BAY MINETTE, Ala. — The city of Bay Minette has taken a stand against the three-laning of Hand Avenue.

During its meeting Monday, the Bay Minette City Council voted to send a proclamation to the Alabama Department of Transportation requesting when ALDOT paves the state-owned road, it leaves the striping configuration intact.

The vote came after ALDOT representative Lee Reach announced during a public hearing at City Hall last month that when the state re-paved Hand Avenue this spring, it would change the current four-lane configuration to three lanes, which would be flanked by bicycle lanes. The announcement was met with mixed reactions from residents attending the meeting, with some supporting the change and others opposing it.

Since the state owns Hand Avenue, the city can’t prevent the change. However, Monday’s action was the city council’s intent to make its opposition official.

But Monday’s vote wasn’t unanimous. Instead, District 4 Rep. Melvin Bradley voted against the proclamation, and District 5 Rep. Chris Norman abstained.

“It seems to me that it has become a political issue,” Norman said during the meeting. “I always like to do what’s best for the city.”

Bay Minette Mayor Jamie Tillery also gave a statement about the issue.

“Personally, I have had no problem with Hand Avenue as it is over the 35 years that I have lived in Bay Minette,” she said in the meeting. “But, being the mayor of Bay Minette, I feel that I must be personally responsible and study all credible aspects of safety, efficiency, effectivemenss anssd cost factors from presentations from ALDOT, discussions with emergency personnel, at state and local levels and the input by Sheriff Hoss Mack.

“When ALDOT showed me the statistics that two out of every three accidents that occur on Hand Avenue would be prevented, that the emergency-response time would be increased and that vehicular safety and pedestrian safety would be increased, I made my decision,” Tillery continued. “It is not one of politics, but one of safety. Using the best information and evidence presented and knowing that I could possibly save the life of just one citizen or even one child of Bay Minette, I am compelled to favor the striping of Hand Avenuye to three lanes, rather than four. My conscience or my intellect will not let me make any other decision. Therefore, I will support ALDOT in their efforts for our city safety.”

However, the motion to send a proclamation to ALDOT passed. It’s not yet clear whether doing so would affect the state’s decision to reconfigure Hand Avenue.