Left to right: Police Chief Kenny Culpepper, Officer Matt Schlosser and Officer Tim Nalley listen as Councilman Andy Page reads proclamations honoring each officer for 10 years of service with the Cullman Police Department. (W.C. Mann for The Cullman Tribune)
CULLMAN – On Monday evening, a handful of protesters from the southwest Cullman neighborhood around Morningside Drive showed up at the Cullman City Council meeting, smartphone cameras running, as the council was to set a public hearing for the controversial request to rezone a nearby property to allow the construction of an apartment complex. When the time come for visitors to address the council, no one from the group rose, though; before they got the chance, the setting of the hearing was removed from the agenda at the request of City Attorney Roy Williams.
According to Williams, a modification made to the request during the planning commission meeting last week (the property owners originally requested that the new zoning be a combination of business and residential, but changed the requested zoning to residential only) meant the modified request would have to go back through the planning commission before the council could consider it.
Just last week, the planning commission declined to offer a recommendation on the request, allowing a motion to do so to die without a second. Instead, commissioners simply noted that the council could consider the request without a recommendation.
Police officers honored
The council recognized two Cullman Police Department officers for their tenure. Matt Schlosser and Tim Nalley both received 10-year service pins from Police Chief Kenny Culpepper as Council Public Safety Committee Chairman Andy Page presented the officers certificates of recognition.
Rock the South
While no one protested the rezoning request during the public comment time, Rebecca Peinhardt came to share her opinion with the council about Rock the South. She and her husband Curt Peinhardt own property and live near the proposed new RTS site west of Interstate 65, and she protested the proposed move, saying that while she and her husband have nothing against the festival or its producers, it would not be appropriate to hold it in “this country setting of peace, quiet, safety and tranquility.”
Event producers Shane Quick and Nathan Baugh have attended two recent council meetings, addressing the council and taking time afterwards to meet face-to-face with residents to hear their concerns and answer questions, but were not present at this meeting.
Mayor Woody Jacobs requests prayer for West Point Mayor Kenneth Kilgo, explains Main Avenue mess
During his remarks, Mayor Woody Jacobs asked council members and visitors to pray for West Point Mayor Kenneth Kilgo, who is critically ill.
Jacobs also addressed the recent mess on the south end of West Main Avenue, explaining that the City was given the opportunity to get resurfacing work done on the street but was given a schedule that required it to do preparation work in a hurry, leading to disruptions along the street over the weekend. According to the mayor, the preparation was completed, and work on the road surface should begin this week.
The Cullman City Council meets on the second and fourth Monday evenings of each month at 7 p.m. in the Cullman City Hall auditorium. The public is invited to attend.
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