By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune
PINSON – At a meeting on Friday night the Pinson City Council authorized Mayor Hoyt Sanders to explore ways for the city to continue hosting a festival on Main Street following an announcement that the longtime Butterbean Festival would be discontinued.
Sanders began with a brief overview of how the festival was started, saying that it was started by the Homestead Community in 2005 and had expanded since then.
He estimated that the city has contributed a total of at least $70,000 annually, which was managed by the Palmerdale Homestead Community Center for some time before a partnership was picked up by the Clay-Pinson Chamber of Commerce.
On March 17 the organizers at the Clay-Pinson Chamber of Commerce behind the annual event released a statement claiming that funding had been halted, leading to the discontinuation. Officials from both cities have denied this, pointing out that no actions have taken place to pull any of the funding.
“In any case I believe that the best course is to simply turn the page once again and work towards a solution,” Sanders said. “One door closes, another opens.”
Councilor Dawn later admonished the chamber and accused them of “backstabbing” the city.
“Shame on the Alabama-I mean on the Clay-Pinson Chamber of Commerce for backstabbing us,” she said. “I’m sorry I have to say that. This, it doesn’t matter how it came about. We asked to look at their books and they didn’t like it, so they stomped their feet and said, ‘Nope, we’re shutting everything down,’ and shame on them and I’m just being honest with you.”
Councilor Brad Walker encouraged the public to contact council members with any ideas for a new festival.
A special called meeting has been set for March 26 to discuss whatever findings are made.
Sanders said that he could not speak as to why the organizers claimed that funding was pulled but reiterated that the decision was made sometime after questions were raised about the general service contract with the council.
Local youth sports teams (top), restaurant owners (left) and Parks and Recreation staff members were recognized by Director Taurus Pyles. Photo by Nathan Prewett.
In her report Parks and Recreation Director Taurus Pyles announced that local youth basketball teams won at a recent LEAP program game by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Pyles acknowledged several restaurants that fed the team members during their competitions, these being McDonald’s, Krispy Kream, Subway, Jack’s and Taco Mama. She also acknowledged staff members Jim Barnett, Anthony Grant, Shakita Howard, Riri Johnson and Nathan Scott Parker. All were honored with plaques.
Toward the end of the meeting Mary Graham, who is president of the Palmerdale Fire District Board announced that members of the district will soon be part of the Retirement Systems of Alabama.
She stated that this was a long time in the making.
“It was not easy,” she said. “It was a very arduous task but it has been done and it has been approved and it goes into effect (April 1).”
In other business the council:
- Annexed three properties into the city,
- Authorized $5,000 for modification to the sidewalk at the Bicentennial Park, and
- Approved an ordinance for the 2025 Sales Tax Holiday.
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.
NOTE: This story has been updated to clarify that the city spent an estimated $70,000 on the festival annually and not overtime.
