Owens Crossroads council unanimously adopts annexation, rezoning and billboard moratorium; approves retiree payments

The Owens Crossroads City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 26‑006, an annexation covering parcels 1085201 and 91079, and Ordinance 26‑007, which rezones properties on Ed Spears (PINs 85152 and 92740) to single‑family residential. The council also approved Resolution 26‑015 to authorize one‑time lump‑sum payments to eligible retirees through the Employers Retirement System of Alabama and adopted a temporary moratorium on new billboards while the Planning Commission completes ordinance research.

The clerk read the financial and procedural notices and presented the ordinances and resolutions; council members moved, seconded and voted ‘yes’ on each measure. The record shows the motions passed unanimously. The annexation ordinance was presented as having been posted for at least 30 days before consideration. The rezoning measure was described in the record as changing the listed PINs from 'state residential' to single‑family residential per the documents read aloud.

Antoinette Cisco Williamson, co‑chair of the Owens Crossroads Planning Commission, told the council the commission’s recommendation was a temporary moratorium on billboards so staff can research and draft an amendment to the site ordinance. “The Planning Commission met last evening, and our recommendation is that a moratorium be placed on billboards until an amendment is revised to the site ordinance,” Williamson said. Council members agreed the item should remain in place until research is completed and signaled unanimous support for the proposed resolution.

On retiree payments, the clerk described Resolution 26‑015 as authorizing a one‑time lump‑sum distribution to eligible retirees through the Employers Retirement System of Alabama; the record identifies two recipients but does not list individual payment amounts in the spoken record. The council moved and adopted that resolution unanimously.

The council also accepted the presented bank balances and minutes at the start of the meeting by unanimous vote.

What happens next: the billboard moratorium remains in effect while Planning Commission staff (identified in the record as Lauren and Christy) complete their research and return recommended ordinance language. The newly adopted annexation and rezoning ordinances take effect under the city’s normal administrative processes; the record does not include implementation dates or further administrative steps in the meeting transcript.