Regular Session Minutes of the
Council of the City of Dora, Alabama
April 27, 2023
The Council of the City of Dora, Alabama met in the Dora Municipal Building at 6:00 p.m. We
were led in prayer by Hezikiah Walker, Jr. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor
Stephens.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Stephens. Roll call was taken by Stacy Turner.
Present at the meeting were David Box, Norman Holt, George Sides, Jr., Randy Spears, Gary
Thomas, Hezekiah Walker, Jr. and Mayor Stephens were present. Chris Edwards was absent.
A quorum was in attendance.
Item#5- Approval of Minutes- The minutes of the April 13, 2023 were reviewed. David Box
noted that he abstained from Item #11 Blanton Exterminating. A motion was made by George
Sides, Jr. to accept the minutes as written. The motion was seconded by Norman Holt. All in
favor and the motion carried.
Item #6 – Old Business –None.
Item #7— Bill List – A motion was made by Norman Holt to approve the bill lists dated April
27, 2023. Motion was seconded by George Sides, Jr. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #8 –Ordinance #3-2023 Sale of Unneeded Municipal Property– Chris Wise presented
the survey on the property he wants to purchase which was appraised at twenty-two thousand dollars ($22,000.00) for approximately ten acres. Hezekiah Walker, Jr. made a motion to suspend the rules for immediate consideration of Ordinance #3-2023. Gary Thomas seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Randy Spears-Yes; Gary Thomas-Yes; Hezekiah Walker, Jr.-Yes; Mayor
Stephens-Yes; David Box-Yes; Norman Holt-Yes; George Sides, Jr.-Yes. All in favor and the
motion carried.
David Box made a motion to approve Ordinance #3-2023-Sale of Unneeded Municipal Property-to sell the property to Surety Holdings, LLC (Chris Wise) for the appraised value of twenty-two thousand dollars ($22,000.00). Gary Thomas seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Gary Thomas-Yes; Hezikiah Walker, Jr.-Yes; Mayor Stephens-Yes; David Box-Yes; Norman Holt-Yes; George Sides, Jr.-Yes; Randy Spears-Yes. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #9 – Ordinance #4-2023-An Ordinance Authorizing the Sale of Real Property Owned
by The Waterworks and Gas Board of Dora, Alabama–Randy Spears, Chairman of the
Waterworks and Gas Board informed the Council that Commerce Street Partners, LLC is a
company that would like to purchase the property that includes the shopping center which is owned by The Waterworks and Gas Board located at or near Hwy 78 and Horsecreek Blvd. The sale of the property and shopping center must be approved by the City Council. The lease agreements of the current tenants would be transferred to the new property owners (Commerce Street Partners, LLC). Gary Thomas made a motion to suspend the rules for immediate consideration of Ordinance #4-2023. Norman Holt seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: David Box-Yes; Norman Holt-Yes; George Sides, Jr.-Yes; Randy Spears-Yes; Gary Thomas-Yes; Hezikiah Walker, Jr.-Yes; Mayor Stephens-Yes; All in favor and the motion carried.
Norman Holt made a motion to approve Ordinance #4-2023-An Ordinance Authorizing The Sale of Real Property Owned by The Waterworks and Gas Board of Dora, Alabama. David Box
seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: George Sides, Jr.-Yes; Norman Holt-Yes; David Box-Yes;
Hezikiah Walker, Jr-Yes; Gary Thomas-Yes; Mayor Stephens-Yes; Randy Spears-Abstain. Yes-
6; Abstain-1. The motion carried.
Item #10-Ordinance #5-Amendment to City of Dora Alcohol Beverage Ordinance #5-
September 6, 2011– In 2019, there was a legislative act which allowed wet municipalities to
allow Sunday alcohol sales by the passing of an ordinance by the City Council. Off-premises
Sunday alcohol sales are allowed anytime on Sunday and on-premises Sunday alcohol sales will not be allowed between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 10 a.m. Hezikiah Walker, Jr. made a motion to suspend the rules for immediate consideration of Ordinance #5-2023. David Box seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Randy Spears-Yes; Gary Thomas-Yes; Hezikiah Walker, Jr.-Yes; Mayor Stephens-Yes; David Box-Yes; Norman Holt-Yes; George Sides-Jr.
Norman Holt made a motion to approve Ordinance #5-2023-Amendment to City of Dora
Alcohol Beverage Ordinance #5-September 6, 2011. David Box seconded the motion. Roll Call
Vote: George Sides, Jr.-Yes; Norman Holt-Yes; David Box-Yes; Randy Spears-No. Gary
Thomas-No; Hezikiah Walker, Jr.-Yes; Mayor Stephens-Yes; Yes-5; No-2. The motion carried.
Item #11-Resolution #3-2023-Naming an Unnamed Street- The members of Rising Star
Baptist Church Road asked the road to be named in honor of the late Reverend James Kelley.
Rising Star Baptist Church Road was never a named road. Randy Spears made a motion to
suspend the rules for immediate consideration of Resolution #3-2023. Gary Thomas suspended the motion. Roll Call Vote: David Box-Yes; Norman Holt-Yes; George Sides, Jr.-Yes; Randy Spears-Yes; Gary Thomas-Yes; Hezikiah Walker, Jr.-Yes; Mayor Stephens-Yes.
Randy Sears made a motion to adopt Resolution #3-2023-A Resolution Naming an Unnamed Street in Dora in Honor of the Late Reverend James Kelley and the road shall now be named “Reverend James Kelley Memorial Drive”. David Box seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Gary Thomas-Yes; Randy Spears-Yes; George Sides, Jr.-Yes; Norman Holt-Yes; David Box-
Yes; Mayor Stephens-Yes; Hezikiah Walker, Jr.-Yes. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #12-Annual Municipal Court Clerk’s Conference- Randy Spears made a motion to
approve the request of the Magistrate, Merinda Pugh to attend the Alabama Municipal Court
Clerk Conference September 20-23, 2023 for approximately $1315.00 which includes a
registration fee of $400 and hotel fees of $915.00. George Sides, Jr. seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item #13-City Hall-Stump Removal- Randy Spears made a motion to approve the quote from
Danny Jackson’s tree service to remove the four tree stumps and roots in front of the City Hall for $600.00. David Box seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried.
Mayor Stephens gave an update on the Drummond Annexation. There was a legal notice that
was overlooked that had to be published once in the Daily Mountain Eagle one week prior to the final reading of the Ordinance. We will have this legal notice published and present Ordinance 2-2023- Drummond Co. Annexation for its final reading at the next City Council meeting on May 11, 2023.
Gary Thomas made the motion to adjourn the meeting. Hezikiah Walker, Jr. seconded the
motion. All in favor and meeting was adjourned.