By Erica Thomas, managing editor
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City Council approved economic development incentives, for two developers who plan to do business on Chalkville Mountain Road, during its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 11, 2021.
The council also honored the Trussville Mountain Bike team during the meeting. The team was invited to the meeting as councilors passed a proclamation commending the team for winning the 2021 state championship. The team has won three state championships over the last five seasons. The proclamation was approved unanimously, except for Councilor Jaime Anderson, who was not in attendance at the meeting.
In other business, the council approved a resolution authorizing the execution of a project development and tax sharing agreement with GAJE, LLC., the owner of the Ruby Tuesday property on Chalkville Mountain Road.
A national chain steak house has shown interest in the property and the developer plans to repurpose the location for the project. The developer expects to invest $3 million to complete the renovations. The city has not released the name of the steak house.
The city passed incentives for the developer Tuesday. The city will pay the developer an amount equal to two-thirds of any sales tax revenues collected by the city until the developer has received $850,000. After that benchmark is reached, the developer will get back one-third of the sales tax revenue. The total cap on payments over 10 years will be $850,000.
The steak house is expected to produce over $3.5 million a year and is expected to employ 80 – 100 people.
The new retail spaces are expected to generate $13,600,000 in sales tax, annually.
Finally, the council approved a resolution to form a regional solid waste authority with neighboring cities. The Cahaba Solid Waste Authority would be made up of at least three other municipalities. The city of Hoover passed a resolution to join on May 3.
“Our contract will not be up until next year,” said Mayor Buddy Choat. “What we’re doing today is we are passing a resolution to join if we so choose.”
The purpose of the authority will be to create innovative solutions to address residential and commercial garbage and recycling concerns. An agreement does not mean a city’s garbage company would change. Each city will be able to choose its own services. Each city in the authority will have one representative to make up the Cahaba Solid Waste Authority Board of Directors.
The council held the first reading of an ordinance to rezone parcels associated at 8080 Gadsden Highway to R-2 (Single Family Residential) from Commercial (C1). The measure will be voted on at the council’s next meeting. The rezoning came recommended by the city’s Planning and Zoning Board.
The council also approved a resolution authorizing the use of commercial (or purchase) cards by certain city employees and officers. The cards can be used in purchasing goods and services exclusively for city purposes. The city’s Finance Director said the process will improve efficiency, budget control and vendor payment processes. Individual cardholders will have limit amounts and restrictions of usage. They will also have to enter usage information into a software program called Regions Intersect, where they will have to enter information to account for purchases, including an explanation of all charges and an uploaded copy of a receipt.
The following items were approved as part of the Consent Agenda:
- Section X. Auditing Accounts
- Promote TFD Billy Brodie to Firefighter Paramedic (Grade 19F – Step 2), effective May 2, 2021
- Approve TPD Officers Dalton Blackwood’s & Steven Sparks’ step raises to Grade 17, Step 2, effective May 8, 2021, due to completion of Police Academy
- Approve TPD Officer Steven Sparks’ 10% education premium, effective May 22, 2021
- Promote Library Clerk Katie Jones to Circulation Supervisor (Grade 13 – Step 2), effective May 22, 2021
- Promote Library Tech Services Head Debby McCombs to Tech Services Head/Building Services Coordinator (Grade 18 – Step 6), effective May 22, 2021
- Hire Sittre Jones and Nolan Armstrong as Lifeguards (Grade 7 – Step 1), effective May 12, 2021
- Hire Layton Lambert and Chase Armstrong as Lifeguards (Grade 7 – Step 3), effective May 12, 2021
- Hire Preston Peterson as a Lifeguard (Grade 7 – Step 4), effective May 12, 2021
- Reassign current Parks & Recreation laborer Noah Rigg to Lifeguard (Grade 7 – Step 5) for the summer, effective May 12, 2021
- Auditing accounts
- Accounts payable
- Playground Certification Course for Parks & Recreation Maintenance Superintendent Lee Smith, July 19-21 in Hoover. $655 registration fee
- Sales & Use Tax Auditing Online Courses for Revenue Examiner Ashley Oliver, occurring July 9 (online), August 13 (online), October 15 (in-person in Prattville). $590 registration fees for four courses.
- Authorize the transfer of $2500 in discretionary funds to the Parks & Recreation for Dog Park related expenses