Jasper City Council approves liquor license, appointments, budget amendments and multiple rezoning ordinances

The Jasper City Council unanimously approved a suite of routine and administrative items at its late-2025 meeting, including a restaurant retail liquor license for Jake's on Fourth, the appointment of Keith Pike to the planning commission, several budget amendments, and five rezoning ordinances to permit single-family residences on parcels across the city.

Lieutenant Jeremy Lay told the council the application for Jake's on Fourth, proposed at 1810 Fourth Avenue South, met state law and city ordinance requirements and that staff had "no objection to this application." With no members of the public speaking for or against the item, the council approved the license.

The council also nominated and appointed Keith Pike to fill a District 2 vacancy on the planning commission. Staff described Pike as having extensive planning experience and current employment as a special projects administrator with the Drummond Company; the council closed nominations and appointed him unanimously.

On procurement and surplus property, staff reported no bids for a 2026 police Tahoe but presented a quote from Hendrick Automotive in Hoover for a 2025 Chevy Tahoe under the OMNIA cooperative contract for $53,715; the council authorized the purchase. The council also declared a dump truck at the landfill surplus and approved its disposition.

Council members approved two budget amendments in successive votes. Budget amendment 2025-2026-03 was presented to fund the hire of a community and economic development director; staff said the total cost would be no more than $107,000. Budget amendment 2026-4 included $14,491.69 to replace a server for police body cameras (to be paid from the capital improvement fund) and a quoted dump-truck cost of $65,000 from state surplus; the council approved immediate consideration and final adoption by unanimous consent.

Other actions taken by the council included:

- Resolution ratifying city depositories and authorizing the mayor, city clerk, treasurer and council members as signatories (approved). - Nuisance-abatement resolution for 2711 Corona Avenue (owner Angelita Jackson, District 5) to cover removal of overgrown grass and weeds; abatement cost set at $175 (approved). - Adoption of five rezoning ordinances recommended by the planning commission to rezone parcels at 1500 Highway 69 South (approx. 1.3 acres), 4402 Kane Road (approx. 1.17 acres), 4406 Kane Road (approx. 0.62 acres), 2205 Lakewood Drive (approx. 0.75 acres), and 3103 Lakewood Drive (approx. 2 acres) to allow single-family residential use; all passed following public hearings with no speakers.

All council votes noted in the transcript recorded affirmative responses with no opposition voiced during the roll-call exchanges; several items were explicitly carried unanimously.

The meeting closed after mayoral and council remarks thanking event sponsors and staff.

Votes at a glance (selected actions):

- Approve minutes (regular meeting 10/21/2025): approved. - Approve organizational minutes (11/03/2025): approved. - Approve agenda: approved. - Restaurant retail liquor license — Jake's on Fourth (1810 Fourth Avenue South): approved (staff: no objection). - Appointment — Keith Pike to Planning Commission (District 2): appointed. - Purchase — 2025 Chevy Tahoe via OMNIA contract, Hendrick Automotive — $53,715: approved. - Surplus declaration — landfill dump truck: declared surplus and approved disposition. - Budget amendment 2025-2026-03 (Community & Economic Development Director): adopted (total cost stated as no more than $107,000). - Budget amendment 2026-4 (body-camera server $14,491.69; dump truck quoted $65,000): adopted; funding sources noted (capital improvement fund for server). - Resolution — ratify depositories of funds and signatory authorization: adopted. - Nuisance abatement — 2711 Corona Avenue (Angelita Jackson): cost set at $175 and adopted. - Rezoning ordinances — parcels on Hwy 69 S, Kane Road (two parcels), Lakewood Drive (two parcels): adopted.

Sources: public hearing presentations and staff reports in the meeting transcript; no public speakers were recorded for the above items.