By Crystal McGough, Associate Editor
PINSON – Lifelong Pinson resident, business owner and veteran Scott Ragsdale addressed the Pinson City Council on Tuesday, Oct. 18, concerning his plans for a newly constructed veterans park near the entrance to Bicentennial Park.
“We’re one of the very few cities that doesn’t have a park or an area designated for our veterans,” Ragsdale said. “We just don’t. Never have, that I’ve seen. What I’m proposing is for the area that is right before you get to the Bicentennial Park, where the old, white fruit stand used to be, right across the street from the Shell gas station, for that area to be designated … for a veterans honors park or a veterans recognition park. The reason why I didn’t put memorial park in there is because I don’t feel if a service member has passed, that he or she should be recognized. I think they should have it done, like myself, while we’re still here.”
Ragsdale, who served 16 years in the Navy, said that all the material and labor for the veterans park would be provided by himself and through donations he has already received. He said he has already received donations for pavement, concrete pillars, a rock formation, flagpoles and flags, and lights.
“It just recognizes the veterans who have lived in Pinson or still live in Pinson,” he said. “ … I know we have a lot of veterans and I would just like to give them some form of recognition, past, present and future.”
Mayor Joe Cochran said that Ragsdale’s design is similar to something the city had already been discussing, and he’s excited to seeing community members getting involved with the project.
“I think what I would like to see – when you talk to your architect to design the final – what I would like to see is a little wall … and you have an area in front of it where people can walk and read a plaque for each branch of the service and that kind of thing,” Cochran said.
Ragsdale asked the council to consider allocating the property for that purpose, allowing him and his architect to move forward with their next steps. The council agreed.
“It’s about time we do it,” Councilor Glenda Kirkland said. “So, let’s do it.”
The council reminded the public that Pinson’s Veterans Day luncheon will take place on Nov. 11, 2022, at 11:30 a.m., at the Rock School Complex. The luncheon will be catered by Olive Garden and each veteran is allowed to bring one guest. To register for the event, call Pinson City Hall at (205) 680-5556.
Pinson’s “Ugly Christmas Sweater” Christmas parade will take place on Thursday, Dec. 1, at 6:30 p.m. Applications are available on the city’s website at www.thecityofpinson.com and are due by Nov. 25.
Pinson Trade Days will be celebrating its one-year anniversary on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. There will be vendors, food trucks, a classic car show and more.
Also on Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m., the city will be hosting its Shred-A-Thon event at City Hall.
In other business, the council approved the following:
- Quote for dock doors on the back of the Rock School Complex, in the amount of $4,762.09
- Quote for a road/trail connecting Main Street to Glen Brook Road, to provide easy access to the city’s parks, in the amount of $10,800
- Quote from LockCorp Inc. for door enhancements at City Hall, in the amount of $5,175
- Quote for office furniture for Public Works, in the amount of $5,059.81
- Motion to initiate competitive bidding for Rock School roof project
- Motion to move the first city council meeting in December to Dec. 5, at noon, at PHCC
The next meeting of the Pinson City Council will be Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, at 7 p.m., at Pinson City Hall. A pre-council work session will be held at 6:15 p.m.