The Cedar Bluff Town Council approved funding for a sidewalk project, authorized repairs to town vehicles and adopted several ordinances addressing vehicle enforcement during its October 15 meeting.
Council members also scheduled a public hearing on a proposed residential development and reviewed reports from town departments covering September activities.
The sidewalk project was among the major topics discussed during a workshop before the meeting. The proposed project would connect a local school with the town park, giving students a safer route when walking between the two locations.
The estimated cost of the project is $356,288. Council members unanimously approved the grant agreement and a related resolution, with the town’s matching contribution to be paid in two installments.
Officials discussed plans for a pedestrian crossing along Alabama 68 and the need to coordinate construction with utility work. The design may also account for a possible roundabout in the future.
The project prompted questions about how the town would balance the local funding requirement with other expenses, including road maintenance and future equipment needs. Council members also discussed which accounts could be used to cover the matching funds and whether payments could be spread across two fiscal years.
The council also agreed to hold a public hearing at 4:30 p.m. before its next meeting to gather public input on a proposed residential rezoning.
The development proposal calls for approximately 70 to 80 single-family homes to be built in three phases on property along Armstrong Street and nearby land.
The developer is seeking to change the property’s zoning from rural residential to R3 to allow narrower lots with approximately 65 feet of frontage. The current zoning requirements make those smaller lots difficult to accommodate.
The developer said the project would remain focused on single-family homes and would be built gradually over time as demand increases. Construction could take five to 10 years, depending on the housing market.
Plans discussed during the workshop included a minimum home size of 1,500 square feet, along with proposed subdivision restrictions intended to help maintain the area’s residential character.
The council’s action only schedules the public hearing. No final rezoning approval was granted during the meeting.
Council members also approved payments for maintenance and repairs to town vehicles.
An invoice totaling $5,826.93 from Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus was approved to cover service and inspections for both of the town’s fire engines. Officials discussed the importance of regular inspections, maintenance records and addressing additional repair needs identified during servicing.
The council also approved a $6,800 payment to Trammell Welding for garbage truck repairs. During the workshop, officials discussed rotating the town’s two garbage trucks each month and washing them weekly to help protect the vehicles and extend their service life.
A fire department application was also unanimously accepted.
In other business, the council approved an alcohol application for Little River Landing, LLC. The vote was four in favor, with Councilman Dustin Dutton abstaining. Mayor Bill Warren and council members Bobbie Hicks, Loretta Higgins and Adam McNabb voted in favor.
The council also unanimously adopted three ordinances requested by the police department.
Ordinance 2026-17 addresses the impoundment of vehicles being operated with suspended, revoked, canceled or expired registration.
Ordinance 2026-18 addresses the seizure and forfeiture of vehicles when drivers cannot produce a valid driver’s license upon an officer’s request.
Ordinance 2026-19 deals with the seizure and impoundment of vehicles operated without proof of required liability insurance.
During the workshop, officials discussed how officers would verify drivers’ licenses and insurance coverage when motorists could not provide physical documents. Council members also raised questions about what would happen to drivers who become stranded and whether another properly licensed person could retrieve an impounded vehicle.
The discussion included the importance of making residents aware of the new enforcement measures.
The Cedar Bluff Police Department’s September report showed officers patrolled 7,303 miles during the month. Officers issued 101 warnings and 44 tickets, made three felony arrests and four misdemeanor arrests, handled one drug case and served 23 warrants.
The department also reported 38 incident and offense reports, four suspect interviews, one crime tip answered, four assigned cases and three open investigations.
The report listed one arrest and four hours of overtime under targeted enforcement. No traffic overtime was recorded for September, with police officials explaining that the department was waiting for a grant signature.
The department also announced the addition of another Ford Explorer and introduced new officer Frank DeHaro. Information presented during the meeting noted that DeHaro served eight years in the military and has two years of law enforcement experience. His background also includes real estate, leadership and community service.
Sgt. Jamie Chatman recently completed training in Tuscaloosa with a new narcotics-detection dog, according to the department’s update.
The town’s building report for September included eight building permits, three moving permits and 13 business licenses.
The Cedar Bluff Fire Department also provided a monthly report covering medical calls, wildland and structure fires, traffic control and fire alarms.
Town officials discussed the importance of identifying municipal employees through their work shirts so residents can more easily recognize town personnel when they visit homes or properties.
The meeting included updates on public safety, infrastructure, residential growth and equipment maintenance as Cedar Bluff continues addressing the needs of the community.
