Leeds Council waives tax penalty for local industrial equipment business

By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune

LEEDS, Ala.–The Leeds City Council voted to waive a tax delinquency penalty for Orbis JCB, a local industrial equipment supplier business in the city, during a short meeting on Monday, Oct. 21.

The meeting began with Mayor David Miller giving an update on the progress of the children’s playground at Leeds Memorial Park, saying that the project should be completed soon as equipment continues to be installed and is being brought into compliance with the American Disabilities Act.

Millier also addressed a sewer project on Highway 25 that he said had garnered some criticism from residents online who say that it has caused issues for them. He said that the city government was not at fault.

“Let me tell you, the city doesn’t have anything to do with that,” he said. “That is a Jefferson County sewer project. We didn’t ask for it. We didn’t have to approve it. We couldn’t disapprove it. We don’t have anything to say about the way they conduct it. So if you have a problem with it, call Jefferson County.”

The council then held a public hearing for the tax delinquency penalty.

Prior to the meeting, Orbis JCB had been served a notice that stated the company had not made timely payments on the city’s occupational tax.

Karen Chappell, Orbis’ executive administrator, said she was told that the company was in violation of the occupational tax and business license in September and that she had not known about the tax.

Chappell, who had worked for Southland Machinery before it was purchased by Orbis in 2021, went on to say that there had apparently been some confusion after Orbis purchased Southland and pointed out that Orbis has paid more than $200,000 to the city in sales tax and $9,000 for their business license last year.

She added that they have set up their system to pay the occupational tax and asked the council for leniency as the fine would hurt them.

The council then went into executive session for 15 minutes before returning and voting unanimously to waive the fine.

In other business the council:

• Declared a property on 7092 Mountain View Lane to be a public nuisance
• Approved purchasing a liquid spring suspension system for a city ambulance not to exceed $17,000 and to be paid with St. Clair County funds,
• Approved a charity bingo application for Vann’s
• Approved the 2025 Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday and
• Authorized an agreement with St. Clair County for ambulance services.

Meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of every month at City Hall on 1400 9^th Street Northeast. Agenda packets can be seen online at the City of Leeds website.

Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.com.