Monday, June 9 the Duck Hill Board of Alderman held their final term meeting beginning at 6 p.m. This meeting marked the end of the term for elected officials, with the new term beginning in July. Much was discussed over the nearly forty minute duration of the meeting. Following the usual business including accepting the police report and minutes for the prior month, as well as hearing the engineer report, the Board held a public hearing concerning the Corner Cafe.
“Okay, so we have a zoning variance for 306 Martin Luther King - Mrs. Vicky Crocket. That’s for The Corner [Cafe]. We’ll have the public hearing - and we have 16 in favor [of holding the hearing] and one opposed,” Mayor White introduced the topic of discussion.
Following this, the public meeting was opened, allowing the Board to hear feedback from the community on the issue of providing a special variance for the Corner Cafe. Many individuals from the community had attended the meeting. The boardroom was filled to capacity as well as some attendees standing in the doorway, the hallway, and the entrance room of City Hall.
“The thing is, I feel like it should be tabled until we get the health department and fire department to check it, because of it being old and disconnected from everything, before we vote for the variance,” Alderwoman Shernell Brown Everett weighed in.
“We’re not saying that we’re not [voting for the variance], we’re just saying that those are two things that need [to be done]. That, according to our code, every building needs to be brought up to code,” she added.
At this point, Board Attorney Adam Kirk explained that he believed the variance could be approved pending health department and fire department inspections and approval.
“You can do one of two things. You can approve it pending those health department and fire department inspections, or you can let them be done first and then consider it,” Attorney Kirk stated.
Following this advice, Alderman Christopher Caldwell explained that he believed the property was privately owned. Attorney Kirk replied that if the building is being used for a business and food is being sold on the premises, it would require a health department inspection. At this point, it was requested by the audience that the Board clarify why the Cafe was now under close scrutiny to be in compliance with code, although it has been open for many years without issue.
“Okay, this is what we’re saying. We’re trying to - our ordinance, our statutes and stuff have not been changed since 1975. In order for us to go after extra grant money, it has to be brought up to code. And we’re not up to code,” Alderwoman Everett began her explanation.
“We’re not saying nothin’s been shut down, but we’re saying these are things - not only there, around the town period - these are things that have to be done now in order for us to move forward. It’s not saying nothin’ is gonna happen, it’s not saying business as usual, but it’s saying that we have to be able to do these things,” she added.
There was a discontented commotion from the audience, with many arguing that the Cafe has been a long-standing establishment in the community and it did not make sense to bring the issue up now, after all these years of it being in operation. Following this, Alderwoman Likisha Small weighed in, explaining that the Board is attempting to ensure that all is in order with the zoning prior to allowing a variance for The Cafe. She explained that she and the Board were only attempting to uphold the ordinance of the town. After her explanation, the audience voiced that it appeared that The Corner was being singled out and that other buildings or businesses were not receiving the same scrutiny from the Board. This was followed up by Alderman Caldwell weighing into the discussion.
“It should all depend on the type of variance, right? Because if they’re applying to make it a business, then that stuff should be brought in. - If they were trying to get a business variance, I would say let’s move forward with what Mrs. Shernell’s got on the table. But if it’s a different type of variance - like that’s a private social club, that’s just like if you had something in your backyard and you had something every weekend, we shouldn’t come to your private property to tell you what you should and shouldn’t do. If we’re gonna do it for one, we have to do it for everybody,” Alderman Caldwell stated on the subject.
Attorney Kirk addressed the issue, explaining that he believed as long as food was being sold the health department may need to be involved, however if food is being prepared but not sold then the health department may not need to be involved.
“We’re just like one big ole family, everybody pitch in, they buy stuff [for] each other, cook, we bring stuff up there on The Corner - we share it. Nobody’s not trying to sell anything. We do this for the community and for ourselves. And it’s not a business,” one resident addressed the Board on the subject.
She went on to explain that The Corner was not a business and no alcohol or food was being sold on the premises. She stated that people may bring their own alcohol, but it is not sold there, and oftentimes they prepare food together but do not sell it. Following these notes, the public hearing portion of the meeting was called to a close by Mayor White and followed up by Board discussion on what action to take.
Alderman Caldwell motioned to allow for the variance for The Corner Cafe under the condition that it operates as a social club, however the motion fell dead at the table as it received no second. After further discussion, the Board agreed to allow a variance contingent on the city ordinance officer inspecting the building to determine whether it is up to code. If the building is up to code, the variance will be allowed, if not, the Board will revisit the issue at the next meeting. This motion was made by Alderman Caldwell and seconded by Alderwoman Small with Alderwoman Linda Bennett in favor and Alderwoman Everett opposed. Alderwoman Morgan Eskridge was absent from the meeting and therefore did not vote. The motion passed on a majority vote.
In other news, the Board:
• Approved for a cleanup day on July 3, prior to any Fourth of July festivities.
• Addressed several road issues which need to be inspected.
• Approved the reservation for the gym for July 23-25 for a basketball camp.
• Approved a trailer home variance request.
• Heard that the Summer Feeding Program would begin Wednesday, June 10 from 12-1:30 p.m. at the Community House. This will take place every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday until July 30.
• Decided to hold the swearing in for the new term Board members on July 14, 2025 at City Hall at 5:30 p.m. prior to the regularly scheduled July Board meeting.
