City clerk attends final council meeting

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Homewood City Clerk Linda Cook attended her final city council meeting on Monday, April 25.

Prior to the opening call to order, Council President Bruce Limbaugh honored Cook for her 46 years of public service, presenting her with a framed resolution acknowledging her retirement. 

Cook has run elections, recorded minutes at council meetings, taken care of city documents and answered questions from the public throughout her 27 years in the position. Although her last official day is June 1, she’ll be using vacation time from April 29 onward. 

Cook’s replacement, Finance Director Melody Salter, will inherit the associated duties upon Cook’s unofficial departure. 

After receiving the framed resolution, Cook faced the cameras recording the meeting and addressed the remote viewing audience. 

“I just want to say I may have worked for seven councils and four mayors, but I’ve served you,” she said. “I work for everyone. I don’t work for one person; I don’t work for 11 or 12. I hope I did my best.”

Upon the meeting’s opening and conclusion, council members lavished Cook with words of thanks and praise for her help during her service.

"You have made a difference," said Ward 5 Representative Peter Wright. "I would dare say the city of Homewood is different, unique and better because of your service."

In the public safety committee meeting prior to the full council, the committee chose to begin considering a new public safety building, which has been tabled for months. Chief Tim Ross will be asked to gather proposals for a feasibility study, the first step to seeing whether it is possible to construct a new building.

The council also:

  • Dropped a public hearing of a variance to the sign ordinance at 2941 18th Street South. Jerry Oddo, owner of Homewood Sporting Goods, rescinded his request.
  • Approved a variance to the sign ordinance at the 2510 and 2846 18th Street South. Pine Straw Wholesale and Urban Cookhouse, respectively, will be allowed to attach secondary business signs to their building. The Wholesale business wants signs for the north and south sides of its building, while Urban Cookhouse is creating a projection sign that will hang over the sidewalk, similar to Holler & Dash. 
  • Approved the installation of a guardrail near the intersection of Saulter Road and South Forrest Drive for a cost of up $10,000.
  • Approved a request to declare one incomplete engine on a pallet, one 2000 Chevrolet Impala and three 2007 Ford Crown Victorias as surplus parts/property that will disposed of at public auction to the highest bidder.
  • Reviewed year-end transfers after final financial audit.
  • Approved the transfer of $1,000 for police polygraph operations. 
  • Approved to amend 2015-2016 fiscal year budgets.
  • Set public hearing for May 23 to address a zoning application proposing a switch from Jefferson County Commercial to Neighborhood Shopping District from the property owner of Circle K Store, Inc. at 1250 Columbiana Road.
  • Set public hearing for May 23 to address a zoning application proposing a switch from Jefferson County Preferred Commercial to Office Building District from the property owner of Southeast Medical Homewood, LLC at 35 West Lakeshore Drive. 
  • Set a public hearing for May 23 to address a zoning application proposing a switch from Jefferson County Commercial to Neighborhood Shopping District from the property owner of One West Associates, Inc. at 1 West Lakeshore Drive. 
  • Approved an amendment to the ordinance regulating property rental, making it unlawful for single-family residences to advertise and rent property for less than 90 days. 
  • Approved request to hold a Spring Street Party at Patriot Park on May 21 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oak Grove Road will be closed from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Approved resolution to create crosswalks at the intersection of Broadway Street and Forest Drive. 
  • Approved resolution to install a stop sign at the corner of Durham Drive and Yorkshire Drive. 
  • Approved resolution to install a stop sign at the corner of Lakewood Drive and Cornelius Drive.