By Terry Schrimscher
IRONDALE — The Irondale City Council met for the second regular meeting of the month on Tuesday, June 18. The agenda featured several items on consent and two public hearings on zoning requests for local businesses.
In his report to the council, Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. surprised one local citizen by offering a proclamation in recognition of his birthday.
Max Chandler was honored for his 92nd birthday with a proclamation from the city of Irondale. He is shown with his granddaughter, City Clerk Leigh Allison, and Mayor Stewart. Photo: Courtesy City of Irondale.
“I want to let you know that they tricked you to come to the council meeting tonight,” Stewart said. “Leigh is not getting an honor, we’re celebrating your birthday.”
Stewart read a proclamation honoring Max Chandler, who celebrated his 92nd birthday June 14. Chandler is the grandfather of Irondale City Clerk Leigh Ann Allison. Chandler moved to Irondale with his family when he was 3 years old.
Stewart prepared another proclamation for a 99-year-old Irondale woman who was unable to attend.
In the consent agenda, the council approved an alcohol license for Golden Rule Barbecue, one of the nation’s oldest still-existing barbecue restaurants which founded in Irondale in 1891.
The council also approved funding for several local charities including $50,000 for the Cahaba River Society and $50,000 for the Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition. The council also approved $2,500 for each of the following: The Prescott House, The Friends of the Irondale Public Library, The Exceptional Foundation, ClasTran, United Ability, Studio by the Tracks, and Heidi’s Kids.
Mayor Stewart and council members London and Sims each added $1,000 and council members Box and Cuellar added $500 from their discretionary funds for the work of Heidi’s Kids.
The council approved a $1.25 million investment in a laddered portfolio of U.S. Treasury Bills with Raymond James.
The council also approved rezoning property at 1915 Alton Road from commercial to light industrial to create an auto repair shop. The council did not rule on a zoning change on property located at 1568 Alton Road to be used as a landscaping business. The item is expected to return to the agenda for a second reading at a future meeting.
After the votes, the council moved into executive session. The public portion of the meeting ended at that point.
The next meeting of the Irondale City Council will be held at 6 p.m. on July 2 at Irondale City Hall. An agenda for the meeting can be found on the Irondale website prior to the meeting.
