By Jennifer Brady/The Leeds News

The Moody City Council will get a closer look this week at a new business in Moody that will bring a new concept in sports known as ‘drifting’ to the area. U-Drift, located on Moody Parkway in the old Alabama Auto Auction facility, has a concrete lot where drivers can engage in drifting. The business also houses a free arcade and go-carts, among other activities.

Mayor Joe Lee explained that the city had received several complaints from residents in the neighborhoods around U-Drift. Owner Chris Nunneley addressed the council Monday night saying he was excited to be in Moody and wanted to put the council’s concerns at ease. “My plan is to erect brand new sound barriers,” Nunnelly said. “I will do anything it takes to make this a good fit for Moody and for U-Drift.” Nunneley said he believed every city should have a tourist draw.

“Last Saturday, without any advertising at all, we had over 125 people come out to a four-hour event at our facility,” he said. “We had people from Huntsville, Montgomery and, of course, Leeds and Moody.” Nunneley said he has $3 million liability insurance for the business and that he is looking into changing his operating hours. “We were running in the evening last Saturday and I think that was a mistake on my part,” he said. “I think it would be best if we were open during the day and peak (Hwy.) 411 hours.”

City Attorney Bill Weathington said he would look into whether the new sound barriers U-Drift wanted to use fit into the city’s aesthetic zoning. He also explained that the business may not be operating in the proper zone and that there could be a possible business license issue. Nunneley may have to go before the Zoning Board of Adjustments, Weathington added.

Mayor Lee asked the council to get together and go look at the facility and its operations before discussing it further. The council voted to do so this week with Nunneley and to hold a work session on Monday, November 2 at 6 p.m. to discuss the business. More information on the U-Drift business can be found at www.U-Drift.com.

The council also addressed the following items:

• approved the purchase of four tires for police car 306 at a total cost of 4429.36;

• agreed to renew the city’s contract with River Tree Audit Services to continue examination services of all businesses and taxes reported in Moody;

• approved Resolution 2009-10-26 regarding ALDOT working on Hwy. 78 in Moody and St. Clair County portions of the road;

• heard from Brad Tollison of Bethel Baptist Church regarding the city helping identify local families in need of construction assistance on their homes and a youth group from Bethel helping with those needs;

• approved the budgeted donation of $500 to Children’s Place;

• approved appointing Dave Treadwell to the GUS Board;

• approved $5,100 for employee human resource training.

• heard from Chester Greene regarding the Christmas parade and the corner in front of CVS. Some drivers are cutting the corner at that intersection. Mayor Lee said he is trying to work with the developer on putting grass there instead of asphalt. Weathington added that ALDOT would also have to approve any work done on that location as well.

The next scheduled Moody City Council meeting is Monday, November 9 at 6 p.m. at Moody City Hall.