By Terry Schrimscher, For the Tribune
IRONDALE – Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. took a few moments during the March 7 council meeting to honor first responders and members of a nonprofit search dog team for their work locating a missing Irondale woman over the weekend.
“Saturday night and early Sunday morning, we had a very scary event in Irondale,” Stewart said. “Thank God for all the wonderful people that participated in helping to rescue Mrs. Fredericia Spencer.”
Spencer, who suffers from dementia, wandered out of her home on Moss Rock Lane late Saturday afternoon and got lost. Irondale Police and Irondale Fire & Rescue were joined by concerned neighbors and other area search teams to locate Spencer.
Members of the Red Mountain Search Dog Association joined in with a specially trained Doberman Pinscher rescue dog named Talitha. Stewart asked for members of the Red Mountain team to join him at the podium where he presented them with a $1,000 donation.
The Red Mountain Search Dog Association is a Birmingham-based nonprofit team of search and rescue volunteers. The association was organized in 2014 to assist first responders in searches for missing persons.
Mrs. Spencer’s daughter, Malinda White, and grandson, Robert Spencer, were also present to offer a word of thanks to everyone who assisted in the search.
“To know my grandmother, not too long ago, was very sharp mentally. For us to basically have her walk out of the house and not know how to get back home, we were at a loss for how to get her back,” said grandson Robert Spencer.
“This city, your team, the people in her community, her neighborhood, family, friends, everyone showed up,” Spencer said. “We’re very grateful to everyone who assisted in getting her home. Not only home, but alive.”
“My mom wanted to be here tonight. She’s still a little weak but she’s at home,” White said. “She wanted me to blow kisses to everybody and she said the people that got her out of the woods, she remembers, and she said you were gentle and you were kind and she’ll never forget that.”
In his report to the city, Stewart also announced the winners from the 2nd annual Irondale Young Entrepreneurs Day, which was held March 4. In total, the city awarded $2,950 to the participants.
The Council appointed councilmember Aaron Sims as the voting delegate for the Alabama League of Municipalities annual convention. Councilmember Cindy Cuellar will serve as the alternate for the meeting.
The owner of a home located at 1815 4th Avenue South in Irondale was granted an extra 120 days to bring the house up to code. The property was recently declared a public nuisance by the Council but the owner has made considerable improvements and renovations to the building since that time.
An agreement with Pastor Michael D. McClure Sr. to serve as chaplain for city employees. The contract renews annually and pays a monthly fee of $2,500.
The Council approved a resolution to purchase the former Regions Bank property at 1845 Crestwood Boulevard for a price of $850,000. Last month, the purchase of the former Marks Fitzgerald Furniture store, located at 1847 Crestwood Boulevard, next to the bank was approved for $1 million.
The city plans to develop the properties to be used by Irondale Police Department and Municipal Court. District 3 Councilwoman Cindy Cuellar raised concerns about the short time frame for due diligence on the property and the recently raised asking price for the building.
The Council approved an intergovernmental agreement with Jefferson County to pave Amber Hills Road. The road crosses jurisdictions and Jefferson County has agreed to pave the entire road and split the costs. Irondale’s estimated portion for the job is approximately $260,000.
The next meeting of the Irondale City Council will be held at 6 p.m. on March 21, at Irondale City Hall.