By Crystal McGough
PINSON – The Pinson City Council approved a motion Thursday, June 2, to set a $15,000 budget for the upcoming centennial celebration of Pinson’s historic Rock School in August.
The celebration will take place Aug. 13, 2022, beginning at 10 a.m., at the Rock School Complex, and will coincide with the regular annual Rock School reunion for former graduates of the school. The centennial celebration will, however, be open to the public.
“We have already had two planning meetings with the library, the historical society and city hall,” Mayor Joe Cochran said. “We want to have a couple things for children, because it is going to be more than just a Rock School reunion that day; we want the entire community to come out and celebrate this 100-year-old building. It is a magnificent jewel in the middle of our community.
“We’ll have activities (and) there will be different speakers that will speak throughout the day. We’re going to invite the governor to come. It’s just going to be a great celebration of a wonderful, historical building in our community that is now our library and an events area.”
Pinson Public Library Director Allison Scanlan stepped up to the podium to say a few words about the upcoming event.
“We’re going to have something for everybody,” she said. “So, the folks who graduated from there, the reunion folks, they’ll have a lot to enjoy and get to see each other. … New folks (and) young families in Pinson can come and enjoy all kinds of fun for the kids and for everybody to learn a little bit about Pinson’s history.”
Scanlan also said she has confirmation that Tom Bailey’s bicentennial book about Pinson is being printed again and there will be copies available at the Rock School celebration.
“I believe Tom is going to be able to be there to sign, as well,” she said. “I know those are hotly sought after. We have to keep our copy at the library under lock and key, so it doesn’t walk away. It’s just going to be a fun time for everybody really to celebrate, because that building is the heart of the community.”
During the pre-council workshop, the council discussed costs for the event, including catering, banners and having about 350 T-shirts made, and concluded that $15,000 should be an appropriate budget.
“I figured to do a lot of things, do it well and give it what it deserves for 100 years,” Cochran said. “We’ll never see that again, so let’s do it right.”
The council also approved a motion to spend up to $26,000 for new Christmas décor at Bicentennial Park and Triangle Park. The decorations include a 9-foot wreath arch and a new 22-foot Christmas tree with giftbox decorations for Bicentennial Park, allowing the current tree at Bicentennial to be moved to Triangle Park.
“It would allow us to establish, again, Christmas – which has been very much requested – at Triangle Park, and have a tree there,” Cochran said. “People have really asked for that.”
The council tabled a resolution to establish a new job position, Recreation Director, and scheduled a special-called meeting and work session on Wednesday, June 8, at 6 p.m., to further discuss the position.
Two candidates for the Jefferson County Board of Education District 3 seat addressed the council Thursday night. Stephanie Floyd and Rochelle Gaston Malone each spoke to the council and attendees about why they felt they are the best choice to represent District 3, which consists of Center Point, Pinson, Irondale, Fultondale and parts of Birmingham. The runoff election will be June 21, 2022.
Other business and upcoming events:
- Trade Days will be June 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pinson Main Street
- Pinson Library’s summer reading kickoff will be June 4, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Rock School Complex
- Movies in the Park: Encanto will be Friday, June 10, at Bicentennial Park at sundown
- Council approved Ordinance 2022-11, changing zoning classifications for 6639 Country View Drive, 6835 Bradshaw Lane and 7120 Arnold Lane
The Pinson City Council will hold its special-called meeting on Wednesday, June 8 at 6 p.m., and the next regular meeting of the council will be Thursday, June 16, at 7 p.m., following a 6:15 p.m. work session.