Attention preschool parents, grandparents and caregivers, the Andalusia Fire Department will be at the Andalusia Public Library this morning.
Firefighters from the AFD will bring their trucks to the library during the weekly storytime, held at 10:30 a.m.
Children will have the opporunity to learn about the various parts of the fire truck, the purpose of the wide array of instruments and tools on the truck, as well as sit inside the truck.
Children’s Librarian Caryl Lee Jackson said she hopes everyone turns out for this special occasion.
The Andalusia City Council Tuesday approved ordinances rezoning three parcels of property, including:
• A parcel behind the hospital and adjacent to apartments rezoned from R-3 to MED to allow for medical offices or facilities.
• A parcel on South Three Notch at the bottom of the hill when traveling toward town from the hospital, rezoned to MED. A traffic study showed no significant changes expected by rezoning this property; however, the council agreed to a larger study of overall traffic impact from the Moore Road entrance to Andalusia Elementary to the hospital to be completed at a later date.
• A parcel on the bypass across from Brooklyn Road, rezoned from B-3, R-1 to B-3. All of the adjacent property currently is B-3.
U.S. Rep. Martha Roby (R-Montgomery) will participate in a business forum with members of the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce to discuss major factors affecting the economy and jobs next week.
The forum is set for 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. Tues., Sept. 27, at the city hall auditorium.
Roby is seeking input from business leaders on ways to spur job growth.
She will also meet with the Andalusia Rotary Club at noon.
The Andalusia Chamber of Commerce could move to its new home on River Falls Street very early in 2012, after the city council approved an agreement with the organization Tuesday.
The agreement calls for the renovation of the former corporate headquarters of Alatex as a chamber office and welcome center to include a memorial to the thousands of textile workers who once earned a living there.
At present, the chamber’s offices are in the former home of Martha and Solon Dixon, which was donated to the city’s industrial development board for this use.
Chamber executive vice president Ashley Eiland confirmed last night that the chamber has a contract on the building and expects to close the sale in October.
Mayor Earl Johnson said the chamber will use the proceeds of that sale for refurbishing and furnishing the former Alatex building.
“This is similar to what we did with the ballet with the Church Street School property,” the mayor said.
The agreement calls for the chamber to reimburse the city for half of the expenses of the reconstruction, not to exceed $200,000.
The chamber agreed to maintain the facility, to pay its utilities, and to make space available for Alatex memorabilia.
The agreement states that the project will begin immediately and will be completed no later than Jan. 1, 2012, contingent upon the sale of the chamber’s current building.
In other business, the council:
• Accepted a bid of $37,512 from SQ Fabrication for the construction of a cross for Andalusia Memorial Cemetery. A similar structure will be built in Marshall Cemetery, and private contributions will be sought to reimburse the city’s expense, the mayor said.
• Approved nominees for the county’s board of equalization, including Virginia Brawner, Glen Walters and Bill Godwin, all of whom currently serve on the board.
• Reappointed John Taylor, David Darby, Mike Ward and Mark Murphy to the Downtown Redevelopment Authority.
• Reappointed Barbara McCommons, Sue Bass Wilson and Kennith Mount to the Community Enhancement Committee.
Andalusia’s 2011 Homecoming schedule has been released.
The Bulldogs will play host to Bullock County next Friday night for the football game. Kick off is at 7 p.m.
After the game, the dance with the theme of “Rockin’ through the Ages” will take place.
Each day of the week will have a different theme attached.
Here’s the schedule for the week, which includes the different theme for each day:
• Monday — Pajama Day (put the Hornets to sleep)
• Tuesday — Team Day (wear your favorite football team apparel)
• Wednesday — Peace out to Violence (wear retro/60s clothes to show support for the fight against violence)
• Thursday — Twin Day (confuse the Hornets)
• Friday — Sunday Best/Best Dressed (outclass the Hornets)