Gadsden City Council approves business licenses, ordinances and event contracts; proclaims Colonel Ola Lee Mize Day

The Gadsden City Council on March 25 unanimously adopted a package of ordinances and resolutions that approved a restaurant retail liquor license for CJ's Crab Shack, changed a fire-department staffing provision, authorized two summer concert contracts and awarded a bid for a 77-foot commercial Christmas tree, and voted to oppose two pending Alabama Senate bills.

The business votes were the meeting's most immediate items: council members approved CJ's Crab Shack LLC's application for a restaurant retail liquor license at 514 Broad Street; adopted an ordinance amending City Code section 50-34 to make certain fire-department staffing decisions the responsibility of the fire chief rather than the assistant chief; approved two event agreements for the summer concert series paid by a sponsor; and awarded bid No. 3597 to Jubilee Decor LLC for a 77-foot commercial outdoor Christmas tree to be funded by mayor's-ball proceeds and grant money, not general-tax revenues.

Why it matters: the licensing and contracting votes affect downtown retail and events planning, the fire-department ordinance clarifies local staffing authority, and the council's resolution opposing state legislation signals a unified municipal response to proposed changes to business-license rules from Montgomery.

Votes at a glance

- Alcoholic beverage license: Resolution approving CJ's Crab Shack LLC (doing business as CJ's Crab Shack) at 514 Broad Street for a restaurant retail liquor license — adopted by voice vote (motion carried). No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript; action recorded as adopted.

- Fire-department ordinance: Ordinance amending City Code §50-34 to make certain personnel-staffing decisions the responsibility of the fire chief — suspended rules for consideration and adopted by voice vote (motion carried).

- Summer concert agreements: Two resolutions authorizing agreements for the AMP summer concert series (Bridal Lives / Ace Party Band on May 6, 2025, budgeted at $6,850; Boot Scootin' Boogie LLC on June 6, 2025, budgeted at $5,000). Council stated both events are paid for by a private sponsor (Sam Boswell, a local car dealer); both resolutions were adopted by voice vote.

- State legislation: Resolution opposing Alabama Senate Bill 12 and Senate Bill 29, per a request from the city's revenue department and the Alabama League of Municipalities — adopted by voice vote.

- Nuisance/grass ordinance: Ordinance amending the city nuisance and abatement code to change the maximum allowed grass/weed height from 12 inches to 15 inches for enforcement purposes — adopted by voice vote.

- Christmas tree purchase: Resolution awarding bid No. 3597 to Jubilee Decor LLC for a commercial 77-foot panel Christmas tree. Council stated funding will come from mayor's-ball proceeds and grant money, not taxpayers; the resolution was adopted by voice vote.

What council members said and how the items were presented

Councilwoman Tanya Latham introduced the ordinance amending City Code §50-34 on behalf of the fire department and asked colleagues to consider it the same day. Councilman Avery presented the two AMP concert resolutions and said the events are sponsored by Sam Boswell of a local Honda dealership and thus will not come from the city budget. Councilman Wilson moved the resolution opposing the two Senate bills, saying the measures would "severely restrict" municipalities' ability to control business licensing and could impose an unfunded mandate from Montgomery; he noted the Alabama League of Municipalities asked member cities to issue similar resolutions.

Councilwoman Menatra introduced the nuisance-code amendment increasing allowed grass height to 15 inches, citing the approaching grass-cutting season and asking for immediate consideration. Councilman Robinson presented the bid-award resolution for the Christmas tree and emphasized the funding source as proceeds from the mayor's ball and grant money.

Ceremony and community updates

Mayor Craig Ford read a proclamation honoring Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Ola Lee Mize and declared March 25, 2025, as Colonel Ola Lee Mize Day in Gadsden. Betty Mize, the colonel's widow, accepted the proclamation; she told the council, "Thank you. It's an honor to be here," during the presentation. Members of the council shared personal remembrances of Colonel Mize's life and service.

In his remarks Mayor Ford announced several upcoming community items: an unveiling of the Gaston Industrial Park sign, a free citywide dumpster day Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon at multiple sites, and a ribbon-cutting for the Noccalula Falls campground on Thursday at 2 p.m. He described the campground as nearly full during its recent opening and thanked staff and contractors for the work. Ford also offered a safety reminder for spring break: "Please slow down," he said, urging drivers to watch for children.

Other routine business

The council approved minutes from the March 18 work session and council meeting and ratified payment of accounts for the week of March 14–20. Department reports and committee updates were not presented.

Next steps and implementation notes

- The fire-department ordinance takes effect per standard ordinance procedures; the transcript records adoption but does not specify an effective-on date.

- The awarded Christmas-tree contract (bid No. 3597) directs Jubilee Decor LLC to provide the specified 77-foot commercial panel tree; funding was identified by the mayor as mayor's-ball proceeds and grant money.

- The council's resolution opposing SB 12 and SB 29 will be transmitted consistent with municipal practice; the transcript does not record subsequent submissions or lobbying steps.

Meeting context

The meeting lasted roughly 44 minutes and featured a mix of ceremonial recognition, routine approvals and several immediate-action items the council unanimously adopted by voice vote. There were no roll-call tallies recorded in the public transcript for the votes taken.

Acknowledgments

Speakers recorded in the meeting transcript and cited in this report include Mayor Craig Ford; City Clerk Ivan Nelson; Councilwoman Tanya Latham; Councilman Steve Smith; Councilman Robert Avery; Councilman Back (transcript: "Back"); Councilman Wilson; Councilwoman Menatra; and Councilman Robinson; and Betty Mize, widow of Colonel Ola Lee Mize.