By Crystal McGough, Associate Editor
IRONDALE – Mayor James D. Stewart frequently opens Irondale City Council meetings with proclamations recognizing businesses and individuals from the community for their contributions to the city of Irondale. In a turn of events, there were no proclamations read by the mayor during the Tuesday, Oct. 18, meeting, but the city’s department heads and employees surprised the mayor and council with a proclamation of their own.
Irondale city employees surprised Mayor Stewart and the city council with a proclamation on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022. (Photo credit: Crystal McGough)
“Whereas the employees of the city of Irondale wish to honor and show appreciation to the mayor and city council on the occasion of National Boss’s Day,” Irondale Fire Chief Josh McDaniel read from the proclamation, “and whereas under the leadership of this mayor and city council, the city of Irondale has become a top tier place to work and has set the example for other municipalities to follow; and whereas employees have been given the largest pay raise in the city’s history, allowing us to better care for our families; and whereas resolutions have been passed to empower employees through continuing education opportunities and training; and whereas we have been provided with the first-rate equipment to help us perform our jobs safely and efficiently; and whereas we are honored to come to work each day and serve the citizens of Irondale with passion and excellence; now, therefore, be it hereby resolved that we, the employees of the city of Irondale, issue this proclamation in appreciation, in witness whereof we have signed and sealed on this 18th day of October, 2022, city of Irondale employees.”
Mayor Stewart and each council member extended their gratitude to the city employees, and Stewart informed the public that the city employees had also surprised him with a “Boss’s Day” celebration at the Zamora Temple on Monday, Oct. 17.
“The only thing I can say is thank you,” Stewart said. “The other thing that really meant a lot to me is that every dime that they spent on that event – food, all of that – it came out of the employees’ pockets. They didn’t ask the city for a dime. That meant a lot to me.”
Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Dr. Walter B. Gonsoulin Jr., along with Jefferson County Board of Education member Donna Pike, were in attendance at Tuesday’s council meeting to give the city and residents an update on Irondale’s schools.
Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Dr. Walter B. Gonsoulin Jr. and Jefferson County Board of Education member Donna Pike. (Photo credit: Crystal McGough)
“First of all, I wanted to say how fortunate I feel as a school superintendent to be able to work with a mayor and a council such as we have here in Irondale,” Gonsoulin said. “It is essential that school and community work together so that our children can be very successful.”
Gonsoulin showed the council a new data book that Jefferson County Schools has created to assist with tracking the progress and needs of each individual school in the county.
“This data is used so that we can make very important decisions,” he said. “In this book, we cover everything from student enrollment, by school, to achievement data, to learning supports, scholarships, credentials, all that stuff. Then we have to take that information and we respond to it appropriately.”
Gonsoulin told the council that, according to state standards, all schools in Irondale are in good standing or excelling.
“I’m very proud, and I’m especially proud about the schools in Irondale,” he said. “We’re getting to the point that our enrollment is about to catch up to pre-Covid, and our achievement, as well.”
Mayor Stewart gave the council an unaudited financial report, stating that the current projected surplus for the city’s 2022 fiscal year is $6,461,014.12.
The mayor also announced that the city has 2,000 brand new recycling trash cans, which will be available at no cost to the first 2,000 residents who sign up for recycling. The cans, which were purchased through a grant, will be delivered in November. To find out more about how to sign up for recycling, contact City Hall at (205) 956-9200 or visit their website at https://cityofirondaleal.gov/
“(The city) is willing to order more after we pass the 2,000, but you’ll have to pay for it,” Stewart said.
The Irondale City Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 1, at Irondale City Hall, at 6 p.m. Mayor Stewart will also be holding a “Town Hall” meeting on Nov. 10 to present the city parks master plan to the public.
“It won’t be a work session; it will be the mayor’s town hall meeting to unveil what the survey produced for what the citizens would like to see in the parks,” he said. “Also, … the plan for the dog park is 75% complete and we should be going out to bid with that in less than six months.”
