ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — The Robertsdale City Council voted to rezone two parcels of property at its meeting Monday, Feb. 15. All members with the exception of Aubrey Grant were present.

The first property was along the south side Fairground Road, site of the Faith Presbyterian Church. The property was zoned “R-1” or “Low Density Single Family Residential.” The new designation is “B-2,” or “General Commercial District.” Mayor Charles Murphy said after the meeting that the owner of the property, Thomas F. Barnes, requested the change to allow a number of stores on the parcel.

The second parcel of rezoned land involved land at 23402 Highway 59. In this case the zoning will change from “B-1,” a local shopping district to “B-2.” The property is bounded by Mobil Equipment and Pope’s Grocery. The Pope’s property is also zoned B-1 but the Mobil property is zoned B-2.

According to a memo to the council, City Engineer Greg Smith said that the Highway 59 property, once used as an auto sales lot, has been vacant for a a year

Both zoning changes were recommended by the Planning Commission.

The council was also asked by the Baldwin Rural Area Transportation System to provide space at City Hall for a “Fill the BRATS Bus Challenge.” According to a request from Paula Tillman, the public information coordinator of the Baldwin County Commission, the program will benefit the Baldwin Council on Aging, that she says, “has seen an increase in the number of Baldwin County senior citizens needing assistance.”

The thought is that the box will allow people to donate things like nonperishable foods and personal hygiene items that can’t be purchased with food stamps.

The council voted to allow the box, but Mayor Murphy said that the request was being passed on to the council “because another government institution” was asking for it.

In a related matter, County Commissioner David Bishop spoke concerning the BRATS system.

“We want to expand the BRATS system,” he said. “We want to get it out into the county.”

The system has its headquarters in Robertsdale, but Bishop said that while that would remain so, facilities would be established in Fairhope and Daphne to attract more riders there.

“We hope to do this with Stimulus money,” said Bishop.

In other council business, the council:

— Approved payment of $740,662.80 in city bills.

— Approved giving Jamie Kelly, Wes Ellison, James Franklin and Steve Williams an advance of $150 each to attend a certification program through the International Municipal Signal Association in Powder Springs, Ga., next month.