Leeds — Monday night’s Leeds City Council meeting covered many hot topic issues.

The first topic to tackle was whether or not to increase the incoming mayor and council’s compensation. After tabling the discussion at the previous council meeting, council member Kenneth Washington, Mayor Eric Patterson, council member Susan Carswell and council member Charlotte Earnest voted to increase the incoming council’s pay from $400 to $600 per month and up the mayor’s salary from $24,990 to $36,000. Council member Johnny Kile voted no while council member Ross Bartee was excused from Monday’s meeting.

“Leeds is a complicated city, it takes a lot of work,” said Patterson.

Other items discussed:

* Leeds Jane Culbreth Library Director Mondretta Williams let the council and public know the library will be hosting a Friends of Leeds Library open house on Saturday, March 10 from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

The library will be hosting another celebration on Saturday, March 17. Call the library 205-699-5962 for details.

* Park and Recreation Department Supervisor George Keating emphasized the importance of staying off of the baseball fields at Memorial Park because they are still considered a construction zone.

“I’d prefer them not to take a sneak peek,” said Keating.

Opening day is still scheduled for March 8.

* Regarding streets and sanitation issues, Keating said the city is working on fixing the potholes that have recently come up do to the snaps of cold weather.

Mayor Patterson addressed the issue of apartment complexes on Highway 78 constantly dumping mattresses, couches and other items on the side of the road. Patterson asked the council to consider taking away the option for these businesses to take part in the limb pick up removal provided by the city and asked them to come up with other options to alleviate this problem but still accommodate the complexes.

“This makes the city really look terrible. Some people are really abusing the system,” said Patterson.

Keating said he made three runs to one apartment complex last week alone.

“You don’t get this type of service everywhere. Leeds, Birmingham and Mountain Brook are about the only three that I know who do it. I ask the council to think about it and help come up with a solution,” said Patterson.

*Things heated up when new business regarding ordinance 2012-02-05 relating to parks use regulations came before the council.

Under council member Kile’s interpretation of the ordinance he does not agree with the wording that an individual has to get permission from the mayor to be on the ball field.

“This really tears me up reading this. That’s a city park. We’re dealing with parents who want to spend time with their children. You can’t do this to kids,” said Kile. “To my understanding we’re trying to stop people from defacing the park. We need to do what’s right, and this is just wrong.”

After an intense discussion, council member Washington agreed with Kile saying the document did contradict itself.  Council member Carswell agreed with both the mayor and Kile.

“It obviously needs some cleaning up,” said Carswell.

At the suggestion of council member Earnest the council agreed to hold a work session involving the Leeds City Council, Leeds Youth Sports, the Parks and Recreation Board and city department heads to further discuss stipulations dealing with ordinance 2012-02-05.

The work session is tentatively scheduled at the Leeds Depot on Monday, March 12 at 5:30 p.m.

* During the portion of the meeting dedicated to public comment, Penny Huggins Bailey, a Leeds citizen and candidate for U.S. House of Representatives District six addressed the council.

“I’m from Leeds and I want to sincerely thank you for your public service,” said Bailey.

Questioning where the funds were coming from to fund the mayor and council’s salary increase, Bailey made a point to mention that police and fire departments had not received a raise in three to five years.

“Out on the campaign trail, I hear from people all over Leeds. The Leeds citizens feel like they’re not being heard. Your job is to listen to them and hear what they say, not to be dictators. The city needs to come together to work together in unity. That’s the Leeds I remember.”

The next Leeds City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 5 at 6:00 p.m. at the Leeds Civic Center.