By Lee Weyhrich
The Pinson City Council on Thursday approved a contract for a company to decorate a 40-foot cedar tree at Triangle Park and Pinson City Hall for the Christmas holiday.
There will also be natural trees at each location.
The city will pay $6,900 for the first year for what Councilwoman Joy McCain described as a “turnkey” operation. A company will install all the decorations and take care of any necessary bulb replacements. The company will also remove and store the decorations when the season is over. After the initial fee, the cost drops to $2,700 for each additional year.
The city had purchased an artificial tree last year, which became somewhat of a joke among Pinson residents. Dubbed the “Charlie Brown Tree” by Councilman Joe Cochran, the tree was sent back less than two weeks after the lighting ceremony.
The official Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Pinson will be Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. The city council also voted to hold the Christmas parade the following morning, Dec. 7, at 10 a.m.
The city is also looking into the possibility of a second air conditioning unit with a dehumidifier in order to protect books at the Pinson Public Library. Humidity at the library is threatening roughly $100,000 worth of library books, Councilman Robbie Roberts said.
“Books are beginning to curl and pages are beginning to warp,” Roberts said.
Pinson City Hall has only recently won a battle against a leaky roof. It was hoped repairs to the roof would solve the moisture issue. When that did not solve the problem, the council looked at the air conditioning unit as a possible issue. Library employees have even gone so far as to place a portable dehumidifier in the building, to no avail.
“When the books are on the shelf they are compressed,” Roberts said. “When they are put open on display we end up with scroll-books.”
The council also approved rules governing the farmers’ market, which will be open each Thursday from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. starting in October. The market could possibly open Oct. 3 and would continue weekly until Nov. 7. The Oct. 3 date may be changed so as not to interfere with the Alabama Butterbean Festival, Councilman John Churchwell said, and the November date may be extended due to produce availability.