By Crystal McGough, Associate Editor
PINSON – The Pinson City Council approved a “universal facility rental agreement” and rental fee schedule for 2023, setting new policies and prices for rental of city-owned facilities by the public.
“This basically will allow us to fold all of our rental agreements into one master document that will be handy for the citizens to be able to use,” City Councilor Robbie Roberts said. “It will be eventually put together with brochures and website information, and all that sort of thing, for folks as they might have need for some of our facilities.”
Rental prices for all of Pinson’s facilities will be increasing after Jan. 1, 2023, Roberts said.
“Then again, most everything’s going up,” he said. “The mayor and the staff have done a fine job of investigating the rates at other municipalities and we are still not only very competitive, but probably actually even more reasonable than many of these folks at these other cities are. So, while it might be a little bit of a jump for some folks from what you’ve been used to, welcome to 2022.”
Anyone interested in renting one of the city’s facilities can contact City Hall at (205) 680-5556 for more information. Any changes to the city’s rental policies and fees will not take place until the new year.
Mayor Joe Cochran reminded the public that the city’s Veterans Day luncheon will be held on Nov. 11, 2022, at 11:30 a.m., at the Rock School Center. Entertainment will be provided by Three on a String and lunch will be catered by Olive Garden.
“It is a great day for us to honor the veterans and the people that have served our country, in giving of their lives to make our lives better,” Cochran said. “We truly appreciate it.”
During 2020 and 2021, the city held drive-thru Veterans Day meals in lieu of a traditional sit-down luncheon for the veterans and their guests.
“This is something that we’ve been looking forward to for two or three years now,” Councilor John Churchwell said. “We’ve had the event there for a good while; of course, we had to stop it during Covid. We’re just glad to be able to open it up to that whole group now and mingle with all of the folks and have some entertainment. The entertainment should be very good.”
Each veteran attending the event is allowed to bring one guest, and reservations must be made by contacting City Hall.
Councilor Glenda Kirkland announced that Pinson Trade Days will be holding it’s one-year anniversary event this Saturday, Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
“Let’s just pray that it doesn’t rain them out and everybody supports them,” she said. “Every time, we usually have a really good crowd and music, and a lot of good things to eat. So, let’s just hope it doesn’t rain.”
Also on Saturday, the city will be hosting Shred-A-Thon at City Hall from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Mayor Cochran and Councilor Clinteshia Irvin gave the public an update on the 2022 Pinson Christmas Parade, which will be themed “Ugly Christmas Sweater.” Applications are currently available online at www.thecityofpinson.com. All applications for participation in the parade should be turned in to City Hall by Friday, Nov. 25.
“It is a nighttime parade again,” Cochran said. “We love the nighttime parades. Have lights on your floats – it’s part of the requirement. I will have a golf cart that I’m riding in (and) I may or may not be wearing a sweater. We will see. The ugly sweater challenge has been thrown down.”
The Christmas Parade will take place on Dec. 1, at 6:30 p.m., and staging for the parade and floats will take place at Bicentennial Park.
Cochran also informed the public that a general election will be taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 8, and he encouraged everyone to get out and vote.
“It’s always important to exercise your vote,” he said. “Low turnout really bothers me. When we have an election and only 13% of the people show up – well, you get 13% of the representation. If you get 90% of the people show up, you really have an idea of what the people really want. … I realize it’s not a national election season for a presidential seat and all that, but what happens in your communities, in Jefferson County, in Pinson, in the state, is really more important than what happens in the federal government.We’re the people that interact with your lives everyday. … Locally, we could really make a difference.”
In other city business, the council unanimously approved the following:
- Ordinance No. 2022-27, changing zoning classification for real estate at 3809 Osage Lane from Jefferson County to City of Pinson classification
- Ordinance No. 2022-26, annexing property owned by Brittany and Derrick Burden at 5565 Country Road into Pinson
- Resolution No. 22-33, amending Resolution 22-15 concerning the City of Pinson’s consent and approval of the issuance of an alcoholic beverage license for Shelly’s Bakery
- Resolution No. 22-34, establishing a full-time office assistant position for the City of Pinson
- Motion to accept an agreement between Alabama Power and the City of Pinson for temporary use of power line poles for holiday decorations
- Motion to approve a food truck permit application
- Motion to purchase appliances, in the amount of $2,896, for a city-owned house at 7520 Faucett Cut-Off Road, which is proposed to house a future resident manager for the ballpark
The next meeting of the Pinson City Council will be Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, at Pinson City Hall. Pre-council will begin at 6:15 p.m. and be followed by a 7 p.m. meeting.
Contact Crystal McGough at mcgoughcrystal@gmail.com