ANNISTON, AL – The Anniston City Council held its work session and regular meeting on Teusday, addressing various municipal matters while celebrating a local youth baseball team’s historic achievement.
Work Session Highlights
National Park Service Updates
Dr. LeVon Hurst, superintendent of the Freedom Riders National Monument and Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, presented updates on improvements to the Freedom Riders site. The National Park Service has completed several facility upgrades, including replacing signage, installing a new roof at the bus depot, and updating exhibits. The organization is planning a master plan presentation on September 9th for public input on future developments.
The presentation highlighted ongoing partnerships between the Park Service and the city, with two park consultants from Boston University and Harvard working on an organizational partnership plan to strengthen community collaboration.
Budget Amendments and Donations
The council discussed several FY 2025 budget amendments, including a proposed $1,500 donation to Anniston High School’s visitor club and $1,500 to the track program from unused travel budget funds. Additional council members expressed willingness to contribute unused funds to school programs as well.
The session also covered reflecting donations within the Parks and Recreation Department and approving agreements for transit services.
Administrative Matters
Council members addressed zoning issues stemming from the 2024 zoning update, specifically correcting boundary line errors that occurred during the mapping process. The corrections involve changing zoning designations to suburban edge and urban-center classifications to match intended property uses.
City Council Meeting
Baseball Team Recognition
The evening’s highlight was recognizing Anniston’s 12-U All-Star Baseball team for their historic achievement in reaching the 2025 USSA World Series in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Coach Richard Burns noted this was the first team from the city to reach the World Series, marking a significant milestone for local youth baseball.
Mayor Ciara Smith praised the team for earning community support through fundraising efforts, including working at Zaxby’s and seeking donations. The mayor emphasized how the experience exposed the young athletes to opportunities beyond their local community.
Council Member Roberts announced plans to provide each of the 13 players with tickets to a Atlanta Braves game as additional recognition for their achievement.
Public Comments
John Squires addressed the council about concerns regarding ward maps, stating that many residents are confused about district boundaries and suggesting the need for clearer, more accessible mapping. Squires recommended simplifying ward descriptions and improving public access to boundary information.
Council Business
The council approved all consent agenda items, including the budget amendments discussed in the work session and the appointment of D.D. Roberts as Vice Mayor. Council Member Harris praised Roberts as “a unifying person on the Council” who “has been privileged to work with”.
Community Concerns
Council members addressed ongoing issues with stray dogs in the community, with Council Member Harrington noting that someone was recently injured by free-running dogs and calling for action to address the problem.
