MAGNOLIA SPRINGS — Tuesday’s Magnolia Springs Town Council meeting became heated at times, with law enforcement summoned to maintain order in the standing-room only town hall.

Several issues spurred contention, with heated debates throughout the two-hour meeting. However, one source of contention centered around the council’s 5-1 vote to vacate a portion of Palm Street in May. The action will be complete once an appraisal of a 20-by-40 foot portion of the street is finished and the council approves a fee for the property transfer, which applicants James and Ann West and Tim and Sandra Russell must then agree to pay. However, since last month’s vote, Mayor Ken Underwood, who cast the lone opposing vote, has continued to voice his opposition to the action.

“As long as there’s a ray of hope,” he said at Tuesday’s meeting.

To which council members countered, “It’s done.”

In addition, audience members both for and against the street vacation stated their views Tuesday, with the debate at times becoming lively.

But debates continued throughout the evening on other issues, with order almost getting out of hand. So much so, that when Underwood started to say he was not bringing the purchase of a mobile flat panel video cart to a vote, Councilman Jim May said that he would and went through the motions of calling the vote, which was seconded and all other council members saying, “Aye.”

At this point, Underwood pounded his gavel and told May he was out of order. That issue ended with the council voting against the purchase, citing the small size of the council chambers and that a projector for PowerPoint presentations had already recently been purchased and used once.

But contention continued, with Mayor Pro Tem Bob Holk reporting that the Public Works and Safety Committee approved the paving of Camellia Street at its current 14 feet. In the June workshop, Underwood said standards were to pave roads at 18 feet. However, Tuesday, Holk pointed out that the standard was for new construction and that residents had expressed concern about losing part of their property for the extra width. In addition, audience members chimed in, saying they liked the “small-town feel” of the smaller roads.

But Underwood said that if the council approved the action, he would not sign the resolution. Holk said that he would sign it as mayor pro tem. The council then approved the action, with Underwood abstaining.