wife Pat, attended the meeting.
Outgoing Mayor James Eaton was recognized for his 25 years of service to the town, and Town Superintendent Brad Davis presented him with a plaque and thanked him for what he had done for the employees.
Councilmember Vicki Barkley spoke about the town’s website, www.caleraok.org. She said the town needs to get the word out that there is a town website and she would also like to set it up so residents can pay bill online.
She said it should be updated on a regular basis, and that if more citizens will check the website, that will alleviate calls to city hall.
“This is something we have done for the people and I want to make it fit their needs,” Barkley said.
A notice informing citizens about the website will be posted on the next utility bills.
The council voted to obtain bids to remodel the old fire department bay as a new location for the police department. The current location of the department is a building that is approximately 100 years old and is in poor shape. The building does not have central heat and air.
The council also handled the following agenda items:
- Approved an ordinance to close a portion of West Ryan Avenue so the school can build a new gym
- Approved a Town of Calera seal
- Voted to purchase an ID card printer so identifications can be made for all town personnel
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