By Crystal McGough
PINSON — Pinson Mayor Joe Cochran gave an update concerning the city’s new trash removal contract during the regularly scheduled Pinson City Council meeting Thursday, April 15, 2021. The city held a special-called meeting on April 8 where the council accepted bids and awarded the city’s residential trash contract to Waste Management Services.
“We do have a contract in place,” Cochran said. “We’ve had no pushback from the contractor, which is Advanced Disposal, owned by Waste Management. We feel confident that we’re going to have better service moving forward over the next three years. There’s some automation being put into place, not only with the trucks having automated boom arms to collect the trash, but also with automated mapping systems to help make sure that they don’t miss a pickup.”
Cochran said that there has been some confusion concerning unincorporated properties and Amwaste, the company that Jefferson County contracts with for garbage services.
“We can tell you that there is a number of people that live in and around Pinson that aren’t necessarily Pinson incorporated,” he said. “If you will call city hall at (205) 680-5556, we will answer your call, you give us your address and we will tell you if you are in the city of Pinson or not and who your trash service should be with. That’s going to be your best way to get that information.”
Anyone who is currently unincorporated can petition to annex into the city if they are interested in receiving the services that the city provides.
Councilor Glenda Kirkland put before the council a Second Amendment Fundamental Rights Resolution, Resolution 21-15, which states:
“The right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental individual right that should not be infringed; and the City Council of the City of Pinson, Alabama desires to ensure and publicly communicate to state and federal elected officials its concern that state and federal laws not be enacted that dilute or violate the important Second Amendment rights of the citizens of the City of Pinson, Alabama; and to set forth by this Resolution their support for the protection of all law abiding citizens’ right to bear arms as protected by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.
“The City Council further declares that this Resolution does not intend to offer support to bear arms to persons who have been convicted of felony crimes or who are prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law.
“This Resolution is not intended to prohibit or affect in any way the prosecution of any crime for which the use of, or possession of, a firearm is an aggregating factor or enhancement to an otherwise independent crime.”
Kirkland said that she feels it is important that the city of Pinson joins with other cities and states around the country who have already adopted similar resolutions.
“You’ve all heard about the big government wanting to take our guns away and our gun rights,” Kirkland said. “If you just look at history, at other countries, you will all see what happens when you do that. … We’re sending a message saying ‘Hands off of our Second Amendment rights’ and I think every citizen would agree with me on it.”
City Attorney Shane Black has looked over the document to make sure that it is sound and complies with existing laws.
“As a former member of the military, it is something that we protect on a regular basis,” Councilor Brad Walker said. “The words ‘shall not be infringed’ are paramount in that amendment and I think, as a city, showing our support for that amendment, even though there is really no enforcement to this, there is a statement to our federal government that we support the citizens of our city.”
The council unanimously approved and adopted Resolution 21-15.
Councilors Dawn Tanner and Glenda Kirkland reminded the public that Pinson’s 15th Annual CityFest will be May 8, 2021, at Bicentennial Park, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. The splash pad will be open and there will be other activities such as disc golf, spikeball and a sidewalk chalk art contest. Food vendors and musical entertainment will also be present.
“CityFest is a celebration of the birth of our city,” Mayor Cochran said. “Sometimes it gets lost in the mix and people don’t know that.”
In other city news, the city passed the following ordinances, resolutions and motions:
- Ordinance 2021-08, annexing property at 5521 Katrix Lane into the city (unanimous)
- Ordinance 2021-09, authorizing a lease agreement for real estate property at 4182 Powell Ave. (5-1)
- Resolution 21-14, providing Tier II level city employees with Tier I retirement benefits (unanimous)
- Motion to purchase a lithium battery for a golf cart at a cost of $3,570 (unanimous)
- Motion to approve replacing doors at PHCC at a cost of $2,739.70 (unanimous)
- Motion to purchase furniture for the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve pavilion at a cost of $20,000 (unanimous)
The next meeting of the Pinson City Council will be Thursday, May 6, 2021. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at Pinson City Hall, following a pre-council workshop at 6:15 p.m.