BAY MINETTE, Ala.  — Monday’s Bay Minette City Council meeting saw few empty seats as members of People For the Community awaited a decision on the possible rezoning of  701 Brady Road from a R-3 Residential to a B-2 Business zone.

The council passed the ordinance to rezone the property,  with Councilman Chris Norman casting the lone abstention.

Brenda Glass, spokesperson for People, read a letter to the council asking them to deny the rezoning because neighbors didn't want oil barrels to leak into the water and harm children. The letter stated that they also didn't want the eyesore of idle vehicles and equipment in their neighborhood when a business park would better suit that use.

Mayor Jamie Tillery then read a letter from Charles McPherson, CEO of McPherson Oil, the company that has purchased the property and requested the rezoning with intent to build a parking lot for employees and storage for idle equipment.

“No petroleum products will be stored on the property,” the letter stated.

Norman spoke up during the ordinance’s discussion.

“We walk a thin line between our businesses and our neighbors,” he said. “But we should always take into consideration our citizens.”

As previously reported on www.BaldwinCountyNow.com, in a letter dated March 23, Bay Minette resident Hazel Rice asked Tillery several questions about the proposal, which were answered with a written response by attorneys Stone, Grenade and Crosby. One such question was why there was no site plan included with McPherson Oil.

As previously reported, Bay Minette City Attorney Scott Lewis told The Baldwin Times that this request was submitted under the old land-use and-development ordinance, and it is the updated version that requires a more detailed site plan submission, as the old version leaves vague terms for acceptable plan descriptions. But, Lewis explained, McPherson has met those terms.

Also Monday, the council:

r approved bid solicitation for the capital expense package that included an electronic sign, excavator, street sweeper and other items, with Mike Phillips and Norman casting abstentions.

r unanimously approved the Finance Committee's accounts payable report of $240,391.87.

r unanimously approved $37,315 of the volunteer fire department's appropriations to buy a Ford F-250 that would pull the fire departments new trailers.

r approved a resolution to adopt the Natural Hazard's Mitigation Plan,with Danleigh Corbett casting the lone abstention.

r unanimously approved the date change of May council meetings to the ninth and the 23rd day of the month since the mayor will be attending a conference for the Alabama League of Cities on May 2.

r unanimously approved a liquor license for retail beer and table wine to be sold at Dollar General at 800 McMeans Ave., with no on-site consumption.

r proclaimed this Confederate History Month.

r recognized the delegation of Dillon Anderson and Hunter Bates to the Alabama Boys State—a leadership program sponsored by the American Legion.

Also Monday:

r The disaster plan was suggested by Baldwin County as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's required, five-year update. It has already been adopted by several cities in Baldwin County.

r J.J. Hall, parks and grounds supervisor, reported that the swimming pool will open on May 28 and the universal playground will open June 1.