By Crystal McGough, copy editor
PINSON — The Pinson City Council met at Palmerdale Homestead Community Center on Thursday, Dec. 19, where the mayor and council received a report on the city’s 2019 audit from Charlie Polmetier, of Borland Benefield, P.C.
“I’m here to present a fiscal 2019 audit report, which is being issued, it’s being dated today,” Polmetier said. “No misstatements were noted, which is a good thing. It means the records were in good shape; congrats to Marie (Turner) and the staff for doing that … the financial statements were neutral, clear, concise and readable.
“I want to reiterate, as I have in the last couple of years, financially … the story financially for the year …we wrapped up the capital project at the Rock School, which looks great … you should be proud of that. Overall, in the last two years y’all have invested largely, I would say 98% of it, out of your own pocket, out of your own savings, so congrats on that. That’s a job well done.
“In spite of doing that, you maintained a very strong financial position. The city’s overall financial position increased almost three quarters of a million dollars … All in all, the city’s had a great year and invested a lot of its money in some things that you can be proud of, in my opinion.”
The council voted unanimously to approve the audit.
Mayor Hoyt Sanders proudly announced to the people of Pinson and Palmerdale that the Palmerdale Homesteads Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as of Nov. 21, 2019. Sanders presented Palmerdale Homesteads Community Center President Barry Wilson with a copy of the letter from the Alabama Historical Commission.
“It was opportune for us to meet (at Palmerdale Homesteads Community Center) today,” Sanders said. “As some of you know, several years ago we applied for historical recognition status for three Pinson districts. It took much longer than we anticipated, but I can proudly say that on Nov. 21, 2019, the Palmerdale Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior.”
Palmerdale will be celebrating its 85th anniversary in 2020, Barry Wilson said.
“We’re looking maybe in June sometime, we’ll kind of have an open house and have a party or celebration for the 85th,” Wilson said.
Under “Old Business,” the council approved a motion to purchase lighting for the senior and award banners on the field house at the PVHS football field, for the amount of $1,828.39.
“What this will do, if you’re familiar with the high school, they have banners that represent senior classes and other award winning teams on the field house,” Sanders said. “Of course, in the evening those are difficult to see, so this will provide some illumination around the field house to light those banners.”
The council also approved Resolution 19-41, which modifies and restates the position of Zoning Official, which includes re-naming the position “Director of Public Safety.” Pinson’s Zoning Official/Director of Public Safety is Bob Jones.
“As the city’s municipal operations have grown, Bob’s duties have grown, as well,” City Attorney Shane Black said. “What this job description will do is it will recognize all the different job duties that his position has…
“Also Bob is a … certified law enforcement officer, so this would recognize that Bob, in that position, can enforce the ordinances of the city, make arrests, incident reports, thereof corroborate with our contract deputies, and so it will also rename him, that job title, as the Director of Public Safety, as opposed to Zoning Official, which is more descriptive of what his position entails.”
The final item under “Old Business” that the city addressed was a pole lighting agreement with the Alabama Power Company. Resolution 19-42 was offered as a first reading at the Dec. 5 council meeting. The resolution, which passed unanimously, authorizes the city to display temporary holiday decorations on poles in the city that are owned by Alabama Power.
“Most cities utilize those services, those lights,” Sanders said. “Sadly we can only put lights on the poles where there’s already low voltage, so that limits us in places on where we can have illuminated fixtures, but we’re glad to have them where we can.”
Under “New Business,” the council passed two resolutions to “acquire certain real property” on Main Street and Pinson Boulevard.
Resolution 19-43 addresses the property at 4249 Main Street/4261 Main Street.
“This is a piece of property, an old Laundromat, the city has dealt with before,” Black said. “It came before the council probably eight or nine years ago. … What this resolution would do is authorize the city council to acquire that through purchase or through condemnation, if necessary.”
Black said that title issues with the property could make it necessary for the city to acquire the property through condemnation.
“As Mr. Black indicated, this starts condemnation proceedings on the Laundromat,” Sanders said. “We do have a pending agreement with the owner, but due to the title issues, we still want to go through condemnation.”
Councilor Robbie Roberts further pointed out that both properties to be acquired are located in flood plains.
Resolution 19-44 addresses property at 4238 Pinson Blvd., located at the gateway entrance to Pinson Bicentennial Park.
“This is what some people affectionately call Dr. Muntz’s old office, or the yellow fruit stand,” Sanders said. “Again, we have flood plain and title issues, so it’s time to work on some of this blight within the city.”
In other news, Councilor John Churchwell offered a motion for the city to approved funds to send council members to National League of Cities and Alabama League of Municipalities meetings in the year 2020.
“We’ve got a NLC (National League of Cities) meeting every year that occurs in Washington, D.C., in the month of March,” Churchwell said. “We can get a discount if we go ahead and sign up before the end of the year.”
The council approved the expenses for the March NLC meeting, as well as a League of Municipalities meeting in May and another NLC meeting in November.
Immediately following the council meeting, the mayor and council held an impromptu ground breaking for the new 100-person storm shelter that is being built by the community center and Palmerdale Fire District Station 1. The shelter is expected to open in the spring.
“This was part of that grant – there are a few other cities in the county getting them right now – to build them nearby a first responder location,” Sanders said. “In other words, the firemen would be able to get in it, so that after the catastrophe, perish the thought there is one, first responders, deputies, firemen, if they’re injured, of course they can’t respond and help other people. So the thrust of this grant was to get some storm shelters near to the first responder facility so that the first responders could be protected and then assist as time goes on.”
The next Pinson City Council meeting will be Jan. 9, 2020, at Pinson City Hall. Pre-council begins at 6:30 p.m. and the regular council meeting begins at 7 p.m.