Central City Council approves zoning and budget measures, hires two police officers and defers pavement contract

The Central City Council on Jan. 13 approved a series of routine and project-specific actions, including a conditional-use permit for an automobile body shop expansion, an amendment to fund planning for the Wax Road extension, and provisional hires in the Central Police Department. Council also declined a rezoning request and deferred action on a pavement-preservation contract.

The meeting opened with an invocation by Pastor Jeff Stanfield of Covenant Church and a proclamation presented by Mayor Wade Evans honoring the memory of Stetson Blake Hoovall. After routine minutes were approved, the council took up planning and budget matters.

On land use, the council approved conditional-use case C U 250002 to allow an expansion of an existing automobile body shop at 9779 Cooper Road, following the planning commission's recommendation; the motion passed with a recorded vote of 6 yeas, 0 nays and 1 absent. By contrast, the council considered rezoning case C Z 250006 (a portion of the H H Schaefer Estate on Greenwell Springs Road) and the motion to rezone from R-2 (single-family residence) to B-1 (neighborhood business) failed on a 3–3 tie with one member absent, and the recommendation for denial was sustained.

On budget matters, Council member Lazaro introduced an ordinance to amend the FY2025–2026 budget to allocate funds for planning and construction of the Wax Road extension. Council member Glassberg said he and the mayor had spoken with residents of Pumley Place about concerns over the amount of property the city would acquire. Mayor Wade Evans described the project as state-funded with the city responsible for 25% of the cost and the state reimbursing 75%: "We're gonna pay a 100% of it upfront. We'll get reimbursed for 75 as we go through," he said. The mayor also said the city had received what he estimated as roughly $2.2 million or $2.6 million from the state for the project but did not provide a precise total. The ordinance was approved by roll call.

Council also approved an ordinance to appropriate $300,000 to replace driveways and repair culverts within the roadway drainage system for FY2025–2026; the motion passed by roll call.

On police and equipment matters, the council approved a resolution declaring certain Central Police Department equipment surplus (items listed in the meeting materials included an all-in-one HP desktop with a stated fair market value of $506, keyboards, speakers and a router). The council voted to provisionally hire Keith Wilson as lieutenant and Davin Smith for a logistics role in the Central Police Department; the police chief summarized Wilson's investigative experience and Smith's roughly 30 years with a sheriff's office.

A motion to authorize the mayor to sign a pavement-preservation contract with Material Resources was deferred to the next council meeting on a council member's motion and second.

Votes at a glance: the minutes of Dec. 9 were approved; C U 250002 (conditional-use permit at 9779 Cooper Road) approved (6–0, 1 absent); C Z 250006 (rezoning on Greenwell Springs Road) denied (motion to approve failed, 3–3, 1 absent); Wax Road budget amendment approved (roll call); $300,000 appropriation for driveway/culvert repairs approved (roll call); resolution to declare CPD items surplus approved (roll call); provisional hires of Keith Wilson and Davin Smith approved (roll calls); contract with Material Resources deferred.

The meeting closed after a brief mayoral report about road projects, a City Hall furniture move planned for mid-March and the proclamation declaring January Catholic Schools Week in Central. No public comment cards were submitted and the council adjourned.