By By JOHN DILMORE JR. Publisher
The Brewton City Council deviated from its regular meeting schedule last night, gathering a week early to discuss old and new city business.
The specially-scheduled meeting was necessary because the council's original meeting date -- next Tuesday -- is Veterans' Day.
At Tuesday evening's meeting, Councilman Walter (Jake) Lewis gave his colleagues a report on the progress of the city's efforts to clean up dilapidated properties.
Lewis said that from June until last week, there had been a total of 118 notices issued to owners of dilapidated properties.
There have been 11 issued in District One, one issued in District Two, 18 issued in District Three, 74 issued in District Four and 14 issued in District Five.
There have been two mobile homes demolished within the city since June, Lewis said.
In other business, a report from Councilman Cary Barton on sewer dumping issues was carried over until the next meeting.
Also last night, Mayor Ted Jennings appointed Councilmen Frank Cotten and Mervin Huff to a committee which will recommend a successor to Raymond Lynn on the medical board.
Cotten and Huff will make a recommendation at the council's next meeting.
Also on the council's agenda was consideration of an ordinance placing a tax on tobacco sales within the city. Mayor Ted Jennings brought to the board's attention that several other cities had adopted ordinances covering cigarettes, but not covering other forms of tobacco.
Jennings said that the city had obtained a model ordinance which was more comprehensive, and its adoption is being considered.
The committee looking at the ordinance is made up of Councilmen Dennis Dunaway and Lewis, City Clerk John Angel and Director of Community Development Pete Dierno.
In other business, the council: