By Terry Schrimscher, For the Tribune
IRONDALE – The Irondale City Council gathered Tuesday night, May 2, for the first regularly scheduled monthly meeting. The Council moved quickly through the agenda with some discussion on zoning ordinances and a focus on employee excellence.
Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. used his time in his report to single out five employees who were deserving of extra praise.
“These employees did not even know someone was watching what they were doing,” Stewart said. “I feel like people should be rewarded when they are doing a fantastic job. All 179 are great but we do have five employees that are greater.”
The five employees honored were City Clerk Leigh Allison, Assistant Fire Chief Brad Doss, Police Lieutenant Jason Hill, Magistrate Supervisor Dana Horsley and firefighter Lieutenant David Brasher.
Stewart cited examples where each of the employees recognized worked beyond the call of their regular job descriptions to help others in the city. He offered each of them a bonus check and a certificate before posing for photos together.
The Council addressed several zoning issues in the regular agenda. Some questions related to building regulations have been in regular discussion for several of the previous meetings.
A special exception to the zoning requirement for façades was granted to a development at 300 Ruffner Road. The exception was discussed in the March 21 meeting along with a request from the owners of The Hub Commercial Center located near the corner of Alton Road
and Bahenle Lane.
The Council approved the exception requests for the first phase of construction only. All future additions to each property would be subject to the existing zoning plans for the city.
According to Section 4 of the Municipal Code of the City of Irondale, all new commercial construction must contain a “minimum of 60 percent of the exterior wall construction for all commercial/nonresidential structures shall be constructed of masonry (brick, stone, hard-coat stucco, split face block, or other decorative block or combination thereof).”
The Council also approved Ordinance 2023-15, which modifies the masonry requirement for developments with an industrial zoning determination.
In a related issue, the Council postponed action on a similar request for property located at 1916 Alton Road. The project plans have been submitted but have not been recommended or denied in the zoning process. The property would be eligible to be grandfathered in if the Council amends the zoning further.
In other business, the Council extended the moratorium on signage in the city. The city is currently writing amendments to the existing ordinances to focus on monument-style signs. The moratorium was extended through September to allow the amendments to be developed.
The Council also approved the following:
- Declared vehicles with the fire department as surplus
- Approved an agreement with the Whistle Stop Festival
- Approved an agreement with Slappey Communications to provide phone and internet at the Irondale Civic Center
- Approved an alcohol license for the Publix being built at 1288 Grants Mill Road
- Approved the American Red Cross to use the Irondale Civic Center during emergency, disaster-related activities
The next meeting of the Irondale City Council will be held on May 20, at 6 p.m., at Irondale City Hall.