By Lee Weyhrich
The Pinson City Council discussed the acquisition of a large section of the Brook Crest community at its regular council meeting Thursday night, as well as several improvements to that area. The council also discussed plans for the city’s new website and a new roof for the Palmerdale Homesteads Community Center, among other things.
The city has been working for seven years to annex 23 homes in the Brook Crest sections of the Innsbrook neighborhood. The council has been under an annexation freeze, which lifted with the new year. The properties on Brook Crest Way, Brook Crest Lane and the end of Ashberry Drive mark the largest acquisition since the freeze was lifted.
According to Councilman John Churchwell, residents of this area have wanted to be part of the city for quite some time. Road conditions have deteriorated on these streets to the point where official city documents have labeled them a “public nuisance.” Repairing the streets was another major concern for the council Thursday.
“We’re talking about paving the streets,” Councilman Joe Cochran said. “That’s truly a need in that community. As a city, it is our responsibility to help the people of the community.”
Mayor Hoyt Sanders said that the streets fell into such disrepair under the county’s management that it was not unusual for cars to become damaged due to poor road conditions. The total cost of these repairs was estimated at more than $60,000. Luckily, the city recently joined the Purchasing Association of Central Alabama. PACA will allow the city to save $10,000 on asphalt, bringing the total cost to just over $50,000.
“It cost us $700 to join PACA,” Cochran said. “With that being said, we’ve been able to save $10,000 on the project. It goes to show you what can be done when government works properly.”
The council also opened bids for another long-planned project, a new roof for the Palmerdale Homesteads Community Center. The current roof has been leaking for some time. The plans are to replace it with a 5V Crimp white metal roof.
“Because (the cost) was over $50,000, the Board of Education did have to approve it; they did so late last year,” Sanders said. “We feel like the 5V Crimp in white will be the most historically accurate.”
Additionally, the council voted to allow SBM Systems to take over the management and design of the city website. SBM is currently responsible for managing the city of Clay’s website.
“I was very impressed with what they had,” Councilman Robbie Roberts said. “They have everything from a history of the city to the schools. They had a section for ordinances. You can put in a word search for something specific and it brings it up. I’m very impressed with this gentleman’s workmanship.”
The city will pay $1,500 for the initial site and $75 for updates and changes after the site is completed. A monthly fee of $39.95 will pay for tech support, site backups, search engine submissions and other general maintenance
.