Argo Town Council held first readings for several ordinances and heard requests from a restaurant owner interested in having his first unit open in the town.Mayor Louie Glenn read the amendments being made to the town’s business license ordinance that will add some license options and change fees on other licenses if the council adopts it after a second reading in May.
Glenn also gave a synopsis of the town’s proposed zoning ordinance, which the Planning and Zoning Board had been reviewing since February in order to have it ready for the April meeting. The second reading of that ordinance will also take place in May.
“The zoning board put in a lot of hard work and effort to get this together,” Glenn said. “I know zoning has been a hot topic here lately, and the board should be commended for its efforts.”
Glenn then gave the first reading of an ordinance stating that all roads or streets maintained by the city will have a maximum speed limit of 25 miles per hour.
Finally, Glenn gave the first reading of an ordinance regarding signing a contract allowing Moody to bring its sewer franchise into the town of Argo.
“We will have a voice on the board, but not a voting voice,” Glenn said. “The mayor will sit on the board and be invited to attend all meetings, but the only members who can vote must live in Moody city limits.”
After the council had finished official business, it allowed time for a restaurant owner attending the meeting to present his ideas for a restaurant in Argo.
Tom Miles said he had two requests for the council and provided folders of information for each council member to peruse as he made his presentation.
“It is my belief this area could use a good family-style restaurant like we are proposing,” he said. “This area has a great draw and this restaurant would be a natural fit. We need to focus on family dining, but also have a lounge.”
Miles said his vision of the restaurant would require attaining a Class A liquor license, which would allow the restaurant to sell beer and wine as well as other liquor.
He said he believed this license would be the first of its kind in Argo if the town granted it, but that his establishment would not be a nightclub or bar.
Miles said he would like to have entertainment a few nights a week in the lounge area, possibly drawing performers from across the Southeast to come to the area and perform.
He also said he would like for the council to consider changing its church setback ordinance from 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet to allow the restaurant to serve alcohol.
“We have done some sales projections for the first three years and we believe the city would benefit considerably from the restaurant,” Miles said. “We would like to open by early October of this year, but a lot depends on what we can accomplish here.”
Miles also mentioned that the restaurant might serve breakfast if the response was positive and that it would be closed on Sundays.
He said the location near a lake along U.S. Hwy. 11 would create a nice, family atmosphere along with the quality construction he has planned for the building.
Glenn said the council would need time to look over his proposal and would schedule a work session to possibly sit down with Miles and discuss his plans.
The council also heard reports from several departments during the meeting.
Chief Wilbur Lee of the Argo Police Department announced that the Officer of the Month for March was Mike Jennings.
Jennings received the recognition for leading the department in DUIs, some of them through traffic stops, which Lee said are vital to public safety.
Lee also announced two new full-time hires for the department, Terry Williams and Billy Quilliams.
Williams and Quilliams were hired after Officer Devon Downing submitted his resignation with the department to take another job.
Councilman Jim Nichols made a motion to accept Downing’s resignation and the council approved the motion.
Chief Mike Platts of the Argo Fire Department stressed the importance of obtaining burn permits for residents wanting to clear their yards during his report.
He also said the department’s letter drive would begin soon and that grants were still being applied for to fund new equipment for firefighters.
Councilman William Leake made a motion to hire two part-time employees for the fire department and the motion passed.
Councilwoman Cheryl Lee next gave a park report, announcing a road block scheduled for Saturday, April 19, beginning at 8 a.m. and an ice cream social set for Saturday, May 17, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Argo Park pavilion off Blackjack Road.
Lee also requested that money be taken out of a recently compiled capital expenditure fund to help complete the pavilion.
To help raise money, Lee also announced that raffle tickets are being sold to win prizes such as a quilt made by the Argo ‘59ers and a football signed by Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville.
Suzie Williams also gave a Christmas for Kids report, saying that the committee has planned a yard sale at the corner of Argo-Margaret Road and U.S. Hwy. 11 Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and donations could be left at Town Hall.
The council also:
O Recognized its fire department and police department for assisting when an Adventure Charter Bus Tours bus overturned on Interstate 59 near Springville.
O Approved the minutes from its March 3 meeting, March 27 work session and April 1 special meeting.
O Heard a report from Planning and Zoning Board Chairman Jim Link that the board had completed the zoning ordinance submitted for council approval.
