By Lee Weyhrich
With council members Dawn Tanner and Joy McCain absent from Thursday’s Pinson City Council meeting, the docket was light.
Once again, a major topic of discussion was the new park. While most of the feedback regarding the park has been positive, the council is still addressing some issues. One of these includes rough spots, ruts, and potential hazards on the grounds themselves. The council voted to rent a backhoe at an estimated cost of $1,500 to $2,000 to repair these rough spots.
The council is also working on getting additional trash cans, benches and tables.
In other park news, the splash pad may open as soon as May 27.
Council members also announced that a recent problem at the Rock School has been repaired. The water line under the old boiler room burst causing some damage, but according to Mayor Hoyt Sanders, the repair has been completed and the water is running clear.
Elected officials were also introduced to their new fire department liason. Matt Angelo with Center Point Fire Department retired roughly one month ago. This resulted in vacancies on planning commission as well as the office of fire marshall that were temporarily being filled by fire chief Donnie West. CPFD announced that Brandon Self would be filling both positions.
Other business
A new business has moved to Pinson. Sanders announced that Mr. Transmission has moved from Trussville to its new location in Pinson at the old Quick Oil location. According to the mayor other businesses may also be coming to Pinson soon.
The council adopted the zoning ordinances discussed during the previous meeting with some minor language changes for clarity, but chose to table the sign ordinance until a later meeting.
Dorlan Terry from the Farmers Market committee discussed some possible regulations for the market based on rules from other municipalities as well as the state. One of the rules which would ban firearms concerned councilman Joe Cochrane. Cochrane believes that in light of recent rulings and law suits, that language might need to be removed. The rules were presented as a first reading and will be voted on at a later time.
James Lowery of the Historic Birmingham Mineral Railroad Signs project discussed the history of the mining industry railroad lines in the area. The Louisville and Nashville Railroad created the lines in 1884 and two chunks of the line near Pinson are still in use today. Lowery intends to place brown historic signs at prominent crossings throughout the area. One sign will be placed at the Bradford Road crossing, one in Innsbrooke, in addition to several others in the greater Pinson area.
Cochrane stepped down from the dais in order to address the council, not as an elected official, but as executive director of the Education Foundation. He announced that the Education Foundation banquet would take place May 2 and tickets are still available. The foundation is also accepting donations. This year’s dinner will be planned and prepared by the high school’s culinary arts students.