Gadsden City Council approves downtown renovation, sidewalk grant, property conveyances and several ordinances

GADSDEN — The Gadsden City Council on Tuesday approved a package of resolutions and ordinances covering downtown intersection renovations, sidewalk and airport grant applications, property conveyances tied to the South Eleventh Street realignment, a fiber franchise and several administrative changes to personnel and taxation.

Council members voted, by voice, to adopt every item presented during the meeting's business session. Most items passed by unanimous voice vote and were presented with limited debate. The council president called the roll at the start of the meeting and confirmed a quorum was present.

The most prominent items adopted include:

- A resolution awarding Bid No. 3609 for downtown intersection renovations and pedestrian-access improvements to Bob Smith Construction Incorporated for $869,735.50. Councilman Wilson described the project as "the renovation and improvements of the sidewalks and the intersections on Broad Street and Chestnut Street," and said the design aims to change traffic flow to make downtown more pedestrian friendly.

- A resolution authorizing the mayor to apply for airport improvement funding from the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration for FY2026. City officials said the city is co-sponsor for the Northeast Alabama Regional Airport and will continue seeking state and federal grants.

- A resolution authorizing donation of 0.751 acres of city-owned property (Tract Number 5) to support the South Eleventh Street partial alignment and resurfacing project, and a related resolution authorizing purchase of mitigation credits from Westervelt Ecological Services LLC for $32,450, required to meet U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permitting conditions where the project affects wetland or stream impacts.

- Acceptance of Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant funds for sidewalk and streetscape improvements along Chestnut Street from South Sixth Street to South Fifth Street. The total project cost is $1,208,257, with a federal share of $800,000 and a local match of $408,257. Mayor Zorloff (as recorded in the meeting) and council members emphasized the accessibility and ADA benefits of the work.

- Adoption of a nonexclusive franchise ordinance for Unity Fiber Gulfco LLC allowing construction and maintenance of fiber-optic transmission lines within public rights-of-way. The council suspended rules to consider the ordinance on the same day and then adopted it.

- Multiple administrative and personnel measures: a second amendment to the city Human Resources Policy and Procedures Handbook (R482.24) updating medical exam scheduling, military leave, probationary periods, fire-department pay-period adjustments and other items; an ordinance amending the employee pay scale (O-2125) adding and reclassifying several positions; and an ordinance amending city code section 74 to collect a state-authorized tax on vaping products at the local level rather than leaving distribution to Montgomery.

- Additional project authorizations: a conveyance acceptance at Twin Bridges Golf Course from Edge Family Properties Inc.; a non-reimbursable agreement with Spire Alabama to relocate utilities for the South Eleventh Street project; and a design agreement with David R. Davis Architects Inc. for a pavilion and restroom at the campground at Black Creek Trail.

Most motions were handled by voice vote and no roll-call tallies with individual member votes were recorded in the meeting transcript; the council recorded the votes as carried. Council members, the mayor and staff framed several items as continuing elements of the city’s “grow Gadsden” efforts, emphasizing walkability and sidewalk connectivity.

Clerk Ivan Nelson conducted roll calls and voice votes. City Engineer Heath Williamson, who appears in the meeting record as the engineering point of contact for multiple projects, was referenced during discussion of downtown and South Eleventh Street work.

What the council did not resolve today

- The rezoning request for property at 756 Walnut Street was presented for its first reading and will return for a vote at the next meeting; no rezoning decision was made at this session.

Votes at a glance (items adopted)

- Resolution — Bid No. 3609: downtown intersection renovations and pedestrian access improvements; awarded to Bob Smith Construction Incorporated; amount: $869,735.50; outcome: adopted (voice vote).

- Resolution — Airport improvement grant applications (FY2026) for Northeast Alabama Regional Airport; outcome: adopted (voice vote).

- Resolution — Donation of 0.751 acres (Tract No. 5) for South Eleventh Street partial alignment and resurfacing; outcome: adopted (voice vote).

- Resolution — Purchase of mitigation credits from Westervelt Ecological Services LLC; amount: $32,450; outcome: adopted (voice vote).

- Resolution — Acceptance of TAP grant funds for Chestnut Street sidewalks and streetscape; total project $1,208,257 (federal $800,000 / local $408,257); outcome: adopted (voice vote).

- Ordinance — Nonexclusive franchise to Unity Fiber Gulfco LLC for fiber in public rights-of-way (considered under suspended rules); outcome: adopted (voice vote).

- Resolution — Conveyance acceptance from Edge Family Properties Inc. (Twin Bridges Municipal Golf Course property swap); outcome: adopted (voice vote).

- Resolution — Nonreimbursable agreement with Spire Alabama for utility relocation (South Eleventh Street project); outcome: adopted (voice vote).

- Resolution — Second amendment to Human Resources Policy and Procedures Handbook (R482.24); outcome: adopted (voice vote).

- Ordinance — Amendments to employee pay scale (O-2125) including new classifications and pay-grade adjustments; outcome: adopted (voice vote).

- Ordinance — Amend city code §74 to collect the state-authorized tax on vaping products at the municipal level; outcome: adopted (voice vote).

- Resolution — Agreement with David R. Davis Architects Inc. for pavilion and restroom design at Black Creek Trail campground; outcome: adopted (voice vote).

What comes next

- Several of the projects authorized require follow-on actions: grant applications (airport and TAP) require award decisions from Montgomery and federal agencies; purchase of mitigation credits and property conveyances are tied to construction permits and right-of-way work for the South Eleventh Street realignment; the franchise ordinance allows Unity Fiber to begin permitting and construction work in the city rights-of-way.

- The rezoning petition for 756 Walnut Street is scheduled for final council action at a future meeting.

Speakers quoted in this report are drawn from the meeting record and appear in the speakers list below. All vote outcomes described here follow the council voice votes recorded in the meeting transcript.