JACKSONVILLE, AL – Council also recognizes Arbor Day and accepts city’s FY2025 audit showing stable financial position
The Jacksonville City Council convened its regular meeting Monday evening, working through a packed agenda that included proclamations, a community cemetery preservation proposal, a contentious rezoning hearing, several infrastructure bid awards, and presentations from both civic organizations and city departments.
Before the main session, the council read and presented four proclamations. Mayor Mark Jones declared April 2, 2026 as Arbor Day in Jacksonville, calling on residents, students, and faculty to plant trees and support local woodland conservation efforts. A second proclamation recognized March 2026 as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, honoring the contributions of individuals with developmental disabilities and the caregivers and educators who support them. A third proclamation recognized March 2026 as American Red Cross Month, citing the Calhoun County chapter’s century-long service providing disaster relief and community education. The fourth proclamation designated March 18, 2026 as SBDC Day, recognizing the Small Business Development Center at Jacksonville State University, which the council noted helped launch 33 new businesses, create 107 jobs, and secure $1.6 million in capital investment in the past year alone.
Annual Audit: City in ‘Good Fiscal Condition
An auditor from Edgar and Associates walked the council through the city’s FY2025 general fund audit, covering the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025. The city ended the year with $12.6 million in cash and investments of $4.1 million. Total assets were reported at $46.5 million against total liabilities of $35.4 million, yielding a net position of $12.5 million. The year showed a change in net position of negative $1 million, largely attributable to a GASB 101 prior-period adjustment of $171,000 required by new governmental accounting standards — not a reflection of operational shortfalls. The audit found no material weaknesses in internal controls and no instances of non-compliance with government auditing standards. Federal program compliance was also clean. Council President Terry Wilson noted it was the seventh consecutive year of receiving the audit presentation, calling the results progressively better. The council voted unanimously to accept the audit under agenda item 19.
American Legion Finalizes War Memorial Contribution
A commander from the American Legion Post presented the mayor with a final check for $7,000, completing the organization’s $12,500 contribution toward a headstone to be placed at the War Memorial Cemetery in Jacksonville City Cemetery. The council was asked to issue a purchase order promptly so the monument order can be placed. The commander also noted that the American Legion, as a national organization, will mark its 107th anniversary on Sunday, March 15.
Cemetery Preservation Partnership Proposed
A representative of Great Things in Jacksonville (GTIJ) presented a formal proposal for a long-term partnership with the city to preserve and digitize the historic Jacksonville City Cemetery, a burial ground dating to before the Civil War. The three-part initiative would involve publishing burial records to national genealogy platforms such as Find a Grave and FamilySearch, professionally stabilizing and repairing deteriorating and leaning grave markers, and organizing trained volunteer teams for cleaning and documentation using preservation-safe methods. The presenter noted that several markers currently pose a safety risk, representing a potential liability for the city. The estimated materials cost for initial volunteer cleaning work is approximately $2,000. GTIJ stated a goal of launching a public burial database by July 4, 2026, tying the effort to America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The council received the proposal with interest and asked no formal action be taken that evening, treating it as an introductory discussion.
Historic Markers Moving Toward Fundraising Phase
The council received an update on the city’s historic markers program. The Alabama Historical Association has approved the language for two new markers — one commemorating Theodore Burke Fox and another honoring Lily Ledbetter. The presenter noted that a potential full donor may be secured for one of the markers, with each expected to cost between $2,500 and $3,500, for a combined total of approximately $7,000. Separately, a Rick Bragg marker is described as nearly fully funded and approaching the final stretch of its fundraising effort.
Eastwood School Project Gets Promising Update
Council President Wilson delivered what he described as one of the most encouraging updates yet on the long-running Eastwood School community center project — an effort he said has been in progress for seven to eight years. The East Alabama Planning Commission has recently toured the building, reviewed existing concept drawings, and returned with ideas on how to assist the city in moving forward. The commission will help identify an architect or engineer to assess the structure and determine the appropriate path forward, including cost estimates. Notably, the mayor confirmed that this preliminary assessment work will be provided at no cost to the city. The next step would be for the city to propose three architects to the commission for consideration to oversee the full project. Council members expressed optimism that the former school could eventually become a community center serving the surrounding neighborhood.
Farmers Market Moving to Soccer Complex
Councilman Marques Green announced that the Jacksonville Farmers Market will relocate this season from City Hall to the soccer complex, specifically the parking lot adjacent to the pavilion area behind the community center. Vendor documentation deadlines fall this month. A vendor information meeting was announced for the following day at the Jacksonville Public Library at 3:30 p.m., and another session is scheduled for March 21 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the library. Interested growers were directed to complete the appropriate forms through the Calhoun County Extension Office.
America 250 Flag Presented; Liberty Ride Planned
Councilman James Newell reported that the mayor and council formally received Jacksonville’s Semiquincentennial flag from Montevallo, with Jacksonville identified as the first city in Calhoun County to receive the flag and raise it. An elm tree designated for Calhoun County as part of the national 250th celebration is expected to ship from Montevallo the following week and is currently planned to be planted at Ladiga Landing, though Newell expressed a preference for keeping it within Jacksonville given the city’s status as the original county seat. During council remarks later in the meeting, Newell announced a planned “Liberty Ride” on June 28, 2026, a 25-mile round-trip bicycle ride along the Ladiga Trail, timed at 2:50 p.m. in keeping with the 250 theme.
Matthew 25 Cold Weather Shelter Reports Successful Season, Requests Budget Consideration
A council member read a statement on behalf of the Matthew 25 Project advisory board, a cold-weather shelter program for unsheltered residents. The statement thanked the city for a $500 donation approved in late 2025, which helped launch the program. Despite an unusually cold January, the project reported that no person seeking shelter was turned away on any below-freezing night, supported by donations from individuals, churches, and the Calhoun County Commission. The board respectfully requested that the city consider including an annual donation to Matthew 25 in future budgets. A fundraising benefit, the Home Run Derby, is scheduled for April 13, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. at the Jan and McGinnis softball field. Council leadership indicated support for building this into a recurring budget line item.
Fire Station Construction Resumes After Delay
Council President Wilson noted that fire station construction has resumed following a 63-day delay caused by the discovery of an underground oil tank on the property. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management approved removal of the tank. The original completion date of October 30 has shifted to approximately early January. A visible shell of the building is expected soon.
Contentious Rezoning Hearing: Louise Drive Properties
The most extended and spirited portion of the evening involved public hearings on requests to rezone two adjacent vacant lots — 1721 and 1723 Louise Drive SE — from R-1 (single-family residential) to R-2 (two-family residential). The properties, owned by separate LLCs, sit at the western end of Louise Drive in the Brownwood Estates subdivision.
The property developer and his partner argued the rezoning is logical given that the lots are bordered on three sides by existing R-2 properties and duplexes, and that the lots have sat vacant for decades with no viable path to single-family development. They presented plans for duplexes with a design nearly identical to single-family homes — differentiated only by two front doors — and argued the finished product would carry higher appraised values than equivalent single-family construction. They further contended the development would add minimal traffic, would not extend R-2 zoning further into the neighborhood, and would address Jacksonville’s documented need for affordable rental housing.
Numerous residents of Louise Drive and Brownwood Estates spoke in opposition. Their concerns centered on traffic increases on an already-busy street, the potential for declining property values, the effect on neighborhood character, and the precedent the rezoning could set for future requests in other established residential subdivisions. Several speakers noted that the lots sit in a FEMA-designated flood zone, complicating any development. Others pointed to recent single-family home construction on Louise Drive as evidence the street is still actively developing in the R-1 direction. The Jacksonville Planning Commission had previously recommended denial of the rezoning requests.
One longtime community member offered a different angle, suggesting the city consider raising its duplex design standards rather than simply denying the request, pointing to a specific example on Ladiga Street as a model of better duplex design featuring separate driveways, green space, and distinct unit entrances.
The hearings were conducted as first readings only. Under the city’s process, no vote was taken at this meeting. The ordinances — O-677-26 and O-678-26 — will return for a vote at a future meeting. The city attorney reminded attendees that the hearing was intended for residents to present information to the council, not for public debate between parties.
Action Items Approved
The council voted unanimously on all remaining action items. Resolution R-2299-26 vacating an unimproved portion of Redwood Lane NE at the end of 7th Avenue NE was approved following a brief public hearing. The vacation transfers the public right-of-way to the abutting property owners, Timothy and Carol Shadrick, and will be filed with the Calhoun County Probate Court.
Resolution R-2298-26 awarded Bid No. 26-07 — the purchase of a vehicle for the Water, Wastewater and Gas Department — to Patterson Equipment of Spring, Texas, the sole responsive bidder, at $575,185. Three other vendors invited to bid returned no bid.
The council approved JPWP No. 26-143 authorizing the boiler replacement at the Public Safety Complex, then voted to award the associated Bid No. 26-08 via Resolution R-2297-26 to H3 Mechanical, LLC, the lowest responsive bidder at $55,859, as certified by Whorton Engineering. Three other contractors also submitted bids ranging from $59,000 to $75,000.
The council authorized the mayor to sign an Agreement for Examination Services with Rivertree Systems, Inc., a private tax auditing firm that will perform examinations of taxpayer records on behalf of the city to ensure compliance with local tax ordinances. The agreement carries a three-year term at $75 per hour, prorated when Rivertree conducts simultaneous examinations for multiple municipalities.
The resignations of three public safety employees were accepted: Kennedy M. Laster, Corrections Officer, effective March 1; Blake Curry, Firefighter/Paramedic, effective March 3; and Matthew Hicks, Firefighter/EMT, effective March 19.
Budget amendments were approved including police department increases totaling approximately $2,888 for insurance reimbursements and restitution recoveries. A purchase over $7,500 was approved for $19,359.33 to Williams Fire Apparatus for repairs to Engine 1. An additional purchase of $18,822.90 to Team Sports for softball, baseball, and track uniforms was added to the consent agenda and approved.
Council and Mayor Remarks
The mayor noted that Jacksonville High School’s basketball team was scheduled to play Oxford the following evening at 5:30 p.m. in the county tournament semifinals at JSU, with a potential 8 p.m. championship game to follow. He also acknowledged birthdays for three council members falling during the week and encouraged residents to vote for Jacksonville in USA Today’s best small college town competition, where the city was recently ranked number two.
Councilman Newell, in addition to his America 250 update, reflected on the city’s founding date of 1834, noting that Jacksonville’s 200th anniversary is eight years away. He encouraged the council and community to begin thinking about that milestone.
One council member announced they would attend the Congressional City Conference in Washington, D.C., to learn about federal policy and bring back resources and partnerships relevant to Jacksonville.
Councilman Andrew Green announced that Jacksonville High School will host the Special Olympics of Calhoun and Cleburne counties on April 28, 2026 at Golden Eagle Stadium, drawing athletes, families, and volunteers from across the region. He also offered brief remarks on the spirit of civic engagement displayed by the public throughout the evening, noting that the council strives to weigh decisions in terms of their impact on the full community.
The council adjourned into executive session under Alabama Code Sections 36-25A-7(a)(6) and (a)(7) to discuss real property transactions and economic development matters. The council did not return to open session, with the president indicating no further public action was anticipated from the closed session.
