By Terry Schrimscher, For the Tribune
CLAY – The Clay City Council held its final scheduled meeting of the month, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m., at City Hall. There was no new business on the agenda but the Council was given an update on a recent raid conducted by Trussville Police Department within Clay city limits.
The planned raid was led by Trussville police on the evening of Feb. 27. City Manager Ronnie Dixon updated the Council on the situation in his report.
“It was carried out by Trussville PD,” Dixon said. “We condemned that house and then Trussville’s city judge came and fought it and we wound up leaving that house standing with them saying that was not a drug house.
“Well, now it got raided last night,” Dixon continued. “We need to start the process of condemnation and demolition again if y’all want to.”
The city passed a resolution condemning the house located at 6556 Clay Palmerdale Road in June of 2021 and accepted a bid for demolition at the Aug. 10, 2021, meeting.
Leon Shaw spoke to the Council on Aug. 24, 2021 ,and the Council delayed demolition of the property until the rightful owner of the home could be determined in court.
“That’s definitely the community drug house. It has been for several years,” Dixon said. “It’s not in livable condition. We have the opportunity to tear it down.”
Dixon said he anticipated Shaw would again retain counsel to prevent the demolition and wanted to get guidance from the Council before beginning the paperwork to restart the process.
“We’re not talking about something the community does not want done away with,” Dixon said. “They’ve asked us over and over again.”
The Council will have to follow the procedure of passing a new resolution condemning the property and solicit bids for the demolition of the structure. The resolution should be on the agenda at the March 14 meeting.
Councilmember Dr. Orletta Rush shared information about the recent Magic City Dance Off, which was held Feb. 14, at Pinson Valley High School. The annual event is an inclusive dance competition held for special needs students in Jefferson County Schools.
Clay-Chalkville High School students won the high school division of the competition for the second year in a row. Homewood High School took second place and Pinson Valley High School won third place.
“It was an awesome event for special needs students that were there,” Rush said. “I was very proud for Clay-Chalkville High School for winning.”
Nine schools participated in the dance competition and 12 schools attended. Dancers are spread out across two divisions for middle school and high school. Erwin Middle School won their division. North Jefferson Middle School and Hueytown Middle school came in second and third, respectively.
Rush mentioned the sponsors who helped make the event a success. Tyson Foods, Golden Flake and DJ Ulises Echeverry donated products and services. Pinson Valley High School hosted the event and teachers from Gardendale and Mortimer Jordan high schools prepared food for the participants.
The next meeting of the Clay City Council is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Feb. 28, at City Hall.