OXFORD, AL – In a historic milestone for the city of Oxford, the City Council met Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the Oxford Performing Arts Center to officially declare Mayor Alton Craft and five council members duly elected to their third consecutive terms in office.
The council voted on resolutions declaring Mayor Craft and council members Phil Gardner (Place 1), Charlotte Hubbard (Place 2), Mike Henderson (Place 3), Chris Spurlin (Place 4), and Steven Waits (Place 5) officially elected for four-year terms beginning November 1, 2025. This marks the first time in Oxford’s history that no municipal election was required, as all candidates ran unopposed.
Following the formal meeting, the officials continued a cherished tradition by ringing the historic bell that once hung in Oxford’s former city hall in the 1920s. The bell, originally purchased as a fire alarm bell by the Oxford Volunteer Fire Company #1 in 1885, now hangs in the cupola of the Oxford Performing Arts Center. The bell-ringing tradition is believed to have started in the 1950s when City Hall moved to the current OPAC building.
Animal Control Facility Progress
During the meeting, Councilwoman Hubbard provided updates on the city’s progress toward establishing an animal control facility. “I’m really glad to hear that our police officers, that we have found a location for our animals and that we’re going to be able to take care of those animals that are on the streets,” Hubbard said.
The planned facility will serve as more than just an intake center. “It will be a place where we can have a vet’s office and we can get the dogs fed and clean and ready to adopt and also to partner, have some partnerships with universities in our state,” Hubbard explained.
The facility, located in an unnamed location, will include educational components. “Education of our citizens and our children in our schools to take care to make sure that this problem is taken care of,” Hubbard noted as the ultimate goal.
Hubbard expressed optimism about completing the project during the current term, stating it would be “super nice” and “not gonna be just a little brick building.”
Police Department Receives State Accreditation
A major highlight of the meeting was the presentation of state accreditation to the Oxford Police Department. Chief Marcus Wood of the Jacksonville Police Department, representing the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police as president, presented the accreditation certificate to Oxford Police Chief Bill Partridge.
The Oxford Police Department was one of the first three agencies in Alabama to receive this new accreditation, which recognizes departments that demonstrate “commitment to public police excellence by living up to progressive standards to ensure that police services are delivered within the community and the highest level of professionalism and integrity.”
Chief Wood explained the program’s development: “About two years ago, the association decided that we wanted to start an accreditation program. The vision behind that was to provide a basic standard of agency standards across the state so that all police departments would be able to have policies in place that allow them to follow basic standards across the state.”
The accreditation, valid for five years and awarded on May 27, 2025, was designed to be accessible to departments of all sizes. “We wanted to create a program that wasn’t a big, expensive program. We wanted a program that the two-man agency could afford up to the 500-man agency,” Wood said. “We think as a whole, and law enforcement, we’ll build better standards for everybody.”
Chief Partridge expressed appreciation for the recognition, stating he was “glad that the Association has created this accreditation committee and the fact that moving forward with it to bring the standards up for everybody in the state.”
Choccolocco Street Traffic Debate
The council addressed a contentious traffic issue regarding Choccolocco Street West, with Ordinance No. 2025-36 ultimately being continued to the next meeting. The ordinance would have rescinded a previous decision to make the street one-way, reverting a portion back to two-way traffic.
The debate centered on safety concerns and enforcement challenges. Councilwoman Hubbard, who opposed the change, had canvassed local businesses and found support for maintaining the one-way designation. “The two people that I talked to were in favor of leaving it as it is and not doing what is asked of us in this ordinance,” she reported.
Local business owner Jeremy Cruse spoke in favor of keeping the street one-way, citing safety concerns. “If everybody’s traveling west, up Choccolocco, if they do cross over, they need to continue that way versus having traffic coming back into it,” Cruse said. He emphasized that the area experiences heavy traffic from the senior citizen building and various businesses.
The discussion revealed that proper signage had never been installed when the street was originally designated one-way two years ago, contributing to ongoing confusion among drivers.
Fourth of July Celebration Success
Council members praised the success of the city’s Fourth of July celebration, which drew an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 attendees. Mayor Craft commended the extensive coordination between the police department, fire department, Parks and Recreation, and other city departments.
“I don’t think you could evacuate that many people any better than what we did,” Craft said, praising the traffic management after the fireworks show.
The celebration generated significant discussion about Choccolocco Park’s economic impact on the city. City officials noted that sales tax revenue patterns have shifted dramatically since the park’s opening, with April, May, and June now rivaling December as the highest revenue months.
Zoning and Development Actions
The council approved several zoning changes, including:
- Rezoning three properties (323 McKibbon Street, 400 McKibbon Street, and 401 W. Oak Street) from Residential 1 District (R-1) to Institutional District (INST)
- Rezoning property at 49010 Alabama Highway 21 from Agricultural District (AG-1) to Garden Home District (GH)
Additionally, the council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with Consolidated Pipe and Supply Company for water and sewer infrastructure improvements in the Oxford West Industrial Park, totaling $251,175.02.
The council also approved several municipal liens on properties for code enforcement issues, ranging from $184 to $194.
Looking Forward
The newly declared officials will begin their third consecutive four-year terms on November 1, 2025. The next regular council meeting is scheduled for July 22, 2025, where the Choccolocco Street traffic ordinance will be reconsidered.
The meeting concluded with expressions of gratitude for city employees’ dedication, particularly those who worked during the Fourth of July celebration, often spending entire days away from their families to ensure public safety and community enjoyment.
