It’s official, Tommy Battle will serve as Huntsville’s mayor for a fifth term. The Huntsville City Council declared Tommy Battle the winner of the 2024 mayor’s race Thursday night. City Attorney Trey Riley told the council state law allowed it to do so if a mayoral candidate is running unopposed. No other candidate qualified as Battle sought a fifth term. AL.com reports the action means Huntsville will save money by not having a citywide election on Aug. 27 with only Battle’s name on the ballot. There will still be city council and school board races in District 1 and District 5.
The Huntsville Planning Commission approved zoning that will restrict the southern part of the Greenbrier Preserve development in Limestone County to single family homes. Developers want to build 401 homes on the 94-acre site south of Swancott Road and west of Rabbit Lane. Previous zoning would have allowed them to build more than 1,000 townhomes, 660 apartment units and a hotel on the site that is being called Greenbrier Preserve South. The planned development zoning still must be approved by the Huntsville City Council, which will hold a public hearing before its vote on July 25.
The city of Huntsville has closed the cross country and disc golf courses at John Hunt Park. Following harsh winter weather, shrubs and sod are being planted. Parks & Recreation Director James Gossett tells 256 Today the sprigs and sod will be watered frequently, and foot traffic on the affected areas must be kept to a minimum. The walking path is not closed. Gossett says they anticipate the course being closed until September.
The Huntsville Metropolitan Planning Organization wants to hear from bikers throughout Huntsville and Madison County on how riding can be made safer and more enjoyable. They are developing a plan to create a safer and more connected bicycle network within the Huntsville, Madison, Madison County, Triana and Owens Cross Roads areas. The MPO is encouraging bicyclists to share feedback through an online survey and interactive map available through Aug. 30. More information is at www.huntsvilleal.gov.
The Alabama State Bar has created a website intended to help people get legal help and understand key information about the court system. A press release from the State Bar says the new site, www.Justice4AL.com, is easy to navigate and directs people to services in their area. People can use the new platform to obtain legal help with problems such as collections disputes, neglectful landlords, wills, child support and custody issues, and in other areas. AL.com reports Justice4AL.com also has information about courthouses, court personnel, and legal procedures.
With temperatures reaching the upper 90s and heat indices over 100 degrees this week, Huntsville Animal Services wants to remind pet owners to take extra precautions to keep their pets safe and comfortable. Pets are at significant risk of heat-related illnesses, which can be life-threatening if not addressed promptly. Ensure your pets have access to fresh, clean water. Avoid exercising your pets during the peak heat of the day. Long walks on hot pavement can hurt their paws. And never leave pets in parked cars. During the summer heat, animals in the shelter experience added stress because they cannot exercise outside as often. Huntsville Animal Services says this makes pet adoptions more crucial than ever.
The Alabama Department of Transportation is expecting an increase in traffic volume during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday weekend. For everyone’s safety, ALDOT announces there will be no temporary lane closures on Alabama interstates from Wednesday, July 3 through Sunday, July 7. Drivers planning their holiday travel route can find Alabama traffic and road condition information, including traffic camera feeds at www.ALGOtraffic.com or by downloading the ALGO Traffic app.