ALBERTVILLE — The Albertville City Council on Friday authorized Mayor Tracy Honea to negotiate the purchase of a building currently leased by Sears Holdings that is the site of Kmart, which will be closing at the end of the month.

The negotiations involve only the building, not the property. The city would pay the lease on the building. The council authorized a bond issue to make the purchase.

It also authorized an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation for the instatallation and maintenance of traffic control signals on Alabama Highway 75 at Sand Mountain Drive (both North and South), Alabama Highway 205, Scott Avenue and McKinney Avenue.

Following a public hearing, the council rezoned property at 604 Eunice St. from R-1 to R-2, at the request of Jon Gary.