Northport Repeals Voting Requirement To Sell Community Center Property

NORTHPORT, AL — The Northport City Council on Monday approved repealing a longstanding resolution requiring a unanimous vote of the City Council to sell property used for parks and recreation.

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This action by the city's elected leaders is primarily the result of a push to market and potentially sell the property that is home to the Northport Community Center and its adjoining park.

In a show of opposition, members of the public filled the council chambers until it was standing room only, with four residents addressing the council.

The council ultimately voted 3-2 in favor of repealing the resolution, with District 1 Councilwoman Christy Bobo and District 4 Councilwoman Jamie Dykes voting against it.

"I see both sides of the argument, but ultimately decided that it is my duty to speak up for District 1," Bobo told Patch following the meeting.

City Council President Jeff Hogg pointed out that repealing the resolution does not mean the park is being sold, despite the city entering a 180-day due diligence period with Beeker Property Group to market the property to then become a new retail development.

District 3 Councilman Karl Wiggins voted in favor of repealing the resolution and explained his rationale to Patch.

"We’re never going to appease folks who want us to do nothing to the park and Community Center except by voting the potential sale down," Wiggins said. "However, we can still do that when we get the proposal back. The mayor and council are working on multiple fronts to try to address issues that citizens have spoken to us about, including working on other park properties and talking to the developers about citizen concerns. And I want to give that process time to play out. If we had voted to uphold 93-029 tonight, the process would have effectively been over. ... There are a lot of people who want to see this happen in the community."

Northport resident Travis Moore spoke in opposition to repealing the resolution, arguing that it would erode faith in the City Council and change the longstanding rules to allow for a simple majority to vote to sell city property.

"The repeal has all the hallmarks of corrupt, backroom dealing," Moore said. "Members have touted that they are pursuing the wishes of the public without providing any quantified data to back up their claims. Members of this council have blocked concerned citizens on social media in an attempt to silence their dissent."

In the lead-up to the vote Monday night, Amy LeePard presented a 131-page petition with 642 signatures from "citizens and visitors to the City of Northport."

Organizers hoping to save the park have collected signatures at the Northport Farmers Market, and the Northport Community Center.

"This park and this community center are important to us," LeePard said. "They're well-used and well-loved spaces and people in Northport want to retain this park and community center for its continued use now and into the future for our future generations."

Despite voting in favor of repealing the resolution, Wiggins expressed hope for the possibilities in the future.

"I’m hoping we can come to a compromise that will preserve some green space, give seniors a replacement gathering spot, provide a playground in close proximity, and upgrade our community center facilities," he said. "That’s what we’re working on."

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