The establishment of a planning commission, a separate postal identify, the pending sale of bonds, petitions for annexation and the receipt of county funds for the volunteer fire department were highlights of the July meeting of Westover City Council.

The council

unanimously passed an ordinance to establish the city’s first planning commission.

After the regular council meeting, members of the recently appointed planning commission met in a work session to set a meeting schedule and to select officers.

The planning commission will hold public meetings the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. and is composed of three ex officio members and six appointed members.

Serving as ex officio members are Mayor Roger West, City Clerk Wayne Jones and Councilmember Susan Wooten.

The six appointed members include Betty Elliott, Jo Mann, Chairman Pro Tem Terry Gardner, Chairman George McKinnon,

Annette Tyler and Secretary Melissa Wilson.

The planning commission is expected to establish term limits for its membership at its first official meeting.

Terms will range from one to six years.

West reported that he has received a request for information regarding the establishment of a Westover postal zip code and delivery service.

He said the U.S. Postal Service has asked for a map of Westover and the names and addresses of every resident within the corporate limits.

The mayor explained that the request was received through the office of Sixth Congressional District U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, who has been assisting the city in its efforts to establish its own postal identity.

West also said the effort to establish a Westover zip code is now in its third year and that Bachus has volunteered to continue his assistance.

Councilmember Larry Riggins reported that bonds to fund a more than $6 million sewer project have not been sold at this time.

Mark McLaughlin, who serves as vice chairman of the GUSC (Governmental Utilities Service Commission) board, said the investment banker (Bank of Alabama) is fine tuning the bond issue and that the bonds will be offered for sale during the next couple of weeks.

Fire Chief

Charles Barnes reported that petitions for annexation have been received from Sandra and Edward Bahr of Westover Road and from Olan Short and Michelle Kent, both of Shelby County Road 55.

West added that a petition for annexation has also been received from John and Charlotte Lusco of County Road 55.

Shelby County Commissioner Ted Crockett presented a check in the amount of $2,000 from the County Commission to Barnes for the volunteer fire department.

Crockett explained that the Westover Volunteer Fire Department is eligible for the county support because it does not have a tax district and that the County Commission feels that fire protection is &uot;important.&uot;

He said volunteer fire departments help keep the cost of fire insurance down. Barnes said Westover does not collect mandatory fire dues. The council will hold its next regular meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13