SPANISH FORT, Ala. — The City Council on Monday voted 5-0 to refinance the 1 percent license tax in the cooperative improvement district along U.S. Highway 181. Mayor Joe Bonner, who has voting power, was absent from the meeting.

No worries for residents; this is not a tax increase, but a replacement tax that will save the city $400,000 to $500,000 per year, according to City Attorney David Conner.

“This is not an additional 1 percent,” Conner said during the meeting. “When the bonds are issued they will still only be 1 percent above the city’s sales tax levied at the Eastern Shore Centre.”

“We are just swapping or changing the section under which that license free or tax is levied.”

The plan is to refinance the bond for the cooperative improvement district around U.S. Highway 181 —public facilities district — around the Eastern Shore Centre. The bonds were initially issued with a taxable rate in 2004. The city hopes to reissue the bonds so they can become tax exempt, Conner said.

This will help the city reduce debt, he said.

Nuisance

Further discussion on the abatement of nuisance at 123 Patrician Drive has been put on hold until the Sept. 22 council meeting. The resolution has been on the council’s agenda for weeks, however, the ex-wife of the homeowner is working with lawyers to obtain the title of the property. If she receives the title from the court, she said she will have the property cleaned, Conner said.

The property allegedly has tall grass, an algae-filled pool and is overgrown with weeds. Neighbors expressed their concerns during a July 7 public hearing that the property has brought in more mosquitos than usual, which has caused them to not spend as much time in their backyards.

Building Official Bruce Renkert and residents testified on the condition of this property at the July 7 council meeting.

In other news, the city wants to make drainage improvements at Southern Way and Ranger Road. The council postponed a resolution to authorize the mayor to enter into a contract with Joseph L. Long P.E., for professional drainage services until the Sept. 22 meeting.

A public hearing was held on nuisance at 308 Marcella Ave. Renkert said he and Bonner have observed the site and it had “gotten pretty bad.”

The owner has worked to clean up the property and trash has been neatly piled ready for pickup, Renkert said. Also, the white vehicle on the property is planned to be parked in the backyard out of sight.  

“At this point in time as we stand today I would say that this nuisance has been abated,” Renkert said.

No further enforcement action will be taken at this time, Conner said.