By Hannah Curran, Editor
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City Council, at the regular meeting on Tuesday, February 22, declared February 26, 2022, Arbor Day, and they also approved a new app for the City of Trussville.
(From Left to Right) Back Row: Councilmember Ben Short, Councilmember Lisa Bright, Councilmember Perry Cook, Councilmember Alan Taylor, Councilmember Jaime Anderson, and Mayor Buddy Choat. Front Row: Eric Frederick, Ralph Mitchell, Jean Cox, and Jenna Jones, and not pictured Chairmen Josh Smalley. (Photo by Hannah Curran)
One ordinance received its first reading. The ordinance is to amend the zoning ordinance and zoning map of the city of Trussville.
Upon application made by owner Trussville Church of Christ and developer Buttry and Brown Development LLC, undeveloped Lot only at 7750 Gadsden Highway, formerly zoned IN-1 (Institutional), will now be rezoned IN-2 (Institutional).
The council also approved the declaration of February 26, 2022, as Arbor Day in the City of Trussville and urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands. Arbor Day encourages all citizens to plant trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations.
In 1872, the Nebraska Board of Agriculture established a day to be set aside for the planting of trees. This holiday called Arbor Day was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska. Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world.
Trees can be a solution to combating climate change by reducing the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, cutting heating and cooling costs, moderating the temperature cleaning the air producing life-giving oxygen, and providing habitat for wildlife. Trees are a renewable resource, giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for fires, and countless other wood products.
Trees in our city increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify our community. Trees, wherever they are planted, are a source of joy and spiritual renewal.
“I want to thank you personally for what y’all have done,” Councilmember Perry Cook said.
Arbor Week starts with a Tree Talk with Coach David Dobbs at the Trussville Public Library on Thursday, February 24, at 7 p.m. The Trussville Public Library is co-hosting this event.
Mayor Buddy Choat also thanked the Trussville Tree Commission for what they have done for the community and he believes that Thursday night will be a great kick-off for Arbor Week.
The Council also approved an ordinance declaring the property located at 113 Anderson Circle and 4549 Trussville Clay Road in Trussville is not presently needed for public or municipal purposes. Therefore, it is declared surplus for the purpose of offering it for sale.
The City of Trussville is presently the owner of the properties located at 113 Anderson Circle and 4549 Trussville Clay Road, and the subject properties now sit unused and vacant.
Trussville is willing to offer the property to any prospective buyer at a mutually agreeable price.
The Council finds it in the city’s best interest to declare that property as surplus and put the property on the market.
Mayor Choat also spoke on the development of an app for the city of Trussville that will allow residents a way to know what’s happening in Trussville in real-time.
“I think it’s gonna be great to push out notifications to people,” Choat said. “We’ll have public safety information and general information at your fingertips of everybody on their phones, so we’re really looking forward to that.”
In other matters, the Council approved:
- Auditing Accounts;
- Authorize Mayor Choat to sign a survey services agreement with Engineering Design Group LLC regarding the proposed Vann Circle extension;
- Authorize Mayor Choat to sign an apps development agreement with OCV LLC;
- Designate Mayor Choat as the authorized voting delegate to the Alabama League of Municipalities annual convention, with Councilor Lisa Bright as alternate;
- Appoint Richard Hitchcock to the Cemetery Rehabilitation Authority, succeeding Pat Glenn, for a four-year term ending March 31, 2026;
- Hire Christian Gagliano as a part-time Unclassified Laborer in Recreation (Grade 7 –Step 1), effective 02/26/2022;
- Hire Mechelle Weaver as a full-time Unclassified Laborer in Recreation (Grade 7 — Step 1), effective 02/26/2022;
- Hire Michael Blevins as IT Coordinator – Library (Grade 24 — Step 1), effective 02/26/2022;
- Hire Blake Trull as Firefighter (Grade 17FF — Step 1), effective 02/26/2022;
- Approve 10 percent education premium for Firefighter Paramedics Patrick Blom, Larry Davis, Judson Moore & Hunter Reid, effective 02/26/2022; and
- Approve 5 percent education premium for Firefighter Paramedic Christian Gonzalez, effective 02/26/2022;
- Proclamation Honoring Young Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda Week;
- Proclamation Declaring February 26, 2022, as Arbor Day;
- Ordinance to Declare 113 Anderson Circle as Surplus; and
- Resolution to Authorize Mayor Choat to sign an Animal Control Services contract with Greater Birmingham Humane Society, based on the new PACA agreement.
Rejected items:
- Ordinance to De-Annex 87 Undeveloped Acres on Blackjack Road behind Carrington.
Auditing Accounts
- Accounts Payable;
- Kinesic Interview Techniques for Officers training for Police Cpl. Keith Fuell, June 8-9 in Stapleton, Ala. $295 per person registration fee plus accommodations; and
- The Alabama Association of School Resource Officers Safe Schools Conference for Police Lt. Phil Dillon, Officer Brandon Brown, Officer Jamie Goolsby, Officer Ron Bowen, Officer Robert Antonio, and Officer Scott Bates, June 5-10 in Orange Beach. $200 per person registration fee plus accommodations.
The next Trussville City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, March 8, beginning at 6 p.m.
