Good evening, everyone.

The Tuscaloosa City Council has now come to order.

We ask that everyone please stand for our council prayer and then remain standing for our pledge of allegiance.

Let's bow our heads, please.

Dear God, bless our proceedings tonight.

Give us the wisdom to know what is just and the strength to do what is right.

Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, individuals with liberty and justice for all.

Please be seated.

Approval of the minutes.

Make a motion.

We approve the minutes.

We moved and second to approve the minutes.

Voting, Mr.

Eamon.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

The minutes stand approved.

Proclamation statements by Mayor and Council.

First, City Hall will be closed on Monday, September 1st in observance of Labor Day.

There'll be no regularly scheduled city council or council committee meetings on Tuesday, September 2nd.

Next week's garbage trash and recycling routes will be delayed by one day.

For more information on how Labor Day may impact other city services, please contact Tuscaloosa 311.

We are also honored tonight to have representatives from the Tuscaloosa County Southern Christian Leadership Conference, who will be hosting a community event on safety and law enforcement.

And we would ask that you please come forward and address the city council and tell us and the public more about this event.

Then I believe following your uh following uh your presentation, I think Ms.

Howard has a few words following that.

So please, and if you wouldn't mind, please give your names.

Sure.

Uh Dr.

Chad L.

Jackson, um Vice President of Southern Christian Leadership, uh County Chapter.

James William, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Thank you.

Uh the Tuscaloosa County chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference extend a heartfelt appreciation to uh Mayor Walt Maddox, Councilwoman Raven Howard, who is chair of public safety, Chief Brent Blankley, and Deputy Chief Severn Sanders, uh affectionately known as SIBO, for their partnership and commitment to our upcoming community safety and law enforcement forum on Monday, September 8th, 2025 at the Tuscaloosa Career Technology Academy Center.

The collaboration reflects a spirit of unity, accountability, and community building that this event seeks to advance.

By joining SELC and our partners, the leaders are helping to create a space where residents can learn essential safety protocols, understand their rights, and engage in constructive dialogue with law enforcement.

The forum will feature interactive participation and mock traffic stops, education on DAS CAM and Officer Cam usage, and open dialogue designed to encourage both officer and civilian safety.

This forum aims to build trust, reduce anxieties, and curate mutual understanding and respect during law enforcement interactions.

We recognize the effective public safety requires trust and cooperation between the community and those sworn to protect it.

Mayor Madox, your ongoing leadership, councilwoman's Howard's dedication to ensuring that public safety remains a top top priority and the openness of Chief Blankley and Deputy Chief Sanders to engage directly with residents to represent the very best of Tuscaloosa's commitment to progress.

In that spirit, we extend a special invitation to all city council members, city administrators, and residents to join us for this important forum.

Your presence and participation will not only enrich the conversation but also strengthen the bond between our community and law enforcement.

Together we demonstrate that when elected officials, law enforcement, and residents collaborate, we sustain pathways for a safer, stronger, and community-centered Tuscaloosa.

The hashtag is we all want to go home.

And that's for the advocacy of officers and civilians alike.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Howard.

Thank you so much for hosting this event, and I look forward to seeing everyone there on September the 8th.

Thank you all so much.

Mayor, I would just thank you.

Mayor, I would like to announce that on um September the 11th at 6 p.m.

I will have be having my district two quarterly town hall meeting at Central High School in the auditorium.

And I look forward to all of District 2 to come out and be a part of that meeting.

We will have some good updates and some new information to share.

Any other council announcements?

I believe some lives could be saved through this event.

I truly believe that.

But in addition to that, Mayor, I will not be at Jack's Saturday morning.

But people know how to call me.

Any other counsel comments?

Again, I want to echo Miss Howard and Mr.

Phil.

Thank you again for hosting this, allowing us to be partners with you.

Thank you for your service.

Um no other council announcements.

Okay.

Do we have any agenda item comments by citizens?

No, sir.

Uh we have no unfinished business consent agenda.

Clerk.

This approves items A through C on the consent agenda.

Move adoption.

Second second.

It's been moved and second.

Voting Mr.

Lanier.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes, yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Senate agenda is adopted public hearings, Clerk.

This approves an off-premises retail gear license for Aldi 251 in Tuscaloosa.

Move it option.

Second.

Move and second.

Mr.

Mills.

All right.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

This is ABC I call application 25-047A for all these incorporated Alabama LLC DBA Audits 251 to apply for retail premises, retail beer off-premises only, a retail table wine off-premises only.

Located in 9750 Highway 69 South.

Pictures shows an area view of the location.

All my reports will file at the city clerk office.

Uh Chief Blankley will come give us a report followed by the applicant to ask any questions.

Okay.

Any questions for uh Chief Blankley or Mr.

Mills?

Hey, if the applicant would come forward.

If you would please give your name and address.

Good afternoon.

My name is James Ritzel.

I'm the district manager over Aldi representing us.

Um my home address is 1761 Commons Loop Commons North Loop Tuscaloosa.

Any questions for the applicant?

This is just for record is former Wendix, right?

Yes.

Yes.

Yes, the former Wendixes.

Y'all are already open.

We are not already open.

Not that location.

Okay.

Not that question.

You are across the river, right?

That's the one across the river is open.

In Northport.

The newest one, yes.

The one next to the TCBY yogurt.

We are opened that earlier this year in February.

Yeah.

Yes.

Any other questions?

Just as a comment, we'd love to have y'all on the east side of the table.

We got plans for the 43 down 43.

We got one up in Northport coming soon.

So that's the last one that I know of right now.

Any other questions?

No.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

This is a public hearing.

Is there anyone here wishing to speak for or against either one of these applications?

Seeing none, voting, Mr.

Eatman.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Retail beer off-premises only license is approved.

Clerk.

This approves an off-premises retail table wine license for Aldi 251 in Tuscaloosa.

So move.

Second.

Move and second, Mr.

Mills.

And Mayor and Council, this is ABC I'll call application 25-047B.

Uh same applicant, same reports apply.

Voting Mr.

Lanier.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Retail table wine off-premises only license is approved.

Good luck.

Resolution and ordinances not of a general nature or permanent operation.

Clerk.

This approves a less than seven days special events retail license for made in Mexico Tacos and Tequila LLC.

Move adoption.

And move and second, Mr.

Mills.

All right, Mayor and Council.

This is ABC Alcohol Application 25-046.

Made in Mexico Tacos and Tequila LLC.

DBA Hispanic Heritage Month.

They're applying for special retail less than seven days at the premises located at 1241 MacFarlane Boulevard East.

This is the area view of the location.

All my reports have been filed to see the clerk office.

Chief Blank will come give us report followed by the applicant to ask any questions you have.

Okay.

Chief Blankley.

Yes, sir.

The PD does have objections to this application.

Uh from our understanding, they want to put tents in the parking lot.

Uh when alcohol is served outside, it's immediate open beverage.

It conflicts with city code.

That is a heavily used parking lot.

So we do not we are not in favor of this application.

Okay.

Thank you.

Any questions for Chief Blankley?

Is there a tent?

Are they under a tent?

From our understanding that they're gonna have a tent outside and people are gonna go back and forth with alcohol, and that creates an immediate open beverage, which is against city code.

There's no barriers, there's no structures, so it's a heavily used parking lot, so we feel it creates an unsafe environment.

So they could I could just leave with your district.

Any other questions of Chief Blankley?

Is the applicant here?

Okay, if you would please come forward and give your name and address.

Hey guys, I'm Giovanni Sanchez.

Uh address 4052 Sybert Street, Norport, Alabama.

Um, so the event that we're trying to do is a Hispanic Heritage Month event.

So we basically gonna have um a bunch of tents with uh food uh for people that wants to come out.

Our main goal was to have one special tent right beside our restaurant where the racing canes is gonna be at eventually.

We're getting kicked out next year.

So we wanted to do this special event to try to move our place somewhere else.

So we thought it could be a good idea for us to have one cocktail at that event, which the restaurant has nothing to do with that one license.

This is a whole new deal.

Um there's no gonna be there's not gonna be people coming in and out from the restaurant to the parking lot.

They were really specific about that.

Now we were trying to get people put some people in place for not anybody can walk out the parking lot with beverages.

Um it's just fr for the premises for the parking lot where the landlord allowed us to.

Uh the wing zone right beside us, it's already closed.

There's no customers coming in and out at the end of that whole building, the army recruit.

They don't operate on the weekends only in the mornings during the week.

So I mean, we're trying to stay afloat, and we thought it was a good idea to have Micheladas out there for people that wanted some.

Um, like I said, there's not gonna be any going from one license to the other.

This is just for one day special event.

We were hoping that maybe we could get that done, but we got post a position for that, so just here to tell you guys the truth on it.

Are you is is Raising Kane gonna be moving into the one yeah, they bought yes, sir.

They they bought that place, and we we they gave us five months to get out of there.

I knew I knew they I just thought they were building something separate.

Yeah, we were the last ones to fortunately.

We were the last ones to find out about it, and we put so much money into that place, and it's what's going on.

So we we just wanted to just do this one event where we can you know just make us go out, I guess, with a pay our bills and whatever.

So it's up to you guys.

What is the date again?

Uh the name of the event is uh Hispanic date.

The date.

The date.

Uh it's gonna be September the 13th, and it's a Saturday from three to 10.

I mean, we could do even smaller time frame if that's the case.

Um we need to.

Um are y'all gonna have any security?

We can we can get security.

We were planning on doing it ourselves where we have somebody at the at the exit, so we have control of that.

Um we have plenty of parking space on the other side, and we were given permission uh of the building, also in the back.

So right now you are the only tenant that's in that building.

There are no other businesses in that building.

Wingstone's closed, the pop uh smoke shop.

There's that they're still in business, and then there's one where the Army recruit people, but they're hardly ever there.

I don't know if their contracted ended or not, or they're not sure.

Um, but there's plenty of space.

We're just trying to use the side of the building, and it's just one tent uh that's gonna be selling, like I said, Michiladas.

The other ones are just gonna be for food for everybody, ice cream, whatever.

Have you ever hosted an outdoor event like this before with alcohol?

Not with alcohol.

We always do our event uh behind Bolero Bolero uh in Las Piñas, where the ice cream shop.

We always do it there, Hispanic Heritage Month, uh every year.

Um, but we've never done it with uh liquor.

Um we just thought we could use that parking lot where our restaurant is.

Um couple of questions.

You you seem to indicate, and I may have just misunderstood that this event is being held almost as a closing kind of celebration there instead of the the heritage month um celebration.

Second, um, can you describe to me what kind of gates you're gonna have to be able to cordon off the area where ABC would allow you for people to be served and stay in?

You said you would have somebody at the gate.

I'm interested in the in the barriers you would have.

Third, I have a concern.

This is on the same, this is on game day of the Wisconsin game.

Is this more of a football tailgate with the heritage month used as a cover?

And no, sir.

No, we think you can understand uh my concerns.

Yeah, I understand your concern.

I think the game's going on at 11 in the morning or something.

Uh no, this has nothing to do.

It's actually uh independence is on the 15th of September.

But we always do we've been doing this event at Bahambuero every September.

So this is just in a different location, so it has nothing, no cover up or nothing.

Why not do it back there again?

Sorry why not do it back there again?

Uh liquor.

So we thought that maybe being at the restaurant and having more space there.

We could do it there, and we're planning on having personnel watching that people don't take their, you know, just like we do at the restaurant business license.

That makes sure anybody nobody's walking out with their drink, basically doing the same thing in the parking lot, and it's not like we're gonna have cases of beer out there.

It's just one special beverage that we are really proud of doing, which is Michelada on Hispanic Heritage Month, and we'll have that Mexican food all over the other tents, just like we do every year, just in a different place.

The barriers, no beers, no barriers, barrier, the barriers to come cones directing traffic, so people won't go through the entrance, they'll have to.

I mean the exit.

People come in through the other side, which is the entrance, and we'll have personnel at the exit, making sure that nobody's going through there and nobody's taking drinks out.

I just I wish we discussed this at pre-council instead of because I this is the first I've heard of it.

There didn't seem to be any objections when you presented it, Mr.

Mills.

So I just found out about the objections on the way down here.

So uh pre-council, like I say, it wasn't any injections at that time.

So I like to speak when we're talking about um based on what the applicant actually said himself.

This is the last last ditch effort to raise funds and money.

There's nobody to hold accountable when a normal business or somebody gets this, you could hold them accountable if they do not do a good job.

I've seen last-ditch efforts to make money before, and they're always disastrous.

Please take that in consideration that there's nobody holding accountable after this.

They're gonna make all the money they can.

No offense to the to the applicant, but public safety is not their number one priority here.

I think this is a really bad idea, especially on a game day.

We are already staffed very heavily to control the streets, the stadium, and the strip.

So please take that consideration.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Just a comment.

You have the ice cream at yours.

Did I hear you say over Snow Hand Park?

That's your very good eye show.

I like that.

Yes, sir.

We we we have uh other partners on that, but yeah, we we own that.

So we do it every year.

And this is in no way to uh to get funds.

We were just trying to do like the margarita festival that was that went on earlier that we got kicked out as well.

We got invited and then we got kicked out.

We thought we could do something outdoors, just like they did it, that we could do something close to that at least with smaller version.

But where was the margarita on?

Uh Margarita Festival, the venue, it was outdoors.

I can't remember where it was.

I really didn't pay that much interest on the address.

Uh no, we got invited, then we got kicked out because Texas Royal House wanted that spot, and so we got shot down for that.

So you have security.

We can have security.

Your your application says you will have security.

Yes, but we we were doing that, like we were ourselves.

We were trying to do that ourselves, but we have to hire uh I guess police officer for security for which whatever route we need to do.

Probably be difficult.

I mean, I mean I'm new to this.

I'm sorry if I didn't explain myself as good as I could.

If um Ms.

Johnson, if if we came back because the council seems to be very mixed, um if they came back on the ninth with maybe a different plan to do this, could they would that give them enough time as far as if it's if if it was approved in a different plan on the ninth, would that give them enough time to have the event on the 13th?

Um, if they came back on the ninth with maybe a different plan to do this, could they would that give them enough time as far as if it's if if it was approved in a different plan on the ninth, would that give them enough time to have the event on the 13th?

That would be more of a question for the ABC board on whether or not they can turn the license around that quick.

Um if it was tabled and brought back to you guys on the 9th, um, everything is approved.

Uh documentation is sent off the next day to ABC board, it should be enough time to get it back for the event because what I'm seeing is I certainly understand Chief Blankley completely, and the fact that it is game day, which there will be I mean the police have their hands so more than full is what I'm saying.

So I'm why don't we table this to the ninth to September 9th, and let's see if you can't come back with some different plan that may would be pleasing to the law to the law enforcement as making and make us feel better because I don't feel comfortable at all right now because of the open container and things like that too, which chief is explained.

Um if we could table not defeat this, but table it till September the 9th, and then you'll come back at the same place and maybe get with the Chief Blankley or someone with the police department and come back with a different plan that we I think we'd all feel more comfortable about.

That's a motion.

I'm gonna take that as a motion.

That's the motion, yeah.

Moved and second.

Does that mean did you not want to do that?

Well because it's gonna do it's it's gonna be defeated if we voted now.

The way the guy approached me, he made it sound like they were not gonna approve anything that has to do with alcohol out there because it's out of their hands right now.

I don't I don't think it could get approved because our police chief doesn't you know feel comfortable with it, but I have some concerns.

It doesn't seem like it's a well thought out plan concerning public safety.

So the council person for the district is just asking to table it.

I I think that might be a better option for you to I'm asking the table and unless you don't want to, and then we can vote and then we can come back and in the ninth, or we can vote now and vote it down.

Question uh, do you think we can coordinate with them to see what they want us to do?

That's why I'm asking to table it.

Yes, sir.

Then we we can come back, yes, sir.

So the motion is to table till two weeks two weeks, because we don't meet next Tuesday.

Okay, and then you can get with uh our chief, because I we've all got it would it would not pass tonight.

So why don't we see if we can come up with an alternate plan of whatever that may be, I don't know.

And um, but it's right now it's it's it's just not it's not gonna fly.

Okay, so the motion is to table for two weeks.

Voting, Mr.

Eamon.

Yes, yes, yes, yes.

I'm gonna vote yes for tabling, but you're gonna have a hard time tailoring that outdoor event on McFarland Boulevard.

I'm gonna vote no.

No, if the motion passes to table, um, I would probably get with uh officer champion and he will coordinate with TPD and with Mr.

Mills' office, and they can sit down and talk with you.

Okay, okay, thank you, and I appreciate you coming and answering questions.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Clerk this authorizes the city of Tuscaloosa to join the state of Alabama and other local governments as participants in certain opioid settlements.

So move, but it's been moved and second voting, Mr.

Lanier.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

Resolutions adopted, clerk.

This authorizes execution of a grant agreement with the FAA and OLDOT regarding construction of the phase one and the cargo and operations overflow apron project.

Motion second move and second, voting Mr.

Eatman.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, resolutions adopted, clerk.

This authorizes execution of a grant agreement with the FAA and OUDOC concerning the runway 422 extension project.

So move second move and second, voting Mr.

Lanier.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

Resolution is adopted, clerk.

This will authorize execution of agreements, amendments, and related documents for services provided by ATT.

Second, move and second by Mr.

Eaman.

Yes.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, resolution is adopted, clerk.

This amends the resolution authorizing a cooperative maintenance agreement with OLDOC.

So move.

Second.

Move and second by Mr.

Lanier.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Resolution is adopted, clerk.

This will authorize a professional services contract with Tyler Technologies Incorporated.

Second.

Move and second, vote, Mr.

Eatman.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Resolutions adopted.

Clerk.

This authorizes disbursement from the District One Improvements Fund for the Benjamin Barnes YMCA basketball league.

Moved option.

Second.

Moved and second by Mr.

Lanier.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Resolution is adopted.

Clerk.

This authorizes disbursement from the district one improvements fund for the IDream Big Academy Charter School.

So move.

Second.

Moved and second by Mr.

Eatman.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Resolution is adopted.

Clerk.

This tentatively awards a public works contract to John Plot Company Incorporated.

So move.

Second.

Move and second by Mr.

Lanier.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Resolution is adopted.

Clerk.

This tentatively awards a public works contract to price civil services incorporated.

So move.

Second.

Move and second by Mr.

Eatman.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Resolution is adopted.

Clerk.

This authorizes renewal of the city's animal mortality canine insurance coverage.

Motion.

Second.

Moved and second by Mr.

Lanier.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Resolution is adopted.

Clerk.

This authorizes an amendment and budget change to the municipal agency funding contract with temporary emergency services incorporated.

So move.

Second.

Move and second by Mr.

Eatman.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Resolution is adopted.

Clerk.

This authorizes the chief financial officer to draw drafts for the University of Boulevard East Improvements Project Right of Way Acquisitions.

Move adoption.

Second.

Move and second by Mr.

Lanier.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Resolution is adopted.

Clerk.

This authorizes a minor public works contract with Dakon Applied Americas, Incorporated.

Move adoption.

Second.

Move and second.

Voting Mr.

Eatman.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Resolution is adopted.

Clerk.

This authorizes a minor public works contract with night sign industries incorporated.

So motion.

Move and second bless you.

Voting Mr.

Lanier.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Resolution is adopted.

Clerk.

This authorizes a minor public works contract with Druid Glass Construction Incorporated.

So moved.

Second.

Mr.

Busby, I always knew you were allergic to spending money.

Now you proved it.

Now you approved it.

Voting Mr.

Eaman.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Well played.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Resolution.

I couldn't help myself as we're in our budget season.

Clerk.

This authorizes execution of a real estate sales contract with Evan and Rosemary Kirby.

Motion.

Second.

Move and second.

Vogue Mr.

Lanier.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Resolutions adopted.

Clerk.

This authorizes a minor public works contract with Alabama Pro Wash LLC.

So moved.

Second.

Move and second.

Voting Mr.

Eaman.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Resolutions adopted.

Ordinance and resolutions of the general nature of permanent operation for introduction.

Clerk.

This introduces zoning amendment number 17.

So moved.

Second.

Move and second by Mr.

Lanier.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Clerk.

This amends ordinance number 9634.

Motion.

Second.

Been moved and seconded by Mr.

Eatman.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Off unanimous consent.

Second.

Move and second by Mr.

Lanier.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Ordinance is amended.

Clerk.

This authorizes amendment number four to the 2025 elevate tuscalousive fund budget.

Move adoption.

Second.

Move and second.

Voting Mr.

Eatman.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Off unanimous consent.

Second.

Move and second by Mr.

Lanier.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Amended.

Amendment is adopted.

Clerk.

This authorizes amendment number 16 to the FY25 general fund budget.

So second.

Moved and second voting Mr.

Eatman.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Do I hear a call for unanimous consent?

So moved.

Second.

Move and second.

Voting Mr.

Lanier.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Amendment is adopted.

For adoption, clerk.

This set September 23rd is the date for a public hearing to consider adoption of zoning amendment number 17.

So move.

Second.

Move and second, voting Mr.

Eatman.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Date is set.

Auditing account.

This authorizes the payment of bills.

Thank you.

Pay my bills.

Moved and second.

Voting Mr.

Lanier.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Resolution is adopted.

Citizens' comments and other communications.

Any citizen wish to address their city council or not?

Mayor, I I would like to ask one question.

Brandy, is it if I may, is it Wednesday and Thursday this week?

Do there that we have our ethics?

Yes, it's gonna be tomorrow and Thursday from two to four in the Doherty room.

Um you guys have different dates scheduled.

Yeah, I think so if you don't know which day you're going to be able to do it.

Four on Thursday.

Yes, two to four birthdays.

Okay, just wanted to four both days in here.

It's gonna be in the Doherty room.

The door.

Anyone else wish to address?

Yes, sir.

If you would, yes, sir.

Please please give your name and address Stanford Kelly, 2614, 14th Street, Tuscaloosa.

Uh I'm here on the railroad crossing issue.

16th Street Railroad Cross, and uh just the main road.

That road where TY Roger Avenue Junior crossed over that train track.

That road run from District 2, go through District One all the way up to uh French African Baptist Church, and that's the main road that connects those districts to downtown Tuscaloosa, closing that road will be devastated.

And uh just like University Boulevard connect our Bertie City, the downtown Tuscaloosa is the same thing with T Rogers Jr.

Avenue.

We need that road open.

We we really do.

It's the main road that connects the west side of Tuscaloosa from District 2 all the way up to Stillman Boulevard.

Uh I don't see no reason to close it.

Every time we vote on it, the people vote to keep it over.

It ain't never been voted to close down.

Every time they vote, it'd be a landslide to keep it open.

Nobody wants to close.

Maybe one or two people.

Yeah.

But every time we vote on it, the last time we voted in 2022, like I say, it was a landslide.

It wasn't even close.

The people want it open.

Yeah.

I'm I don't think there was ever a vote.

Maybe people are all we never had an official vote.

Um, but that's not my district either.

So I don't know if can district councilman wants to say anything today or not.

Yeah, I mean, we talked about it last week, Ms.

Kellen.

I I'll continue to um to have those conversations with you and uh look at alternative routes, but I think we did vote last week um as a council along with the railroad to close that road.

But like I said, as as your councilman, I do look forward to talking to you, and we will talk through it to see if there's alternative routes or there's anything we can do to accommodate um that inconvenience to the people in that area.

I suggest you have a town meeting, yes, sir.

I mean, get everybody get just don't talk to me.

We just had one yesterday.

Yes, don't just talk to me, talk to the whole district one, yes, sir.

You know, you know, they vote count, yes, sir.

Don't just talk to me, me and you.

Yes, sir.

You need to talk to everybody in district one, yes, sir.

You know, post it whenever you want to, because we ready to hear.

Yes, sir.

You know, we want to cross an open at all expense.

All right, look forward to talking to you.

What was your name again, sir?

Sir Stanford Kelly.

Sir Kelly.

What was your name again?

My name.

Yeah.

Stanford Kelly.

I appreciate you coming in.

Yes, sir.

If you would please give your name and address.

All right, my name is uh Nathaniel Rogers.

My address is 3821 64th Avenue, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

I want to speak on the matter that Mr.

Caddy just spoke on.

And I didn't understand that the council had already voted to close that road, but uh my family and a lot of the community people in that area uh to the council voting to close that road because just like two weeks ago, the the council um broke ground on uh uh removal for the uh the barbershop down there, and that road is the path for the community to come up to that um park.

So if you close that road, as the community have to go all the way downtown just to get to the park, uh civil rights park, which uh I thought that was the benefit of doing the park, but to close the road, it would affect a lot of uh people in that uh community.

So I just want to say uh I would like for that road not to be closed.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir, Mr.

Eden.

Let me correct something.

We we voted to give the railroad an easement to do what they need to do with the road.

Uh we didn't as a council, we don't vote to close the railroad, but we did vote to give the railroad an easement to do what they need to do to possibly close the road, yes, sir.

But I look forward to talking to you all.

I uh I will I okay.

But by you say excuse me, by you saying give them uh easement, do that intake closing the road.

That there is a possibility the road will close, yes.

Okay, and that was my concern for the the community to get to a lot of business down in that area, plus the elevate park, which was just broken ground two weeks ago.

So make that make sense to me, and then you know I would understand how would the council you know feel if you know they had uh any kind of feeling about that park in the community, yes, sir.

All right, thank you.

Thank you.

I I do think it's a as a matter of procedure that the easement uh to the railroad was adopted by the council's public projects committee.

It is scheduled to make its way to the full council sometime um in September.

Okay, we haven't voted.

We have not the council the full council, no.

So, Mayor, but it was unanimous coming out of public projects.

So, Mayor, for clarification, this this decision that they're speaking of has not been determined yet by the railroad or the council.

The the railroad if the city gives the easement, then it's in the railroads determination, but the full council has not voted on the recommendation from public projects.

Okay, any other uh citizens' comments.

All right, thank you very much.

Subject to exercise mayor ovito and ordinances of general nature of permanent operational applicable departments here by words or otherwise implement council policy this day.

Move adjourned.

Move the second vote in the show in the air.

Yes, sir.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, meetings adjourned.

Have a good night.