By Nathan Prewett
PINSON – During a meeting on Thursday, March 21 the Pinson City Council set the date and activities for the next CityFest event, which will mark 20 years since it was incorporated in 2004.
During the work session the council ironed out the details of how the celebration will take place. After reviewing fireworks options it was determined that there will be a 12-minute show at the end of the event at the cost of $15,000.
“Go big or go home,” said Mayor Joe Cochran when that option was being discussed.
There will also be a cake and food trucks for the celebration, as well tours of the renovated Rock School Center. The date for it was set at Wednesday, June 15 at 6 p.m. at the Rock School Center’s parking lot.
The overall cost of the event is $17,000.
After the council passed the items on its agenda, the floor was opened to public comments. Speaking first was former Councilwoman Dawn Tanner, who invited the council and the public to the Cochran Alumni Softball Game at Pinson Valley High School on Saturday, March 23.
Tanner said that the game is free but organizers are taking donations to raise funds for ALS treatment. All former Pinson softball players will be invited to take part. Additionally there will be a concession stand and t-shirts for sale.
“A hundred percent of this goes to ALS in honor of the mayor,” she said.
Cochran has the condition and regularly speaks through a translator. He was previously involved in softball at the high school, announcing games and served as an interim head coach for a season.
Afterwards, Center Point Fire District Battalion Chief Chris Horn gave an update on numbers for the month of February. He reported that there were 770 calls, 21 structure fires, 43 smoke detectors installed, four automatic aid given and six received.
A resident, Paula Chandler, then spoke and expressed her complaints with the billing at Waste Management, saying that they have not sent out a corrected bill that she expected. She added later that Waste Management trucks have caused damage to her trash can by breaking the wheels on it.
Mayor Pro-temp Robbie Roberts advised her to send only the amount she was quoted and return to the council if the company did not address her concerns.
In other business the council:
- Purchased carpet for the Rock School for $14,000,
- Purchased 30 banners advertising Pinson’s 20th anniversary for $4,500,
- Approved sending Deputy Jeff Hall to a School Resource Officer conference for $2,570,
- Approved council members Brad Walker, Glenda Kirkland and John Churchwell to be the voting delegates for the Alabama League of Municipalities, and
- Annexed a property on Helms Circle into the city.
Pinson City Council meets on the first and third Thursdays of every month at City Hall on 4410 Main Street. Live-streamed meetings can be seen on the city’s Facebook page.
Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.com.