New Albany Aldermen dealt with considerable controversy at the June 2025 meeting

 

In addition to transacting its routine business, the June meeting of the City of New Albany Board of Aldermen provided an unusual bit of controversy. In many ways, it was more like all local government meetings should be.

Also, throughout the meeting there was a stream of congratulations, thanks, good-byes, and other tributes to Mayor Tim Kent on his 20 years of service to the New Albany community.

Proclamations: (see video for entire Proclamation)

• An  official proclamation commends the New Albany Girls Bulldog Golf Team for its many accomplishments and hard work. They are, for the fourth straight year, Champions of the 4A Division, with a record of 12-1.
• An official proclamation commending the New Albany Tennis Team.  They are Class 4A Champions for an astonishing 16th time in 22 years.

Public Hearing

The rezoning for 210 East Main St. was approved (from SN-8 to DTC). The property is to be a small venue site.

Personal Appearance

Mike Kirk, the new owner of the Vintage Market appeared before the Board to discuss his business signs. The current city ordinance allows no ‘neon’ signs to be visible to the street. Kirk has repaired an existing internally lit sign with the purpose of emphasizing that Vintage Market is now a dining destination. Because the sign is not 3 feet from the window, it was cited as a violation of New Albany’s Sign ordinance. Kirk defended the sign’s placement in that it is a “classy” sign and that placing it outside the 3 foot requirement would present a safety issue near the entrance. Mr. Kirk pointed out other signs that would appear to violate the code, including at Nico’s and at a nail salon. Attorney Russell said the only way Mr. Kirk could use his sign would be to change the city ordinance. During a lengthy discussion,  suggestions arose that the vintage sign may merit a “one off” variance. Several board members and Attorney Russell cautioned that the Board should be very sure of what it wants to accomplish. To prevent future problems, they must be able to appropriately defend the sign against the current ordinance – or the ordinance needs to be amended.  The Board tabled further discussion of this matter until next month. The sign must remain unlighted until a decision is agreed upon.

Departmental Business agenda items were approved.

NALGW agenda items presented by Bill Mattox were approved, including:

• Approval of all submitted pay requests.
• Purchase of two new 3/4 ton trucks in the amount of $97,031.90.
• Purchase of an Excavator trailer for $57,311.13.
• Permission to declare an electric bucket truck as surplus, and to auction off the truck.
• Approval of new hire, Mr. Gerald Lawler.

Community Development:

Billye Jean Stroud reported that:

• Both Union County and the state of Mississippi are in good shape regarding current and expected tourism statistics, especially in the future, due to the Tanglefoot Trail and improvements being planned for Park Along the River.
• New Albany has been named by World Atlas as 2025 Mississippi’s Best Small Town.

In response to a question from Alderman-at-Large Keith Conlee,  Stroud confirmed that the most recent manger of the Magnolia theater has abruptly left the position. According to Stroud, “He just wasn’t happy here from the get-go”. She  said she suggests that New Albany Main Street return to overseeing the theater for now, while we decide what direction we want to go.

New Albany Police Department

Chief Robertson reported that:

• All paperwork on the purchase and leasing of the Dispatch Console previously approved by the Board in now complete. ($138,000)
• A memorandum of agreement between the New Albany campus of Northeast MS Community College and the NAPD to provide a police officer as needed for “back up” services has been signed.
• A long-term agreement with MS Wireless Communications will be renewed.

Chief Roberson received permission to promote Jeff Chism to Assistant Chief.  The current Assistant Chief, Clayton Keener is retiring after 28 years of service.

Chief Robertson received approval to allow outgoing Assistant Chief Keener to keep his personal service weapon, a long standing tradition in the NAPD.

Chief Robertson asked that four parking spots on Carter St. near the Municipal Court be eliminated. This is requested in order to prevent accidents due to a traffic blind spot on busy court days. The change was approved.

New Albany Fire Department

Chief Mark Whiteside reported that he’d just returned from the 2025 conference in Vicksburg, where the NAFD “set records left and right,” largely due to the good working relationships with the Mayor and Board of Aldermen. He reported that Deputy Chief Sides was reelected Vice President of the Northeast District and is Chair of the Board that is responsible for Chief Officer designations. Additionally, he reported that Alderman White received his Chief Officer designation through Holly Springs Fire Department.

Parks & Recreation

Alderman Drew Horn commended the Parks & Recreation Department for the excellent job done on preparing for the Parkapalooza fundraising event on May 31, 2025.

Building Inspection/Zoning

Eric Thomas reported that the zoning board:

• Approved a siding variance at Windshield Doctor at 904 East Bankhead.
• Approved Ellis Properties request to subdivide lot at 301 East Main St. into three standard lots.
• Questions arose, with the following major points being made:

1. Alderman (Parks Smith @53m) opened what turned out to be a 30+ minute discussion about the subdividing of 301 Main St. Smith, reporting that he had been contacted by multiple people and had received requests for a public hearing on the issue. He asked for a clarification on whether the action constituted a variance, if it is an action that is usually granted, and what would be required to have a public meeting.
2. Eric Thomas said that the action of subdividing is not actually a variance and that it is usually granted. He said that one had been granted on a lot just up the block last month. Regan Russel told Smith that all that is needed for a public hearing is a motion.
3. At this point Margaret Ellis Rogers (@ 54m) said that her family is not asking for a rezoning, but just a subdividing of the lot. Therefore, she asked the board “to do the right thing” and  to treat them the same way they’d treated others. She said it was her understanding that the zoning meeting was the night for discussion and asked “why weren’t they here last night?”
4. Bill Rutledge (@55m) spoke as the representative for close neighbors concerned with the property’s subdivision, but who could not be at the meeting, having had very short notice. He also said he believes that a public hearing is required and said he could not see a downside to allowing a public meeting.
5. Keith Conlee (@59m) asked Rogers, “Is it a threat to you in any way if we did have a public hearing on it?”
6. Will Tucker (@ 60m) said “…so were not approving any change, there’s no change in the ordinance. …way I understand it’s over one oversized lot. They want to subdivide it and the way it’s zoned there’s room for that.”
7. Regan Russell (@ 1:15) said that the new ordinances are not written like the old ordinances (how we’ve always done business). Then he said, “The safe thing to do is to have a public meeting.”

The “discussion” continued on for about 15 minutes after Russell gave his advice. Basically, the seven points above were discussed and re-discussed, getting louder and more filled with suppositions and other “what if” types of conversation.   See video below for further details, if you wish.

At approximately 1 hour and 26 minutes into the meeting, the Board went into an Executive Session to hear Russell’s advice.

When the Board reconvened the meeting, they announced that there would be a public meeting that would include both the 301 Main St. property and the 210 Main St. property, which had received an unchallenged zoning change earlier in the meeting. The public meeting was set for July 10, 2025 at 5:30 pm.

The next regular City of New Albany Board of Aldermen meeting will be on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.

 

Video: Courtesy Kendall Stancil

Meeting Agenda June 3, 2025 : Board of Alderman June 2 2025