Maplesville to accept bids on old building downtown

Published 2:21 pm Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Along with hearing fire and police department reports Monday, the Maplesville Town Council received a street and garbage department report and took care of old and new business.

Superintendent Kenny Barrett of the street department said the town’s garbage truck is still undergoing improvements, particularly to the interior slide.

In old business, the council voted in favor of declaring as surplus the old Brown brothers’ building on Alabama Highway 22 in downtown Maplesville.

The council also voted to accept sealed bids of at least $10,000 for the building and specified renovations must be started within six months of the purchase date.

The town has had full ownership of the building, formerly a hardware store owned and operated by the Brown brothers, since 2010.

After the brothers passed away, the town started acquiring partial ownership of the building from the Browns’ heirs about eight years ago and bought the remaining interest in the building about six years ago.

Since then, the building has sat vacant and sustained damage from the elements over the years.

In February 2011, Sentell Engineering Inc. in Tuscaloosa evaluated the building and sent the town a letter stating the building was “structurally sound,” Town Clerk Sheila Haigler said.

The council will open bids on the building at its next meeting Oct. 14.

“I just want to get something done to it,” Mayor W.C. Hayes said. “It needs to be fixed or torn down.”

In new business, the town approved to amend Ordinance 143 and previous ordinances outlining council meeting procedure.

The new ordinance will be called Ordinance 145 and changes the order of business at council meetings, as well as a 5-minute time limit on visitors who speak at council meetings.

The council also approved to amend Ordinance 129, which prohibits grass/weeds and building eyesores and hazards, “nuisances,” on property inside town limits.

The new ordinance will be called Ordinance 146 and gives property owners 30 days instead of 14 days to fix grass and weed issues deemed nuisances by the town.

In other new business, the council:

•Approved an application for roadblocks for groups doing fundraising.

•Approved to waive a refundable deposit for the Maplesville Senior Center’s use of the park Oct. 9 for a senior health fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

•Approved two new computers state Rep. Kurt Wallace purchased for the Maplesville Library with discretionary funds.

•Tabled a discussion about approving a request for the use of Maplesville Community Park.

•Approved purchasing a $120 ad in the 2014 Chilton County Chamber of Commerce Membership Directory.

•Approved earmarking $500 in the budget for the 2014 Chilton County Transit Support if needed.

•Heard an update on a water leak in front of the Maplesville Train Depot that occurred last week. The utility board will schedule and pay for repairs. The depot will be closed the day repairs take place, but the date has not been determined.

•Approved a meeting with USDA about a potential sewer grant for Maplesville to be held in the mayor’s office Oct. 3 at 9 a.m.