Unofficial results from the Pell City Municipal Election for Council District No. 3, held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, have been announced.
At 7:15 p.m. on election night, City Clerk Sheree Pruitt released the following unofficial vote tally:
Greg Crump: 96
Blaine Henderson (Incumbent): 48
The unofficial total includes 20 absentee ballots that were counted by Election Officers on election day. The City also received 4 provisional ballots, which will be reviewed by the St. Clair County Board of Registrars on August 27. These provisional ballots will not be returned until Sept. 2, 2025, but are not expected to change the outcome of the election.
The results are not yet official and are subject to change until they are formally canvassed by the City Council. The Council is scheduled to hold a Special Called Meeting to canvass the results on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at noon in the Council Chambers.
UPDATE: Questions about the property or the proposal process can be submitted to City Manager Brian Muenger by September 3, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
The City of Pell City is seeking bids for the purchase of a surplus property located at 46 Cogswell Drive, Pell City, AL 35125. The property, which is approximately 5.8 acres, includes a 1,600-square-foot brick residential home.
Key Details for Bidders
Proposal Submission Deadline: All proposals must be submitted by September 5, 2025.
Property Viewing: The property will be available for inspection on August 28, 2025. The City makes no warranties regarding the condition of the property, and it will be sold “AS IS, WHERE IS, WITH ALL FAULTS”.
Required Documents: Proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope with the following information clearly marked: “Proposal for City-Owned Surplus Property at 46 Cogswell Ave.”. The proposal must include a completed Bid Sheet and an Intended Use of Property Form.
Submission Location: Deliver all forms to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, located at 1905 1st Ave. N, Pell City, AL 35125.
How Bids Are Evaluated
The City Manager will review proposals and make a recommendation to the Mayor and City Council. The decision will be based on three factors:
The highest proposal amount.
The intended use of the property.
The responsibility of the bidder.
The Mayor and City Council have the right to reject any and all proposals.
Questions
If you have questions about the property or the proposal process, you can email them to City Manager Brian Muenger. All questions must be submitted by September 3, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. For full details, download the complete Request for Proposals document and the required forms below.
Inspections
YOU MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A CITY OF PELL CITY REPRESENTATIVE TO ACCESS THE PROPERTY. The City will make the property available for inspection BY APPOINTMENT ONLY on August 28, 2025. Any interested bidders are responsible for inspecting the property at their own expense to ensure it meets their needs. Inspection appointments may be scheduled via email at jthompson@cityofpellcity.net prior to August 27, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
To receive a copy of the Request for Proposal Packet, please email City Manager Muenger. Include your personal information in the message, including full name and phone number.
Progress has accelerated on two of Pell City’s major utility projects, with both now roughly 50% complete. This pace is expected to continue until the work is complete.
“There’s a lot of construction going on,” Utilities Superintendent James Hadaway told the City Council on August 11 during the regular meeting. “You probably see the work when you drive down Golf Course Road or through Eden on Highway 78.”
Golf Course Road
The Well A to Woodhill Tank Waterline project on Golf Course Road, with a total grant award amount of over $2.6 million, is 47% complete. So far, 2,180 feet of the planned 16,000 feet of waterline have been installed, and one of four road crossings has been finished.
As of August 11, the contractor was on day 109 of a 365-day contract.
US 78 in Eden
For the Eden Lift Station and Force Main project on US 78 in Eden, work is at the 50% completion mark. The grant award amount for the project is more than $6.1 million. The project has seen the installation of 4,200 feet of the total 12,000 feet of force main pipe and 500 feet of the 900-foot gravity sewer pipe. Three of six manholes and three of four road crossings have been completed. Additionally, 18 feet of a 26-foot concrete wall has been poured.
As of August 11, the contractor was on day 200 of a 548-day contract.
The Pell City Police Department is issuing an urgent warning about a phone scam targeting residents and local businesses. Callers, impersonating police officers, are using threats and fear to trick people into sending them money.
The scam works like this: a caller from a local number claims that an individual has a warrant for a missed court date. They threaten that if a fine isn’t paid immediately, an officer will come to the person’s home or workplace to arrest them, and they’ll be held without bond.
This scam was recently used against a local business, Gilreath Printing. According to Jeremiah Gilreath, the caller demanded a bail payment for an employee. The scammer first told them to come to the police station, but then offered a suspicious alternative: paying bail through Venmo.
“That was the first red flag,” Gilreath said.
The scammers are going to great lengths to appear legitimate. When Gilreath called the number back, a recording answered, “Hello, you’ve reached the Pell City Police Department.” The scammer then falsely claimed the department was working with the Department of Justice and that Venmo payments were a “new standard operating procedure.”
“It sounded legit until you start asking questions,” Gilreath warned. “Just be aware.”
“These scammers are preying on people’s trust in law enforcement,” Chief Morris said. “Let me be clear: the Pell City Police Department will never call you and ask for money. We do not use digital payment apps like Venmo for fines or bail. This is not how we operate, and we urge everyone to be vigilant.”
To protect yourself and our community:
The Pell City Police Department will NEVER call you and ask for money.
PCPD will NOT call you to inform you about a missed court date or an outstanding warrant.
PCPD does NOT accept bail or fine payments via digital services like Venmo.
If you receive a suspicious call, do not give out any personal information or money. Hang up and contact the Pell City Police Department directly at (205) 884-3334 to verify the information.
A striking new mural is now complete in downtown Pell City. Spearheaded by Michelle and Craig Tumlin in collaboration with Houston Project, a local nonprofit dedicated to veteran advocacy, the mural is a bold statement.
Located at 1922 Cogswell Avenue on the exterior wall facing 20th Street, it depicts an American flag flying. Two soldiers, one male and one female, stand in crisp salute, their profiles a silhouette against the backdrop. Below them, a simple, yet profound, message is written: “Never Forgotten.”
“The project started a couple of years back,” said Michelle Tumlin, founder of Houston Project. “I would see murals all over the place, and I love them. I had a vision for the Houston Project to have a mural to honor not only Houston but also all heroes.”
Tumlin said the process involved financial considerations (“Murals are expensive,” she said), finding the right artist, and meeting with the building owner before going through the City’s application process.
The artist is Mallory Walls of MALLK ARTISTRY LLC, a Pell City resident during her high school years and a graduate of Victory Christian School. Walls has completed over 40 murals since 2021.
“She’s the perfect artist,” Tumlin said.
Joanna Hagan owns the building, and the mural is funded entirely by Houston Project.
“This is the first large mural in downtown Pell City,” City Manager Brian Muenger said. “It should encourage others to bring new concepts to our Planning and Zoning Commission that will enhance the community and attract more visitors. We’re extremely supportive of Michelle and this project.”
“I pray others will follow,” Tumlin said. “We have so many walls that are blank canvases. My vision has always been a bright and vibrant downtown full of life and character. This is a great start.”
Mallory Walls, originally from Boaz and now based in Glendale, Arizona, is a self-taught artist. She is a graduate of Victory Christian School in Pell City, and is a 2023 graduate of Auburn University with a degree in healthcare.
Walls recently launched her career as a full-time artist, which has taken her across the country in a short span. Her work has largely focused on the Southeast, especially Tennessee and Alabama.
Walls is also responsible for the vibrant murals inside Victory Christian School and Church.
The Houston Project is a Pell City-based nonprofit organization founded by Michelle and Craig Tumlin in March 2022, exactly one year after her son, Houston Lee Tumlin, died by suicide at the age of 28.
Houston Tumlin was a veteran who served nearly six years in the U.S. Army as an E-5 Sergeant in the 101st Airborne Division. After his military service, he struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Houston Project was created in his honor to be Houston’s voice and to raise money and awareness about the mental battles veterans face. The organization operates a storefront in downtown Pell City, owned by the Tumlin family, which sells various products. All profits from these sales benefit local veterans and their families, helping to meet their needs.
Pell City Police Department is excited to invite the community to its annual Public Safety Night. This event is designed to provide residents with valuable safety education, foster positive relationships with first responders, and offer a fun-filled evening for the whole family.
The event will be held in the Martin’s Family Clothing parking lot at 813 Martin Street S. on Tuesday, October 28 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The primary goal of Public Safety Night is to educate the City’s residents about important safety topics such as home safety, fire prevention, and emergency preparedness. First responders will be on hand to provide demonstrations, answer questions, and offer tips on how to stay safe.
“Public Safety Night is a special event that brings our community together to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our first responders,” Pell City Police Chief Clay Morris said. “It’s a chance for all of us to show our appreciation for the men and women who risk their lives every day to keep us safe.”
In addition to safety education, the event will feature a variety of activities for all ages. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore first responder vehicles, enjoy free food and games, and participate in a trunk or treat.
“I encourage everyone to come out and join us for this event,” Morris said. “Let’s show our support, build stronger relationships, and create a safer, more connected community.”
