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Wetumpka council approves CDBG amendment, OKs surplus bus, airport job description and rezoning advertisement
Summary
The Wetumpka City Council approved a formal amendment and closeout for a 2017 CDBG demolition grant to clear the way for a 2025 application, and voted unanimously on several other items including surplus of a school bus, approval of a part‑time airport manager job description and advertisement to rezone Company Street lots.
The Wetumpka City Council on March 17 approved a formal amendment and closeout for a 2017 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) demolition project and moved several routine items, clearing the way for the city to pursue a 2025 CDBG application.
The amendment, adopted as Resolution 2025-3-17-1, updates the 2017 demolition grant after the city demolished 22 structures rather than the 17 listed in the original application and provided about $73,000 in additional local match, council and grant staff said. Leslie, a representative of the regional planning commission working on grant matters for the city, told the council the project can now be closed out with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) and that closing the grant is required before Wetumpka may apply for new CDBG funding.
Why it matters: Closing the 2017 grant makes the city eligible to compete for the CDBG program this year; the regional planner noted the program's maximum award has increased since 2017 and that the application deadline typically falls in mid‑July.
Council action and discussion Leslie said, "the city back in 2017 was awarded a demolition grant that we finally, hallelujah, are able to close out." She told the council the original application anticipated 17 demolitions; the city removed 22 and contributed roughly $73,000 in additional match. Brochures with CDBG program information were available at the rear of the council chamber and Leslie encouraged council members and staff to meet with her office, the district commissioner or city staff if the city wants to pursue a 2025 project.
A council member noted that "you can only have one CDBG grant open at a time," underscoring the need to finalize the 2017 project before applying for new funds; the statement was recorded during the public hearing portion of the meeting and remains unattributed in the transcript.
Votes at a glance - Resolution 2025-3-17-1 to authorize Formal Amendment No. 1 to the CDBG project (2017 demolition grant, project listed in the meeting packet): Motion moved and seconded; outcome approved unanimously (recorded votes: Mayor Willis, Council member Robbins, Council member Justice, Council member Gann, Council member Brown — all voted aye). - Permission to surplus (service/dispose) an International 3800 school bus: Motion moved and seconded; outcome approved unanimously (aye votes recorded from all present members). - Approval of job description for a part‑time airport manager: Motion moved and seconded; outcome approved unanimously. - First reading/permission to repair walkway bridge in front of Burger King: Added to the agenda for first reading; council moved consideration to the next meeting pending final cost information (action recorded as postponed/first read). - Permission to advertise to rezone Lots 132 through 155 on Company Street from B‑1 to R‑3: Motion moved and seconded; outcome approved unanimously.
Other notes and next steps Leslie emphasized that because the CDBG program generally allows only one open grant per grantee, Wetumpka must complete ADECA's closeout steps to be eligible for 2025 funding and that staff and council have until roughly mid‑July to prepare an application. The council approved the formal amendment and closed the public hearing; there was no public opposition recorded.
The council also approved routine personnel and property actions — including posting the part‑time airport manager job description and moving forward on disposal or servicing of the older school bus — and directed staff to return with final cost details for the Burger King walkway repair at the next meeting.
The meeting included a roll call showing Mayor Willis and Council members Robbins, Justice, Gann and Brown present; the council approved minutes from the March 3 meeting before the new business items.
Ending Council members consistently approved the items on the agenda by voice vote; the city will now complete the ADECA closeout for the 2017 demolition grant and staff may begin preparing a potential 2025 CDBG application if council chooses to pursue it.
