East Alabama Metropolitan Airport Authority Established for the Anniston Regional Airport at the Oxford City Council Meeting 10/12/2021

October 13, 2021
Lee Evancho

Work Session

The work session started with  a summary of the proclamation that would be given tonight to 1st Lieutenant Jacob Z. Shake.

The consent agenda was discussed and Chief Sparks spoke about the mutual aid agreement that was being voted on tonight. He stressed the importance of getting this together and putting it in place. “We are trying to take it on ourselves and get every department willing to sign on to a mutual aid agreement.”

Jana Monday, who heads business development at CDG, spoke about the grant application to replace the Hell’s Gate Pedestrian Bridge. She stressed that this was a competitive bid process and there was not as much money this year as in previous years. Typically construction must be started no later then 180 days after contracts are signed.

The next subject was the plan to incorporate a long-discussed airport authority to be known as the East Alabama Metropolitan Airport Authority. Anniston Mayor Draper and Anniston City Manager Folks were in attendance. Mayor Draper stated “This is good for regional economic development.” 

The need to appoint someone to the water board was also discussed and the name of Boyce Turner was suggested. This item is slated to be voted  on during the meeting.

Mike Roberts was asked to discuss the problems of Air BNB and other short term rental properties. He stated that he believes the problem is minimum and can be handled in house verses hiring an outside company to manage it.

Councilwoman Hubbard spoke regarding the recycling center. She stressed that if the city truly wants to take a stance on recycling, they have to have the tools to be able to bale the cardboard and then store it. She stressed that the current companies they use will not pick up the recycling, so it will be the city’s duty to be able to deal with material taken in. 

City Council Meeting

• Call to Order

• Welcome/Invocation – Pastor Greg Ford, Grace Baptist Church
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Approval of Minutes of September 28, 2021 – Unanimously Approved
• Old Business – None
• New Business – None
• Proclamation – 1st Lieutenant Jacob Z. Shake
  • Councilman Spurlin wanted to thank the Lt. for his service and also welcomed his father to come down as he was presented with the proclamation.
• Public Hearing – to consider a zoning request from Steven Landers to rezone property at 0 Peaceful Valley Road (23.15 acres) from Agriculture District (AG) to Residential District (R-1) – No Comments
• Ordinance No. 2021 – 22 – Ordinance rezoning property located at 0 Peaceful Valley Road (23.15 acres) from Agriculture District (AG) to Residential District (R-1) – Unanimously Approved
• Consent Agenda – Unanimously Approved
  • Resolution No. 2021 – 116 – Resolution authorizing the retainage of legal representation for the former Oxford Emergency Medical Services Board Members.
  • Resolution No. 2021 – 117 – Resolution authorizing an agreement with the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Consortium.
  • Resolution No. 2021- 118 – Resolution awarding the bid for concrete pipe to Foley Products for FY2022.
  • Resolution No. 2021- 119 – Resolution authorizing the submittal of a Recreational Trails Program Grant Application requesting $400,000.00 to replace the Hell’s Gate Pedestrian Bridge.
  • Resolution No. 2021-120 – Resolution establishing a Signage Improvement Program.
  • Resolution No. 2021-121 – Resolution for an appropriation in an amount not to exceed $16,307 for recycling materials.
  • Resolution No. 2021-122 – Resolution for the placement of a Municipal Lien on the property located at 218 McKibbon Street in the total amount of $184.00.
  • Resolution No. 2021-123 – Resolution for the placement of a Municipal Lien on the property located at 218 McKibbon Street in the total amount of $184.00.
  • Resolution No. 2021-124 – Resolution for the placement of a Municipal Lien on the property located at 165 Reaves Drive in the total amount of $184.00.
  • Resolution No. 2021-125 – Resolution for the placement of a Municipal Lien on the property located at 165 Reaves Drive in the total amount of $184.00.
  • Resolution No. 2021-126 – Resolution for the placement of a Municipal Lien on the property located at 25 Main Street in the total amount of $184.00.
  • Resolution No. 2021-127 – Resolution for the placement of a Municipal Lien on the property located at 1515 Forney Street in the total amount of $284.00.
  • Resolution No. 2021-128 – Resolution for the placement of a Municipal Lien on the property located at 1321 McPherson Street in the total amount of $184.00.
  • Resolution No. 2021-129 – Resolution for the placement of a Municipal Lien on the property located at 1494 Taylors Chapel Road in the total amount of $184.00.
  • Resolution No. 2021-130 – Resolution for the placement of a Municipal Lien on the property located at 1612 Woodland Drive in the total amount of $184.00.
  • Resolution No. 2021-131 – Resolution for the placement of a Municipal Lien on the property located at 615 Jay Street in the total amount of $184.00.
  • Resolution No. 2021-132 – Resolution for the placement of a Municipal Lien on the property located at 92 Ada Drive in the total amount of $184.00.
  • Resolution No. 2021-133 – Resolution for the placement of a Municipal Lien on the property located at 92 Ada Drive in the total amount of $184.00.
  • Resolution No. 2021-134 – Resolution for the placement of a Municipal Lien on the property located at 1510 Parker Lane in the total amount of $184.00.
  • Resolution No. 2021-136 – Resolution allowing Oxford officials to move forward with the city of Anniston to file an application seeking permission to incorporate a long-discussed airport authority to be known as the East Alabama Metropolitan Airport Authority. 
  • Resolution No. 2021-137 – Resolution appointing Boyce Turner to the Water Board.
• Council Comments/Reports – No comments
• Mayor’s Comments – The Mayor took this time to shake Anniston Mayor, Jack Draper’s, hand. Oxford spokeswoman, Lorie Denton, also provided this official statement –

  • During Tuesday’s regularly scheduled Oxford City Council meeting, a resolution was approved allowing Oxford officials to move forward with the city of Anniston to file an application seeking permission to incorporate a long-discussed airport authority to be known as the East Alabama Metropolitan Airport Authority. The Authority will be governed by a board of directors comprised of one member nominated by the city of Oxford, one member nominated by the city of Anniston, and one member who will be a mutual nomination between the two cities.

    The Anniston Regional Airport is currently owned by the city of Anniston, and is located off Interstate 20 at exit 185 in Oxford, AL. It is located approximately 88 miles west of Atlanta, 100 miles north of Montgomery, and 55 miles east of Birmingham. It contains a 7,002 ft by 150 ft
    asphalt runway, and over 500,000 square feet of paved apron and seal coated tile ramp.

• Visitors – None
• Motion to adjourn (next regular Council Meeting, October 26, 2021) – Unanimously Approved