By Faith Callens
For The Tribune
TRUSSVILLE — On Thursday, Sept.16, the Center Point City Council met to discuss several items on the agenda including the city’s contract with the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA) to make bus routes more efficient for city residents.
“Route 25, which is from Center Point to Downtown, has been improved,” said Buddy Scott, Mayor of Center Point. “We will get more service and it will be more efficient allowing regular on-time schedule.”
Mayor Scott says the bus transit will not service on Saturdays, but will be available Monday through Friday from 4:45 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Councilor Glenn Williams, who rode the bus from downtown Birmingham to Center Point, said it took quite some time.
“It takes a while to get from Downtown to Center Point and once you get to Center Point,” said Williams. “Its like it takes a route around Center Point to the Jeff State area.”
Williams expressed that residents who ride the transit from Downtown to Center Point are paying for a route, he considered, out of the way, and should run through Center Point Parkway. The council will be inviting the Birmingham Bus Transit to the next meeting to discuss the bus route system.
The Council also discussed matters related to the city’s waste management complaints. There have been over 3,000 complaints overall for the city’s waste management services. To combat the overflow of residents’ complaints, the council approved a rental garbage truck to provide trash pickup where the city’s current waste management service left off. Mayor Scott said he is hopeful that the rental company service will be temporary and complaints will be resolved by the year’s end.
During public comment, Chief Gene Coleman shared the city’s monthly fire statistics and an annual leadership academy program held within the city’s limits.
“The program is held once a month,” said Coleman, “and that’s something positive that can hopefully help build the future city leaders while having better networking in our communities to serve.”
Coleman added that department’s newest fire truck, “Engine 1,” which is housed at the Center Point High School while announcing the department’s need for hiring additional positions within the fire department due to the rising cases of COVID.
The next Center Point City Council meeting is October 7.
In other matters, the Council approved:
- Resolution to participate in the Alabama League of Municipalities Economic Development Academy obtaining the required training and certifications as a new council. The program will last for six (6) months for the participating council members;
- Resolution authorizing a travel advance of $152 for the city clerk’s receptionist yearly travel expenses and required job training;
- Zoning ordinance allowing the operation of two package stores within the city;
- Center Point career fair October 20th from 12 noon till 4 p.m.;
- Center Point National Night Out scheduled for October 5 at the Center Point Court House Complex at 6 p.m.;
- Adoption of the city’s 2022 fiscal year $6.9 million budget; and
- Consideration of quotes for a structural engineer company to repair the catwalk area of the city’s inspection department. Holding off on choosing a structural engineer company for 30 days to consider companies available.