DEMOPOLIS – The Demopolis City Council voted unanimously on Thursday evening to approve funds for emergency reparations to the roof of one of the hangars located at the Demopolis Airport.

In a letter addressed to Demopolis Mayor Cecil P. Williamson, John Sawyer stated that “the extreme force of a sudden high velocity microburst” stemming from a developing thunderstorm on July 29 “rendered a hangar precariously dangerous and a weakened structure posing a serious threat to the adjacent structure in the event of another [storm]”

The damaged hangar is located right next to an unharmed hangar which houses a Cheyenne Turbo Prop aircraft valued at approximately $1 million, according to Sawyer’s letter.

“A wind into this weakened structure could result it being blown off and onto the next hangar,” Sawyer wrote in his letter.

The cost of repair estimate provided by Eaves of Demopolis totals out to $16,195.74

“It is the opinion of the insurance adjuster assigned to the claim that repairs need to be accomplished as quickly as possible to mitigate any further damage,” said Sawyer in his letter.

The cost of repairing the damaged hangar will be paid with insurance money.

Kelly Parris-Barnes also spoke to the Demopolis City Council on behalf of West Alabama Mental Health.

“We have 11 people in Marengo County that are coming off our waiting list this year,” said Parrish-Barnes. “That means we will need local match funding. Sumter County has usually been our largest in funding to the tune of nearly $60,000 a year. The reduction in the statutory percentage that was directed towards mental health has dropped drastically from last year. I think last month our check was for $62. So whatever [the council] can do to help us in the budget will be greatly appreciated.”

Parrish-Barnes also announced that Tuscaloosa’s Indian River and Mobile Mental Health Centers have merged to make the Greater Tuscaloosa/Mobile Mental Health Center. The merger also gives the new entity a working budget of $53 million.

“We are landlocked in between those two agencies,” said Parrish-Barnets. “We were approached about the merger to begin with but the ACT 3-10 specifies that services are to be local and to be responsible to the local community.”

In other news from Thursday’s meeting of the Demopolis City Council:

u The Demopolis Police Department issued their monthly report for the month of July. The report shows that the DPD answered a total of 722 complaints, wrote three parking tickets, 32 warning tickets, worked 15 accidents (two with injuries), and worked a total of 218 hours of overtime. Ninety-five of those overtime hours were due in large part to a shift shortage and 52 were spent on casework and the execution of search warrants.

u The Public Works Department submitted their monthly report which consisted of repairs made around the city to sidewalks, pavings and curbs and gutters.

u The Demopolis Public Library reported that during the 26 children’s Summer Reading Programs, 1,421 children attended. The Reading Rendezvous group has an attendance of 15 regulars. The Demopolis Library also had a Memorial Day Program and a Juneteenth Celebration. On Sept. 7, the Library will open its doors to Charles Suhor who will speak on the History of Jazz in a program that is sponsored by the Alabama Humanities Foundation.

u Brian Brooker gave the Historical Preservation Society’s annual report.

u Discussion of a tax abatement for Cora’s Place Restaurant was tabled until the Sept. 7 meeting as well discussions about $27,000 to go through with the making of a comprehensive plan for the city of Demopolis.

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A weed abatement resolution was passed.

u Timothy Page also made a request to the Council for them to extend his structure removal timeframe for 60-day. Page, who was asked by the city to remove the structure located at 409 North Front Street, wrote in a letter to Williamson that “due to extremely hot temperatures and the threat of snakes, I am simply afraid to do it during this climate and ask that you will extend the deadline to the end of November.”

u Williamson announced that the city’s paving project is slated to begin on Aug. 21 and conclude on Dec. 18. The council, however, requested that Williamson ask the pavers to do the downtown area first so it wouldn’t interfere with the Christmas on the River festivities.

u She also announced that construction of the new Riverwalk will begin on Nov. 1.

u Williamson also announced that the East Bridge on Jackson Street will be completed by Sept. 13.

The next meeting of the Demopolis City Council is slated for Sept. 7 at 5 p.m.