By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune
PINSON, Ala.–The Pinson City Council withdrew a resolution creating a youth sports fall baseball program after hearing concerns from parent liaisons over confusing communications.
Councilman John Churchwell read aloud the resolution which would have created the Fall Baseball program at the Pinson Youth Sports Complex.
However, when the council then opened the floor to the liaisons, they spoke on communications with City Operations Director Eric Winfrey telling them that the program would not be going forward.
Alicia Pippin said that they had been holding Fall Ball every year and that youths were practicing as the parent liaisons and volunteers were making preparations in the absence of a Parks and Recreation director, who normally oversees it.
Samuel Miller then spoke and said that he was one of the volunteer coaches. He related that plans were in place but that Winfrey apparently did not want to address it after the previous Parks and Recreation Director, Matt Nixon, left.
“I just felt like that was wrong to rip that away from these kids,” he said. “Like that, you know? And these kids were looking forward to this.”
Winfrey eventually spoke to explain the situation, saying that Nixon’s departure created a vacuum in the administration and left two staff members who had not been properly trained to take over the responsibility. What followed was apparently confusion in communication as a result.
After further discussion Councilman Brad Walker said that the council would be willing to work with the parents as they collect information to bring to them for review. The council later voted to withdraw the resolution in order to study the options before revisiting it in a future meeting.
The new Palmerdale Fire District engine. Photo by Nathan Prewett.
The council sometime afterwards heard from Palmerdale Fire Chief Jason Howell, who reported that the district is losing experienced staff members, many of them leaving for other departments that have RSA or Retirement Systems of Alabama benefits.
He said that the district has tried for RSA twice but that the expenses are too much to have it permanently. They are currently looking for incentives to retain members, he said.
But on a more positive note, the district recently received a new fire engine, which was on display near the parking lot at City Hall. The vehicle came three years after it was ordered for $600,000, a price that Howell was pleased with.
“We got lucky,” he said. “Because everything else is $800,000 and up just for a fire engine, and the cost of everything’s just going up.”
Howell also introduced the new president of the fire board, Mary K. Graham, who urged the council to support the district with funding.
Alabama Butterbean Festival Director Ronnie Dixon also delivered an update on the upcoming Alabama Butterbean Festival set for Oct. 4-5. The occasion will be the 19th annual festival, but the organizers are already planning for the 20th event next year.
Dixon displayed a blue tie-dye shirt for the 2024 festival, with patron shirts being red. Next year’s will be blue and red tie-dye shirts as a patriotic theme, he said.
He requested that the council consider granting an additional $5,000 for the 2025 festival, citing increasing costs to host it. Shortly afterwards he said that this year there are 12 more booths than last year, making it 162 total booths and there will be two new food vendors.
Next year the festival will have Hull Dobbs Ford as a new sponsor. Additionally, the stage will feature entirely local professional entertainers. There will also be a carnival with weather permitting.
In other business the council:
- Approved an agreement with Kevin Wallace, CPA for accounting services.
Meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of every month at City Hall on 1400 9th Street Northeast. Agenda packets can be seen online at the City of Leeds website.
Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.com.
