By Terry Schrimscher, For the Tribune
CLAY – The Clay City Council met for the final regular meeting of the month on Tuesday night, Nov. 28, at City Hall. There was no new business on the regular agenda and the Council moved quickly through their reports.
In his report, City Manager Ronnie Dixon introduced John Griscom from the American Legion to speak about the upcoming Wreaths Across America annual project.
“The 16th of December, we’ll be having National Wreaths Across America Day and we’ll have a ceremony at Jefferson Memorial Gardens in Trussville,” Griscom said.
The wreath ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. Andrea Lindenberg, news anchor for CBS 42 in Birmingham, will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event.
“We’d like to have everyone come out for that. We expect to be laying a little over 1,300 wreaths at various cemeteries in the area,” Griscom said.
Wreaths Across America began in 1992 when a wreath company donated surplus wreaths to decorate an older section of Arlington National Cemetery during the holiday season. In 2007, the Wreaths Across America nonprofit was formed to help spread efforts nationwide.
According to the nonprofit organization’s website, www.wreathsacrossamerica.org, groups across the country will help place more than 3 million wreaths this holiday season.
The City of Clay has donated $2,000 to the local American Legion for the event.
Dixon updated the Council on construction plans for the new Mavis Tire. He expects a groundbreaking in February or March with a grand opening later in 2024. The business will be located on Old Springville Road near Clearview Baptist Church.
Speaking to the Trussville Tribune, Dixon offered an update on plans to lease the Chalkville Campus of the Department of Youth Services and turn it into a recreational facility for the community. He previously spoke on the plans during the October 24 Council meeting where he said the city expected to assume a long-term lease in January to begin developing the property.
Dixon now says the state is not expected to vote on the final contract until the March 2024 meeting but the city still expects to develop the property after the lease terms are formally approved.
The site closed in 2012 after a tornado damaged or destroyed many of the buildings on campus. The property has since endured more than a decade of neglect and vandalism. DYS has stipulated the city must refurbish some of the existing buildings as part of the agreement.
Due to the holiday season, the next two meetings of the Clay City Council are scheduled for 6 p.m. on December 12 and December 19 at City Hall.