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The Gardendale City Council on Monday night declared a portion of the property near the new UAB emergency room and medical facility surplus in order to sell the property to a hotel developer. The council suspended the rules of order to be able to immediately adopt the ordinance.

The hotel, a Spring Hill Suites, will be built on some of the undeveloped land off of Mt. Olive Road, near the UAB facility and Buffalo Wild Wings. The hotel will have an entrance on Caufield Drive, behind KFC.

Mayor Stan Hogeland said he hopes this is the beginning of more development on that property. The council and mayor have previously discussed their hopes that the property will eventually house eateries or entertainment venues that want to be close to the new medical center. UAB’s new facility is scheduled to open in early 2019.

“Hopefully that will help energize the rest of the property as well,” Hogeland told the council about the new hotel construction. The sale of the property will likely close in the new few weeks.

In other business, the council also:

•held a first reading of a possible new “small cell technology” that would be aimed at boosting cell phone service in the city. However, Hogeland said the measures would not be a traditional cell phone tower, but rather several smaller, more attractive booster towers that would not interfere with the aesthetics of neighborhoods. The council will take the matter up again at the next council meeting.

•approved the city’s participation in the annual Severe Weather Tax Holiday.

•approved a renewal of contract with Rivertree Systems Inc. for audit services.

•declared 1614 Fieldstown Road a nuisance.

•approved the awarding of the jail linen contract to Paramount Services Inc.

•approved the award of the city’s uniform dry cleaning bid to Gardendale Cleaners.

•approved a resolution granting a utility easement to Alabama Power along Mt. Olive Road.

•renamed Michael Road to HB Drive. The council said the change was requested by the only homeowner on the street.

•authorized the mayor to enter into a renegotiated lease agreement with Regional Paramedical Services, Inc. for space at 1309 Decatur Highway. This repeals and replaces the previous lease agreement.

•heard from Police Chief Mike Walker, who informed the council that the police department is currently working numerous leads on the various vehicle break-ins that have been occurring around the city. The chief once again asked that residents lock their vehicles, remove valuables and not leave guns in their cars, where they can be taken by thieves.

Walker said the department does believe the break-ins are related and may be the work of the same group. He said surveillance video that has captured the thieves shows them simply trying the handles on vehicles and moving on if the car is locked. No cars have been entered by force.

Police said that numerous guns have been stolen by being left in unlocked cars. They emphasized that these guns will likely be used in future crimes.

Residents are encouraged to lock their vehicles, even at home and ensure that all valuables are removed from the car or stored out of sight.

•leaf pickup is currently underway by the Street Department. A pickup can be scheduled by call the department at 631-3394.