Vinemont tables planning commission

Feb. 15—VINEMONT — The town of South Vinemont slowed its march toward growth on Tuesday, Feb. 14, after in-depth discussions resulted in the town tabling its decision to form a planning commission and a board of adjustment.

The town recently discussed ways to build on the momentum generated by the success of its recent focus on community events and expanding the amenities in the town's public spaces. At the council's request, Town Clerk Kayecea Sasser agreed to seek out information on the steps needed to develop a Planning Commission during last month's regular meeting.

Councilmembers were presented a pair of ordinances during Tuesday's work session and quickly raised concerns on if they would be able to fill the number of required seats to create the groups.

According to the ordinance the planning commission would require nine individuals registered to vote within the town limits. Councilmembers and the current mayor were barred from appointment to the commission. The ordinance which would create a Board of Adjustment with the same requirements, but would only require five appointees.

"My only hesitation is if you guys [the council] pass these ordinances and then not be able to meet because you don't have a quorum," Sasser said.

Mayor Radginal Dodson said there was value in both groups, but felt as though a nine member planning commission was bit excessive for a small municipality the size of Vinemont.

"I think a planning commission would be fine if we had a 125,000 people in the town, but the board of adjustment, I think that's the way we need to go," Dodson said.

The council tabled further discussions on the matter until it was able to identify the number of individuals willing to participate. In the meantime, councilmember Chris Thompson said he would like to see the council remain active in its attempts to bolster interest in the town.

"We do need to have a plan of what we want to do for the next five years and we'll start now," Thompson said. "I don't like just talking about it, I like doing something. We can come up with our ideas of how we want to grow. We can be our own planning commission ... I think Vinemont could be an exciting place for people because within the next five years it's all coming this way from Cullman. It's just 'where do we start?'"

One way Thompson said he is hoping to draw in visitors to Vinemont is by adding the mural located on the Art Park pavilion to the Alabama Mural Trail. The project developed by The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development aims to use public art to direct visitors away from traditional tourist routes and increase small-town revenues.

Thompson said the artist, Jack Tupper, behind Art Park's jungle-themed mural has also agreed to create a second mural dedicated to the history of Vinemont across the side of the town's storm shelter. Thompson said specifics weren't finalized, but preliminary ideas included having the new mural feature at least four historic landmarks within the town such as the old post office and the Marlboro drive-in theater.

In other business, the council approved roughly $100,000 for the micro-surfacing of each of the town's roads.