A once-debated car wash at Bainbridge’s busy Five Points intersection has been given the approval to remain open on a permanent basis.

At its Tuesday meeting, the Bainbridge City Council voted 5-0 to approve a conditional use request from Barry Shine to allow his car wash, “The Wash,” located at 816 Scott St., in a Neighborhood Business (NB) zone.

The City Council paved the way for businesses like Shine’s in October, when it amended the city’s zoning ordinance to allow manual car washes in the NB zone.

City Councilman Greg Waddell abstained from the vote and excused himself from the council chambers during consideration of Shine’s request. Shine is leasing the property from businessman Chad Waddell, who is Councilman Waddell’s brother.

Shine’s car wash had been controversial because city officials initially granted him an occupational tax certificate in August despite the fact that car washes were previously not allowed in the NB zone. Several of Shine’s Five Points neighbors had voiced opposition to the car wash because of concerns about possible noise and customer loitering.

Other business

In other business, the council:

• Approved, by unanimous vote, a conditional use request from Justin Pelletier, who plans to sell and repair motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, parts and riding apparel at 421 Planter St.

• Approved, by unanimous vote, a conditional use request from Nelson Chapel AME Church to allow a Day Care Learning Center at 640 Hall St.

• Amended, by unanimous vote, the city’s Future Land Use map to correlate with the zoning changes made for the following properties: 103 Thomas St., 1602 Dothan Road, city borrow pit and landfill along Avenue C.

• Approved, in two separate unanimous votes, renewal of all existing alcoholic beverage licenses and a new license application submitted by Mina Modi, doing business as Roy’s Package Store at 204 W. Louise St., for sales of beer, wine and spirits for off-premises consumption.

• Approved a request from the Hutto High Classes of 1955-1963 Reunion Committee for permission to extend the hours of American Legion Post No. 502, located on Albany Road, until 2 a.m. on Dec. 20. City Manager Chris Hobby said the party will still have to abide by city rules that state alcohol may not be sold, served or available to patrons after midnight.

Bills

In a unanimous vote, the council approved the following bills: $50,000 from Thomasville Utilities of Thomasville, Ga., for design, permitting, engineering and project management for fiber optic ring; $23,244 from Public Risk Underwriters off Lake Mary, Fla., for natural gas system liability insurance; $10,500 from Decatur County Tax Commissioner of Bainbridge for collection of city property tax; $15,000 from Melrose South Pyrotechnics of Catawba, S.C., for Fourth of July fireworks; $10,050 from Georgia Department of Natural Resources of Atlanta, Ga., for drinking water testing fees; $37,346.25 from Decatur County Commissioners for monthly landfill, inmate housing and inmate labor charges; four invoices of $3,736, $5,930.49, $10,125 and $9,555 to Jim York and Associates for design of Church Street pump station, sampling related to landfill closure, professional services on sewer system at new Bainbridge High School and professional services on Phase II of the city’s sewer master plan completion project, respectively.