By Ashley Toland Editor

All’s been quiet the last couple of city council meetings, except some actual noise about hypothetical noise, puke and poo on LoDa. This delectable debate began at the Jan. 16 meeting when Donna Brown, who works for downtown attorneys Braxton Kittrell and Buster Middlebrooks, voiced concerns to the council about the impending opening of Bizmark Saloon, whose owners plan to set up shop in the former Soul Kitchen/Southside location at 455 Dauphin St.

The bar’s liquor license was on the agenda for council approval, and Brown took the opportunity to speculate what the affect would be on the area, especially considering the surge of residential and commercial development since a bar had last operated at that location.

Brown said when previous bars were there, people would “vomit and defecate” in the nearby doorways. She also contended the noise was a nuisance to residents and there was an increased number of break-ins.

District Two Councilman William Carroll laid it over for a week so he could have a chance to schedule a meeting between the bar owner and nearby residents and business owners.

According to one of Bizmark’s owners, Christopher Corey, the meeting, held on Monday, Jan. 22, “alleviated their concerns.” He said they all vowed to have “mutual respect” for one another and would keep the lines of communications open. No opponents showed up at the Jan. 23 council meeting and the license was unanimously approved.

Though this license was approved, many long-time bar owners fear this is only the beginning of opposition they are going to face with the increasing number of residents and businesses moving downtown.

Soul Kitchen owner Brad Young, who operated out of 455 Dauphin before moving to a bigger location a few blocks east, said the residents and business owners at the meeting basically blamed every crime that happened during that timeframe in downtown on Soul Kitchen patrons and employees-a notion he found ludicrous.

Another source of the bar owners’ fears comes from a downtown-specific noise ordinance currently being drafted by the Downtown Mobile Alliance.

DMA Director Elizabeth Sanders and Councilman Carroll have told Lagniappe repeatedly this is not designed to change the way downtown bars currently operate. They say it will serve to not only protect residents from ridiculously obnoxious noise, but also the bar owners from ridiculously sensitive residents who may call the police every time they hear the slightest bump (or more likely thump) in the night.

Councilman Carroll said the latest draft of the noise ordinance was not yet finalized.

Williams, Hicks in run-off for District Four, March 6

The chair between Clinton Johnson and Reggie Copeland will remain empty for a few more weeks, as the very few District Four voters who turned out Tuesday, Jan. 23 were unable to definitively choose a candidate for the spot vacated by Ben Brooks in November. Brooks left after winning a state Senate seat.

Political newcomer John Williams, who Brooks endorsed, just missed being declared the outright winner with 1,162 votes or almost 49 percent. He will face former city councilman Mabin Hicks in a run-off Tuesday, March 6. Hicks captured 29 percent of the vote with 691votes, while software engineer Michael Sullivan garnered 531 votes. The polling locations will remain the same as the Jan. 23 election.

Drop everything!

District One councilman Fred Richardson wants to drop a giant moonpie from the top of the RSA tower beginning next New Year’s Eve. No, not for his own personal enjoyment. It would be akin to Atlanta’s 800-lb peach or Time Square’s crystal ball drop.

Richardson explained in great detail at the Jan. 23 council meeting that this wouldn’t be an actual moonpie, but rather a giant, confetti-filled replica. He said he wasn’t sure of the logistics yet, but RSA director David Bronner was on board with his plan.

Even though the dropping pie will be fake, Richardson says he has already talked to the Chattanooga Bakery about providing the “world’s largest moonpie” for everyone to munch on after the fake pie’s dissent. Considering, even the big “Double Decker” pies only have a diameter of maybe 3 or 4 inches, it shouldn’t take much to earn that distinction.

His fellow councilmen took great joy in ribbing him on this as well. Clinton Johnson just wanted to make sure the falling pie wouldn’t “slither” the crowd in melted marshmallow or chocolate syrup. Council president Copeland said he must insist that it be a chocolate marshmallow moonpie because that was “Mobile’s favorite,” which is debatable and will certainly outrage the rather large contingent of ‘nanner-flavored fans.

Though this seems a bit ridiculous at first glance, it may be just crazy and colorful enough to be the next strand to weave through the festive Mobile tapestry.

If this comes to fruition, moonpie societies honoring each flavor could form. There could be a week of parades and balls between Christmas and New Year’s featuring the Orders of Chocolate, Vanilla, Banana and the oh-so-elusive Orange.

As long as no one gets “slithered” in marshmallow, it sounds like fun. Not to mention an excellent way to spend taxpayer dollars.

Ashley Toland is Lagniappe editor. Contact her at ashleytoland@lagniappemobile.com.

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