Bruton City Council schedules nuisance hearing, approves demolition, sales tax holiday and a board appointment

The Bruton City Council on March 24, 2025 voted to advertise a public hearing on nuisance abatement, approved demolition of a residential structure at 721 Lubbock Avenue, adopted dates for a back-to-school sales tax holiday and recorded a mayoral appointment to the city's Tree and Beautification Board.

Those items were the Council's principal formal actions after approving meeting minutes from March 10, 2025. The votes set a public hearing on a nuisance abatement for April 21, 2025; authorized demolition work after awarding a low-cost cleanup estimate from a contractor; and authorized a sales tax holiday scheduled for July 18–20, 2025. Mayor Lovelace also announced a mayoral appointment to fill a board vacancy.

The City Clerk told the council that the nuisance item concerns “a property that, needs some cleaning up in the yard area,” and that today’s vote would only authorize advertising a public hearing so the council could later decide whether to abate the nuisance. The clerk said the public hearing is scheduled for 04/21/2025. The motion to advertise that hearing passed as Resolution 25-0324-1; the motion was made by Councilor Brown and seconded by Councilor Barton. Recorded votes included Councilor Broughton voting yes, Councilor Brown voting yes and Councilor Jennings voting yes. Resolution 25-0324-1 was approved.

For the demolition item, the council considered a recommendation to remove the remainder of a deteriorated house at 721 Lubbock Avenue. The City Clerk said the city received a lower-cost bid from RMCC of $2,300 to bring the property “back up to par.” Councilor Broughton moved to approve Resolution 25-0324-2; Councilor Jennings seconded. Recorded votes listed Councilor Broughton, Councilor Barton, Councilor Brown and Councilor Jennings voting yes. Resolution 25-0324-2 was approved.

The council also approved Resolution 25-0324-3 to authorize the city's annual back-to-school sales tax holiday for the period July 18–20, 2025. The motion to adopt the sales tax holiday was made by Councilor Broughton and seconded by Councilor Jennings. Recorded votes listed Councilor Broughton, Councilor Barton, Councilor Brown and Councilor Jennings voting yes. Resolution 25-0324-3 was approved. The City Clerk said the city must notify the Alabama Department of Revenue after council approval.

The meeting record shows the council approved the March 10, 2025 regular meeting minutes by a motion from Councilor Barton, seconded by Councilor Broughton; recorded yes votes on that motion included Councilor Broughton, Councilor Barton, Councilor Brown and Councilor Gini. The minutes were approved.

Mayor Lovelace announced a mayoral appointment to the City of Bruton Tree and Beautification Board, saying, “I appoint Arthurine Davis to take her place,” referring to Anita McQueary Taylor stepping down from the board. The mayor presented the appointment; the transcript records the mayor's announcement but does not record a separate roll-call vote on the appointment.

The meeting then adjourned.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of March 10, 2025 regular meeting minutes: Motion by Councilor Barton; second by Councilor Broughton. Recorded votes: Broughton — yes; Barton — yes; Brown — yes; Gini — yes. Outcome: approved (Resolution/minutes action).

- Resolution 25-0324-1 — Authorize advertising a public hearing to consider abatement of a public nuisance; public hearing scheduled for 04/21/2025. Motion by Councilor Brown; second by Councilor Barton. Recorded votes: Broughton — yes; Brown — yes; Jennings — yes. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution 25-0324-2 — Approve demolition for property at 721 Lubbock Avenue; low-cost bid from RMCC quoted at $2,300. Motion by Councilor Broughton; second by Councilor Jennings. Recorded votes: Broughton — yes; Barton — yes; Brown — yes; Jennings — yes. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution 25-0324-3 — Authorize back-to-school sales tax holiday for 07/18/2025–07/20/2025. Motion by Councilor Broughton; second by Councilor Jennings. Recorded votes: Broughton — yes; Barton — yes; Brown — yes; Jennings — yes. Outcome: approved.

- Mayoral appointment — Arthurine Davis to the City of Bruton Tree and Beautification Board, replacing Anita McQueary Taylor. Announced by Mayor Lovelace; no roll-call vote recorded in the transcript.

(The council also read an Arbor Day proclamation during new business; the proclamation text was read by the mayor but is ceremonial and is not summarized as a formal regulatory action in this report.)