By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

PELHAM – The Pelham City Council took action on ordinances regarding food trucks and the rezoning of Riverchase Middle School at a May 4 meeting.

The council voted to suspend the rules and vote on a business license ordinance for food trucks after the first reading of the ordinance, which was initially presented at an April 20 council meeting and revised to include an appeal process available if an exception request for a food truck is denied by the mayor.

The council approved the license ordinance with revisions May 4 and its sister ordinance, which contains zoning guidelines for food trucks.

“This is just a great opportunity for us,” Hayes said.

The council also approved for the RMS property’s zoning to change from A-1 (Agricultural) to O & I (Office & Institutional).

The Pelham Board of Education approved an agreement in February to sell the RMS property to Shades Mountain Christian School, a private school, for $4.25 million.

In order for a private school to legally operate on the property, the zoning had to be changed from A-1.

The sale of the RMS property is one piece of a nearly $50 million building plan for Pelham City Schools.

A new middle school, Pelham Park, will be constructed on land in Pelham City Park on property adjacent to Belle Vista Mobile Home Park.

The agreement between PCS and Shades Mountain maintains that RMS will operate in its current facility for two more years until Pelham Park opens in 2017.

In other business May 4, the council:

•Approved an ordinance related to zoning for R-G Garden Home Residential District.

•Approved an ordinance related to compliance with zoning and codes to obtain utility service.

•Approved donating $400 to assist American Legion Matthew Blount Post 555 in sponsoring two Pelham High School juniors for Alabama Girls State.

•Approved rejecting all bids for the purpose of upgrading I.T. switches citywide.

•Announced the Pelham City Council’s May 18 meeting has been rescheduled to May 19 because of the Alabama League of Municipalities annual convention.