By Lee Weyhrich
The Pinson City Council on Thursday annexed 37 lots in the Emerald Valley Estates neighborhood.
While not every lot in the neighborhood was annexed, enough were brought in that the city could make much-needed repairs to the roads in the subdivision. The roads were property of Jefferson County, but county financial woes have left little money for road work in the area.
Several lots are bank-owned, and the bank has signed a petition granting access to the city. Mayor Hoyt Sanders said the bank petitioned for annexation.
“The bank has signed a petition in part for the roads to be completed,” Sanders said. “It is advantageous to us to annex as many (properties) as we can at this time.”
Campbell Asphalt Paving and Concrete submitted a bid for paving for $82,000. The city council will not begin the project until $38,000 worth of bond money from the county, earmarked for the project, is released.
“The acceptance (of these roads from the county) is contingent on receiving those funds from Jefferson County,” Sanders said. “That bond money will fund almost half of the project.”
Forest Lane, Emerald Lane, Emerald Forest Drive, Valley Ridge Circle, Brookhill Circle and Deer Ridge Run are all scheduled for resurfacing.
The city council also voted to purchase portable bleachers for the Pinson Valley Youth Association football field for $10,724.
It was also announced at last week’s meeting that the Insanitarium Haunted Attraction at the Palmerdale Homesteads Community Center had a record year. There were 2,600 visitors this year, up 800 from last year.