By Loyd McIntosh, For The Tribune
IRONDALE -–The Irondale City Council pushed through a pair of proposals aimed at moving city amenities to new locations Tuesday night.
Kyra Vaughn, of Grantswood Community School, was one of the winners of the Martin Luther King art contest held at all schools throughout Irondale. (Photo by Emma Tolbert)
During the Feb. 21 city council meeting, the council unanimously adopted a proposal to rezone property Grants Mill Road for the potential relocation of the Irondale Public Library. Additionally, the council adopted a last-minute request for a feasibility study regarding a new police headquarters.
The property located at 1038 Grants Mill Road was rezoned from a C-1 Commercial to Inst-2 Institutional District for potential use for a new Irondale Public Library.
In the Tuesday, Feb. 7, meeting, the City Council approved a $1 million expenditure to purchase the old Marks Fitzgerald building located at 1847 Crestwood Boulevard for the new police headquarters and municipal court building.
Despite being vacant for several years, the building’s owners only granted 30 days for the city close on the property, creating a tight time frame for the city to inspect the building and complete needed diligence. The adopted proposal allows Irondale Mayor James Stewart to spend up to $30,000 with Gardner Architects of Mountain Brook to complete a feasibility study on the structure.
”We have a very short window of time to do feasibility and this is just paying for that feasibility work,” said Council President David Spivey.
During the Feb. 7 meeting, District 3 Councilwoman Cindy Cuellar raised some concerns about the compressed closing time frame. However, Cuellar said her reservations on the swiftness of the project have been addressed, and is happy to move forward with the project.
“I asked our city attorney if we could do this due diligence in 30 days and she said that we could,” said Cuellar. “This is part of that due diligence and this is why we adopted having this gentlemen move forward with that feasibility study so that would satisfy part of that due diligence that we need to make.”
District 4 Councilman Robert Box and Cuellar said the project is necessary to bring the Irondale Police Department, currently housed in four buildings, under one roof.
“I’m excited about it. Right now our police department is kind of cramped and needs some more room,” said Box. “This will bring dispatch, records, patrol areas, and investigations into one area. It’ll have new locker rooms and it will be a complete upgrade for our police department.”
“The police department is asking to be in one location and we’ve found that location,” added Cuellar. “They’re happy with that location and that’s why we’re moving forward.”
In other business:
- The City Council approved a $1,000 dollar expenditure to assist with travel expenses for the Shades Valley girl’s basketball team during its regional tournament run.
- The City Council approved an expenditure of $791.11 for the removal of weeds and overgrowth at the property located at 775 Abigale Lane.
- Mayor Stewart recognized the winners of the Martin Luther King art contest held at all schools throughout Irondale. The winners were:
- Kyra Vaughn- Grantswood Community School
- Jayden Powell- Grantswood Community School
- Kyler Aultman- Irondale Community School
- Scarlet Ortiz- Irondale Middle School
- Melany Valier Sanchez- Irondale Middle School
- Dominica Wilson- Shades Valley High School
Dominica Wilson, of Shades Valley High School, was one of the winners of the Martin Luther King art contest held at all schools throughout Irondale. (Photo by Emma Tolbert)
Jayden Powell, of Grantswood Community School, was one of the winners of the Martin Luther King art contest held at all schools throughout Irondale. (Photo by Emma Tolbert)
Melany Valier Sanchez, of Irondale Middle School, was one of the winners of the Martin Luther King art contest held at all schools throughout Irondale. (Photo by Emma Tolbert)
Scarlet Ortiz, of Irondale Middle School, was one of the winners of the Martin Luther King art contest held at all schools throughout Irondale. (Photo by Emma Tolbert)
