After a local developer revealed plans to purchase property adjacent to Heflin City Hall and spend at least $1 million to bring new restaurants, shops and offices to the downtown area, Heflin Mayor Anna Berry asked the council to consider purchasing the site for $50,000 to be used as a storage area, for parking or for future growth of city hall.Mayor Berry said Warren Heard, owner of the property between Heflin City Hall and Burns Street, had called her asking if the city was interested in buying the property. She said the city has been discussing the possibility over the past three years.
"Someone else has expressed an interest and we need to make a decision," Berry told the council members during a work session Tuesday night. She said the price was $50,000 and covered half a city block.
Councilman Kenneth Hanson said he would recommend the city "let the other party have it if he can develop it," and bring tax dollars into the town.
Councilman Jerry Gaines recommended the city purchase the property for possible additional parking.
Berry said the city is using the property for storage now and said that if it was purchased the site could be used to store pipe and other items when the downtown cityscape project is underway.
She explained that the purchase would not be a burden on taxpayers because the city can use the proceeds from the sale of the old panty factory on Hwy. 46 to pay for the vacant downtown property. "We do have a funding source," she said.
Ashton Properties developer Tracy Lambert went before a meeting of the Heflin Zoning and Planning Commission last week to discuss his plans to invest at least $1 million in a project to build an office complex, restaurants and retail shops on the site.
Lambert said he already has two individuals wanting to rent space in the planned development.
In the open council meeting, Gains made the motion to finalize the purchase. Hanson restated his opposition saying the site has been vacant for many years and he doesn't know of anything the city can do with the property. He said he would rather an individual developer get the site and bring additional revenues into the city.
Heflin resident and former councilman Shannon Roberts spoke from the audience and cautioned the council in making a rush decision to buy the property, saying he thought it strange that the city would want to buy it after a businessman expressed interest in buying the same property to help develop downtown. "It might be nice to listen to a business opportunity before making a decision," he said.
Berry said the city has been talking about the site for the past three years and called for the vote which gives her permission to offer $50,000 for the property.
In other action the city approved incorporation of a new city industrial board and appointed Dr. Faye McIntyre, Dr. Richard Cobb, Robin Scott, Jerry Cash, Max Payne, Ted Beam and Wendell Wood to serve on the seven member board.
In other matters:
• Mayor Berry reported that Allied Waste has increased garbage pickup rates in Heflin, due to rising fuel costs, to $10.35 per month but the increase will not be passed on to the customers and will remain at $8.
• Reported that grave digging services at the city cemetery have also increased.
• Asked that those interested in cutting and purchasing hay from city property on Hwy. 46 present a sealed bid to the clerks at Heflin City Hall.
• Discussed building restroom facilities for under $20,000 using city labor at the Lake Point Disc Golf Course.
• Approved an ordinance annexing some 145 acres off Evans Bridge Road belonging to Floyd Davis who is planning to build a subdivision.
• Reappointed David Hewitt to a 36 month term on the 205 Gateway Improvement District Board. Hewitt reported he is now going through legalities of obtaining funding which was officially approved during a recent court validation hearing. He said one of his next hurdles will be a transportation study for an intersection connecting the district to Hwy. 46.
• Approved a sales tax holiday the first weekend of August.
The City of Heflin is working on a history project to acquire pictures of all past mayors for the City. They still need the following photographs:
Coke Weir (1891)
W. G. Milligan (1893)
W. H. Holiday (1897)
W. R. Hunnicutt (1898)
W. H. L. Carruth (1899)
E. W. Landers (1900)
I. E. Hubbard (1901)
J. L. Kitchens (1904) (1918)
L. E. Adams (1907)
W. G. Porter (1910)
Clyde H. Vann (1912)
J. A. Harper, Mayor Protem (1913-1916)
Dr. Jefferson Davis Duke (1928-1930)
W. S. Hincey (1944-1948)
If you have any photographs of these individuals or if you know anyone they may contact to acquire them, please notify City Hall at 463-2290.
The city will be participating in the State of Alabama's Year of Small Towns and Downtowns in 2010. This event will include a homecoming celebration for the city. It is their goal to have this historical project finished for this special occasion.
