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The Linden City Council discussed a request from a Mobile resident who owns property in Linden that she would like to use to cultivate and sell hemp seed.

Hemp, while in the same species as marijuana, contains little THC that produces the plant’s psychoactive effect. The property owner is licensed to grow the plant and cultivate its seeds through the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries.

The Linden Police Department is also aware of the proposal, and Police Chief Robert Alston assured the city council that they would increase vigilance. Alston also informed them that the property owner herself would take security measures to prevent theft.

Mayor Charles Moore instructed City Attorney Woody Dinning to continue researching city ordinances that may affect the property owner’s proposal. If the city has no ordinances against farming and cultivating crops, the council may consider such limitations.

While part of the property on East Coats Avenue is in city limits, the majority of it is outside.

Other business discussed by the city council include:

• approving Spring Cleaning 2020, in which two large dumpsters will be placed at the football field.
• Councilor Barbara Jackson brought forward two potholes near the Marengo County Nursing Home, and Moore said he would contact the state for it as that road is ALDOT’s responsibility.
• Moore mentioned that the property owner of a dilapidated property is not complying with requests for upkeep. Dinning said the next step would be suing the property owner.
• approving two individuals commencing a renovation project for an undisclosed purpose in a building in downtown Linden.
• reappointing Ola Ford and Dorothy Gamble to the Linden Board of Education.
• Council Secretary Bruce Ward announced that Easter at the Gazebo is taking place in April.
• Moore informed the council of two police vehicles that were damaged after each striking a deer and are currently out for repairs.

The Linden City Council meets every first and third Tuesday at city hall at 4:30 p.m.

(This article is scheduled to appear in the March 18 print edition of the Demopolis Times.)