VALLEY — The Valley City Council on Monday held a second first reading of an ordinance to sell property to Chris Clark Properties LLC with the goal of building a new housing subdivision.

The initial first reading was held for the ordinance on Nov. 12. It contained the following three restrictions:

• That no lot in the subdivision would be sold without a residential structure on it that’s at least 1,400 square feet in size and with a carport;

• That no lot, or portion of a lot, be sold for commercial purposes for at least five years;

• That the sale be subject to city zoning.

The second restriction, the one on commercial property, has been dropped from the proposed ordinance under consideration. The other two are still included.

The city-owned property proposed for sale is in two tracts that are collectively 40 acres in size. The land is on the north side of Combs Road, not far from the former WestPoint Home Transportation Center. The agreed-to sale price is just under $205,000.

The sale would be approved following a second reading at next Monday’s 6 p.m. council meeting. The council suspended the rules and adopted on a first reading an ordinance setting the speed limit on Valley Industrial Drive. It’s 35 mph with penalties being the same as a speeding fine on any other street in the city. That speed limit is now in effect.

Also on Monday, the city announced it has agreed to the purchase of an $80,000 tractor for about $20,000. The new tractor being purchased for the Public Works Department is a Massey Ferguson being purchased from the state bid list. It’s valued at just under $79,000. The city is getting it for just over $23,000 The price is substantially lowered with the inclusion of two city-owned tractors that have been declared surplus.

“We got good service out of those tractors, but we’ve had them 13-14 years,” Bolt said.

Bolt said work is continuing on the cemetery expansion at Fairview.

“We’ll be carrying topsoil there,” he said. “We still have some work to at Fairview. We will be putting in a new road at the cemetery next spring.”

The council approved a new contract for Harris Gray, LLC to provide professional engineering, project management, surveying and consulting services. It’s at the same rate as last year.

Councilwoman Cassie Carlisle thanked Patrick Bolt and Planning & Development Director Travis Carter for making a recent appearance at a Neighborhood Watch meeting in River View.

Councilman Henry Cooper thanked Bolt and his department for recent work in his district. He also congratulated the Lanett High Panthers on having won a third-round state playoff game this past Friday night at Ram Stadium, which was used due to playing conditions at Morgan-Washburn Stadium. Cooper wished them good luck in this Friday’s semifinal game at Sweet Water.

“You don’t get to Sweet Water, Alabama by accident,” joked the mayor. “You don’t just wander there.”