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During the November 3 Demopolis City Council meeting, the council approved adopting the 2021 International Building Code (IBC) and 2021 Existing Building Code Supplement (EBCS). The IBC code applies to all buildings except detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses up to three stories.

At the October 20 Council meeting, Main Street Demopolis director Rhae Darsey requested that Council pass the existing buildings code book to allow for easier access for construction that needs to be done to some of the downtown buildings, and ease restrictions on existing buildings.

During that discussion, Mayor Woody Collins and Building Inspector Julius Rembert talked about an opportunity to update the code restriction that currently encompasses eight volumes of the 2015 edition. Rembert asked that the Council update all the books except for two, one being the International Residential Building Code that the state still uses, and the second being the volume on electrical codes. Rembert recommended that instead of going to the 2021 edition of the electrical codes, the Council go to the 2020 edition.

The Council unanimously approved the updated building codes.

In an earlier meeting, the Council passed an ordinance to allow cannabis dispensaries within the city. However, the Council did not come up with a designation on the zone they could be located. Stipulations on the zoning for the dispensaries are that they cannot be located within 1000 ft of a school, church, or daycare. The building official recommended allowing them to locate in a B-3 zone which is a general business district.

During the work session, Demopolis Police Chief Rex Flowers requested that the Council change speed limit signs on West Jackson Street and Maria Avenue. The speed limit starting on West Jackson Street and Maria Avenue is 20 mph back to Main Street. Before Main Street however, the speed limit changes to 30 mph.

Flowers said the police department has had issues with writing tickets in that area due to signage in the area. He requested that the limit be changed to either 20 mph or make the whole street 25 mph. The Council agreed to change the speed limit to 25 mph.

The Demopolis City Council meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at 5:15 p.m. The work session begins at 4:45 p.m. The public is invited to attend.