ROBERTSDALE, Alabama -- Residents of West Hammond Street spoke to the Robertsdale City Council on Monday asking the city to take action against a business they say is in violation of the city’s zoning ordinance.

The business is located on Highway 59 but, residents say, is using a lot on West Hammond Street for business overflow, despite the fact that the lot is in a residential district.

“We just want the city to follow the letter of the law and do something about this,” said Brenda Breedlove.

It’s not that simple, said Mayor Charles Murphy.

“There’s a lot of gray area here and I really don’t see where they are in violation of the ordinance,” Murphy said. “If we bring this matter to court, I’m really not sure if we’re going to get a conviction and we need probable cause to bring it to court.”

The lot, which is zoned R-2, allows for residential duplexes, Murphy said.

“If they were using the lot for a multi-residential apartment complex, that would be a direct violation of the ordinance,” Murphy said. “Since they are not using it for that purpose, I’m not sure what we can do.”

But, residents say, the business, an auto repair shop, is using the lot for storage and to park overflow vehicles, which is a violation of the ordinance.

“They are using it for their business and since it is not zoned for business, that is a violation of the ordinance,” Breedlove said.

Breedlove said she has taken photos and kept a daily record of violations on the property.

One such violation that was brought to the attention of the city, parking vehicles that were being repaired on the property, was responded to by the city, Murphy said, but when officials went to check on the violation, the vehicles had been removed.

“He (the owner of the business) has been very cooperative with us,” Murphy said. “But we will do everything we can to get this matter resolved.”

When asked what they would like done, residents said there is asphalt stacked on the property that needs to be removed and they would like the business to stop parking vehicles on the property overnight.

Murphy assured residents that the matter would be looked into.

In other business Monday, the council approved annexation requests from five residents in the Oakdale Estates subdivision.

The requests were made by John Wiley, Kenneth Prine, Michael Chang, Claude Bellomy and Norman Wiley, all residents of Oakdale Lane, which is located off of Buck Road between Wilters Street and Silverhill Avenue.

To pass the ordinances, the council first voted to suspend the rules then passed the measures by roll-call vote. Both measures were passed unanimously with all council members present at Monday’s meeting.

The council also voted to renew its $2 million line of credit with Citizens’ Bank for use in case of a hurricane.

The line of credit was implemented after Hurricane Ivan and has never been used, Murphy said. The account was set up because, following Hurricane Ivan, the city had to borrow $1.4 million after incurring more than $3 million in expenses.

The council also voted to donate $500 to the Robertsdale High School Dance Team to attend a camp at Louisiana State University which begins July 12.

The council tabled action requested by Jon Butler for the city to add the words “In God We Trust” in the council’s chambers.

Butler said the request is part of a grass-roots effort that began in California to add the words, which is the national motto, in meeting places at all levels of government.

“Through the years our nation is being separated further and further from God,” he said, “and we’re trying to do everything we can to honor God. This is the Bible Belt of Alabama. If they can do this in California, I see no reason why it can’t be done here.”

Butler said the idea was brought to the Foley City Council in June and plans are to bring the idea in front of all municipalities and the County Commission.

There is no objection to the matter, Murphy said. The matter was tabled for review by the city attorney to ensure there were no legal issues.