Flomaton is ready again to try zoning

Although Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant, Jr., scratched “Discuss formation and/or possible set up of a planning commission” prior to Monday afternoon's council meeting the council adjourned later giving the mayor permission to start the ball rolling on getting a zoning ordinance for Flomaton.

Councilman Roger Adkinson said they all knew businesses weren't going to come to Flomaton without zoning so “When are we going to do it”.

Mayor Bondurant said he's been working the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission and Alabama Power on developing zoning, but took it off agenda because it wasn't ready to present.

The mayor said Flomaton had zoning at one time but it was abandoned during the Mayor Leon Holt administration.

“We need to do this to make our town grow,” Councilman Roger Adkinson said.

Adkinson said since 2000 the issue has come before the council, but the council as a whole runs scared. He said committees did the work, public hearings were held and it dies at the council table.

“It doesn't matter how mad they get, if we say we're for the town we need to vote,” Adkinson said. “It's happened twice since I've been here.”

“If we can't sit here and say this is the best thing for the town we shouldn't be here,” Adkinson said. “We need the courage to follow it up with a vote. If we're not going to follow up with the vote, don't waste our time.”

“They can't fire me, I'll quit,” Adkinson added. “I don't know if they (businesses) will come, but I guarantee they won't come without it. We need to stand up and do what's best for the town. That's why we are sitting here.”

Mayor Bondurant asked the council if they wanted him to proceed and the council said yes.