The Leeds City Council approved an ABC license on Monday night in the next step of opening Caney Fork Restaurant at the old Santa Fe location on Ashville Road.

Leeds is one of six cities in the south set to open a Caney Fork Restaurant in its first initiative this year. Other cities in Alabama include Bessemer and Gadsden. Nashville has been home to the original restaurant for the last five years and two other locations recently opened in Tupelo and Columbus, Mississippi. 

Marc Barhonovich, owner of the original Caney Fork, renegotiated the lease with Santa Fe on the locations. Barhonovich said he is excited about opening the Leeds location. “I love it here,” he said adding he believes Leeds is a great place for the restaurant and they look forward to becoming part of the community.

Caney Fork Restaurant is a causal authentic southern fare restaurant serving steak, catfish and ribs along with a variety of other items such as fried pickles, corn fritters, pork tenderloin, burgers, salads and southern favorites for desert including cobbler and pudding. “We are excited to have them here,” said Mayor Eric Patterson on Monday night.

Caney Fork Restaurant is set to open the Leeds location in approximately two weeks, bringing over 80 jobs to the city. Those interested in applying for employment can visit www.CaneyForkRestaurant.com or stop by the location to fill out an application.

The Leeds City Council addressed other issues within the city, on Monday, aimed at bringing more visitors to the area and creating more of a tourist draw. A hot topic on the minds of all the council members was the shape of the park and recreation facilities. A work session is set for Monday, March 22 at 5:30 p.m. to address the facilities. Everyone is invited to attend.

Members of the council would like to address the Leeds tennis courts, soccer fields and the influx of trash at Memorial Park and the walking tracks as well as other items.

Mayor Eric Patterson said he would like the council to look at the ordinances pertaining to the soccer fields at Leeds Memorial Park and to amend them to include only Leeds Youth Soccer. He added that the turf on the soccer fields needs to be repaired and is only getting worse considering the amount of traffic they withstand weekly from non-youth leagues and the public.

A community-wide cleanup is also in the works and will also be discussed during the meeting.

Other items included:

• approving Ordinance 2010-03-02 relating to debt retirement in the 2008 taxable general obligation warrant. Patterson said attorneys found that they could pay off and retire one bond before the maturity date and save the city approximately $76,000. It is one of four bonds from 2000-2002 in the amount of approximately $12 million addressing the debt of the city. The council suspended the rules and approved a motion to pay the debt off early;

• approving a resolution relating to a penalty refund request from ABBCO for an overpayment to the city in the amount of $372;

• tabling discussion about the train depot facility concerning security alarms at the location;

• approving to close two bank accounts. One account has a balance of $0. The other is an obsolete account and has a balance of $2,703. It will be transferred to the general fund;

• approving to participate in the Sex Offender Watch Program. Police Chief Ted Cook stated that the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary donated $500 that will be used toward the program;

• approving the sale of property on Parnell Street in Leeds;

• discussing the IRL Race and promoting the city of Leeds;

• tabling discussion of itinerant business licenses within the city to be discussed during work session;

• approving for sub-surface exploration for Leeds Fire Station #3;

• approving to set a public hearing on Monday, April 19 at 5:30 p.m. to rezone a I-1 property to B-2 for a daycare facility;

• approving to dissolve the Leeds Men’s Softball League;

• approving to waiver the park fee for the American Legion Easter Egg Hunt.