By Lee Weyhrich
Mayor Hoyt Sanders discussed plans for the City of Pinson to join the Purchasing System of Alabama at Thursday night’s council meeting. PACA is a Jefferson County program open to municipalities as a way to purchase materials collectively and thereby get a cheaper wholesale price.
The city has recently unveiled plans for city sidewalk projects as well as a new park among other improvements. Sanders said that the city could benefit from this program if for no other reason than the purchase of asphalt for these projects.
Another new project proposed at Thursday’s meeting was the clearing of a lot near Pinson Valley High School
. The property is north of the football field and could be used as a play area or as additional parking for games. The area is currently wooded and would have to be at least partially cleared to be of any use.
“We’re looking at how we could lay out the field with some of the trees there,” Councilman Robbie Roberts said. “We have to weigh the pros and cons.”
The city is also weighing the possibility of replacing the failing microphones at the Fine Arts Center, councilman Joe Cochran said. If his plan is accepted the Fine Arts Center would be responsible for purchasing eight microphones and the city would match that purchase. According to Cochran, several of the original microphones are unaccounted for and the ones remaining are woefully inadequate for their purpose.
“The particular design of those (original) microphones was probably not the best for theatre use,” Cochran said.
The city will also need to upgrade come of its communication equipment. In order to comply with new Federal Communications Commission Guidelines the City of Pinson will be required to update their radio system to a new narrower bandwidth system. The city currently has three radios for communications purposes; two “walkie-talkies” and one unit installed in a city vehicle. The hand-held units can be updated to meet current requirements, the installed unit, however, cannot.
“It will cost roughly $700 to replace the one in the Tahoe,” Mayor Hoyt Sanders said. “It was manufactured in 1998. We ordered (the new one) from the same supplier as Palmerdale Fire.”
The city may also be looking to replace its Christmas tree. The tree was purchased this year based on a catalog photograph. When the tree was opened it was not the same as depicted. The city used it for its lighting ceremony but will be returning it with the suppliers permission.
In other business, the city made additional changes to its Clean City ordinance in order to comply with state law. The city is also taking applications for the post of Planning Commissioner, the position recently vacated when Robbie Roberts moved to the city council. Three new properties were also annexed into the city.
