THE LOCAL, PAGE 2 The Main Event set for Feb. 23
TUESDAY SPORTS, PAGE 10
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
February 19, 2019 Vol. 127, No. 35 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
BRHS vs. Wetumpka baseball inside
Council OKs ban for 1 year
‘The lake is our economic engine’
Moratorium of certain businesses in historic district could lead to rezoning By JIMMY WIGFIELD Managing Editor
The Alexander City City Council unanimously approved Monday night a one-year moratorium on certain new businesses coming into the downtown historic district, a move that signals rezoning could come in the future. The council voted 6-0 to approve the resolution calling for a moratorium on new vape/tobacco shops, payday loans businesses, advance car title loan businesses, check cashing or cash-and-go businesses, liquor/ beer package stores, pawn shops, tattoo parlors and arcades. Community development director Al Jones told the council the downtown historic district is currently zoned the same as the U.S. Highway 280 corridor — B-3 for high-density retail businesses. “Anything that comes into 280 could also come into downtown,� Jones said. The one-year moratorium will give a group including Jones, the Alexander City Planning and Zoning Commission, the Historic Preservation Commission, Main Street Alexander City and the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce time to evaluate businesses in the historic district. “Do we have enough of these, too much of these, not enough?� Jones said. “Then we could figure out what our zoning (should be), should we change our zoning to limit certain types of businesses.� Jones emphasized businesses already in the historic district would not be affected, although there seems to be confusion if a business would lose its grandfather status if it
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Boats taking part in the Alabama Bass Trail event on Lake Martin fish and travel farther up Elkahatchee Creek on Saturday. See the sports section inside to read more about the tournament. Chamber president and CEO Ed Collari said tourism connected to Lake Martin is a must for Alexander City’s prosperity.
Tourism the key to economic development, Collari says By JIMMY WIGFIELD Managing Editor
T
ourism is Alexander City’s main asset to bring about a return to prosperity, according to chamber of commerce president and CEO Ed Collari, who said his organization is developing a strategy to fully tap into Lake Martin and those Collari who enjoy its waters. “We’re a city of 14,000 people with a median income
of about $32,000 and that’s not too attractive to national retailers,â€? Collari said. “That’s why a dedicated focus on tourism is so important too. Whether people want to admit it or not, the lake is our economic engine.â€? Collari said Alex City’s shift from a manufacturing center following the demise of Russell Corp. to a thriving tourism destination is essential. “Tourism is an untapped asset,â€? he said. “We call it ‘R and D,’ ripoff and duplicate. We’ve visited See TOURISM • Page 3
See COUNCIL • Page 9
Saturday’s cleanup has ‘impressive’ volunteer turnout
Today’s
Weather
50 44 High
Low
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Lake Martin
Organizers with the Clean Community Partnership Third Saturday Cleanup were proud of the turnout over the weekend to clear litter from the streets of Alexander City. “This is really impressive,â€? Jacob Meacham of the chamber of commerce said. “We have never had this good of a turnout.â€? Lake Martin Resource Association’s John Thompson, who has been instrumental in helping rid the area especially around Lake Martin, said he was happy to see the turnout. “This is great,â€? Thompson said. “I am really impressed especially with all the young people who have turned See CLEANUP • Page 3
Lake Levels
483.62 Reported on 02/18/19 @ 1 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
6
54708 90050
8
USPS Permit # 013-080
Volunteers gather pickers, bags and safety vests at Broad Street Plaza on Saturday morning before heading out to clean up some streets and roadsides in Alexander City. According to the chamber of commerce’s Jacob Meacham, the Clean Community Partnership’s Third Saturday Cleanup had an ‘impressive’ turnout.
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