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The Demopolis City Council continues to discuss the future of the water tower located near the City Landing.

During a work session prior to the latest meeting of the council, Water Works Board Member Jay Reynolds said the Water Works Board would be asking for bids, one to demolish the tower and another to provide structural integrity. He said to do that he needed to know from the council to what extent they would want work done.

“At this point, it is a liability for us,” Reynolds said. “We will ask for bids to paint and restore structural integrity for a certain number of years. When the bids come back we will give (the city) the options for restoring or demolishing. The water board is either going to give it to you or tear it down. We don’t need to kick it down the road any longer.”

Reynolds said if the city is interested in maintaining the structure, he needed to know more specifics for the bid process.

During the regular session, members of the council said they needed to review more about the extent of stabilization that would be needed and agreed to discuss at the Dec. 5 meeting.

Other items discussed by the council included:

• holding a public hearing for the rezoning of property at 508 N. Walnut Ave. from family residential to community business. No action was taken.

• holding a public hearing on the city’s proposed Property Maintenance Code which will allow property owners to dispute property code violations to the council. Following the public hearing, the council approved the measure.

• approving a grant of $247,000 for the park and recreation department.

• approving for the streets department to pursue a grant of $250,000, with a city match of $100,000, through Rebuild Alabama. Projects Manager Mike Baker said the funds could be used to resurface Herbert Street.

• approving the repaving of Park Street at a cost not to exceed $15,000.

• approving a capital expense request for Public Works to purchase two pick-up trucks at a cost of about $47,000.

The next regular meeting of the council will be held Thursday, Dec. 5, at noon. The meeting time was changed to accommodate Christmas on the River events.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, December 4 issue of the Demopolis Times.)