The Ledger

By Becky Holland

Following Thursday’s Cochran City Council work session, The Ledger contacted Interim City Manager Angela Redding and Mayor Carla Coley to ask whether either or both would be available to answer questions about agenda items discussed during the meeting. Mayor Coley requested that the questions be submitted by email and responded in writing.

Coley said she believes the time is right to move forward with the mayor’s committees, which were approved by the City Council earlier this year but placed on hold following the departure of the city’s former city manager.

“When the committees were originally introduced and agreed upon by Council at the Regular March Meeting, we did not know that we would be losing our City Manager,” Coley wrote. “This required us to meet, often several times each week. For that reason, Councilman Savant requested that the committees be ‘put on hold’ until our meeting frequency slowed. With Mrs. Redding in-place, Council has not had to be as involved in an executive role which should allow committees to meet if they so choose.”

Coley said the committees are intended to assist the City Council in its legislative and policy-making responsibilities.

“City Council committees are established to assist the Council in the performance of its legislative and policy-making responsibilities. Committees serve in an advisory capacity only and shall not exercise administrative or executive authority. Committee organization is intended to facilitate efficient deliberation, informed decision-making, and equitable distribution of Council responsibilities,” she wrote.

During Thursday’s work session, the Community & Economic Development and Code Committee was specifically discussed. Coley said she hopes that committee begins meeting soon.

The committee’s responsibilities include reviewing and making policy recommendations concerning economic development, business growth and retention, housing, redevelopment initiatives, land-use planning, downtown development, neighborhood revitalization, partnerships, grants and long-range planning.

“I would like this committee to begin meeting as soon as possible to aid the Chamber, IDA, and DDA in continuing to move Cochran further along in redevelopment,” Coley wrote.

Another topic discussed during the work session involved the city’s alcohol ordinances, particularly as they relate to mobile bartending businesses.

Asked whether she believes the current ordinances need to be updated or clarified, Coley replied, “I do. I also believe review of current ordinances is something that any committee can do as it relates to the respective departments with whom they will be working.”

Coley said she would like the Community & Economic Development and Code Committee to research how other cities handle alcohol sales at temporary events, including mobile bartending businesses.

“Specifically, it is my desire that the committee will research how other cities address alcohol sales at temporary events, to include mobile bartending, and make a recommendation to the council for changes needed to our current ordinance that requires a brick and mortar to be permitted,” she wrote.

Any recommendations developed by the committee would be presented to the Cochran City Council for consideration.