by Sean Macken

Much of Tuesday’s Long Beach Board of Aldermen addressed old issues in an attempt to close at City Hall. Mayor Pro Tempore Mark Lishen chaired the meeting in Mayor George Bass’s absence. Additionally, Aldermen Donald Frazer and Patricia Bennett were absent.

First, the property owner at 108 N. Jeff Davis Ave. provided the board an update on addressing an earlier directive to hide or remove cars in disrepair and improve the landscaping. The owner indicated a privacy fence had been erected to hide disabled vehicles and confirmed vehicles had been moved off city property. The board provided the owner 2-week extension to dispose of additional disabled vehicles and to erect additional sections of a white picket fence if Aaron’s Rental Center agrees. The owner must appear at the April 26, 2019 board meeting to hopefully close out the actions cited by the Board of Aldermen.

Willie’s Fuel & Bait, LLC received unanimous approval to enter into a lease agreement with the Port Commission to run a bait shop at the Long Beach Harbor.

The board formally approved the selection of Shea Crosby to fill the open seat on the Library Association Board. The seat has remained open as Alderman Bernie Parker worked with the Library Association to move their monthly meeting to later in the afternoon to accommodate the interested Mrs. Crosby.

Attention then turned to two requests from the Christian Motorcycle Association to hold multiple events on the Town Green, September 20-22 2019. The board unanimously approved the association’s request to hold their Annual Motorcycle Rally and “Son and Sand” rallies on the Town Green and to have the normal fees waived.

Long Beach High School’s DECA chapter received board approval to use the Town Green as the center point of their May 4, 2019 March of Dimes walk. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

Mayor Pro Tempore Lishen directed the City Attorney Jim Simpson to work with the Building Department to make corrections and updates to Ordinance 598 (Unified Land Use) for future adoption by the Board of Aldermen.

The meeting closed out with the board approving two personnel actions within the Police Department – 1 resignation and 1 new hire.