Last week the second vote to see whether or not to rezone property beside Iola Roberts Elementary School for a general business district failed to materialize.

The property owners wanted the property rezoned so an O’Reilly Auto Parts store could be built on the property adjacent to Iola Roberts Elementary School.

Mayor Bill Hereford asked for a motion to rezone the property. Councilman Donnie Todd made a motion to rezone the property.

But the motion died for a lack of a second on the matter. It was reported that residents in attendance who opposed the rezoning applauded.

Also at Monday’s meeting, the city had its first reading of an ordinance that would increase the sales tax by one-percent.

The city will hold two public hearings so residents will be able to provide public input to the tax increase.

The first public hearing was Saturday at City Hall. Around 200 people showed up to that event and many on hand were from the Pell City School System. The second hearing will be Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., before the council takes up the motion for a final vote on Monday, February 8.

Today at 11:45 a.m. at Jefferson State Community College campus in Pell City, Mayor Hereford will give his State of the City Address during Dialog Days; a public forum intended to raise awareness of issues in the area.

Topics will include: the V.A. Home, Hospital, Sewer and water management, Avondale Mills property, the 2010 Census, changing form of government, finance, annexation and police jurisdiction