The City of Pell City will host a Community Forum on Local Amendment 1 on Oct. 15 at the Pell City Civic Center. The discussion will include Mayor Bill Pruitt as featured speaker, as well as a question-and-answer session with attendees. The public is invited to attend and learn more about the Amendment, which will appear on the November 5th General Election Ballot.
Currently, residents of unincorporated St. Clair County make up more than 50 percent of enrollment in Pell City Schools. Amendment 1 follows a 5-mill property tax approved by voters in 2021 on these residents. It proposes that those who live in the area defined as the “Pell City Schools Attendance Zone” be given the right to serve on the Pell City Board of Education.
Additionally, by providing voting representation through the approval of Amendment 1, Pell City Schools would have a pathway to collect the education sales taxes levied within the Attendance Zone.
“The City is eager to inform residents about Amendment 1, which we believe represents a significant step forward for solving representation issues in St. Clair County,” Mayor Pruitt said. “As with any change, we understand that there may be questions or concerns, and we want to assure residents that we are committed to open communication and transparency. We welcome your participation.”
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the event will begin at 6 p.m. Read more on Local Amendment 1 here: pell-city.com/amendment1
As of Oct. 1, 2024, the Street Department for the City of Pell City is no longer responsible for the delivery or removal of residential or commercial trash cans. Going forward, this service will be provided by the City’s solid waste collection and disposal contractor, Meridian Waste.
Effective September 1, 2022, Meridian Waste (formerly: Arrow Disposal Services, Inc. or ADSI) began providing residential solid waste and brush collection services to all City residents. As part of this process, new waste carts will automatically be delivered to your home, and your current waste carts will be picked up by the previous service provider.
What you should know
Carts will be delivered / removed on Wednesdays
The deadline for cart delivery or removal requests each week is Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
Those setting up a new account for collection at a home or business should not expect cart delivery until the following Wednesday
Questions should be directed to Pell City Street Department Superintendent Greg Gossett at ggossett@cityofpellcity.netor by phone at (205) 884-8267.
The 2024 season of “Lights in the Park” is fast approaching, and the Pell City Parks & Recreation Department is preparing for it’s biggest year yet as it looks to add an exciting new feature – Awards!
In 2024, community displays will be judged on their creativity and quality, and special recognition will go to the winners. Not only will attendees of the 2024 Lights in the Park be invited to vote on their favorite displays, but a panel of independent judges will also be assembled to vote on several categories from among all participants.
The winners will be recognized in a variety of ways, which means it is more important than ever for your organization to be a part of this community event.
Judges will vote for “BEST OVERALL – JUDGE’S CHOICE”. There will be nine additional categories for the general public to vote on. Voting will begin the first lighting day of our event, Friday, November 29th and end at 9pm Thursday, December 19th. Signs with a QR code will be distributed throughout the park. Visitors will use their mobile phone cameras to scan the code, which takes them directly to our poll.
The third-annual Boo Bash on Logan Martin takes to our local waters on Oct. 12, 2024. The City of Pell City is proud to be a 2024 partner of this year’s event as it seeks to engage our community while supporting an impactful nonprofit organization, the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association (LMLPA).
Pell City Parks and Recreation Employees gear up for Boo Bash 2024 and stop on the route at Lakeside Park. The City of Pell City partnered with the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association for the event on Oct. 12.
In this article
Boo Bash 2024 supports the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association
LMLPA / City Parks & Recreation / Library partner for Lakeside Park Stop
According to organizers Kelli Lasseter and Sonya Hubbard, Boo Bash is a “dockside trick-or-treat spooktacular hosted by families and local businesses along Logan Martin Lake.” On October 12 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., all across the lake, families in costume will be treated to a different Halloween experience at each dock they visit.
The event, which began in 2022, increased by more than 1,000 participants in its second year. Now on its third year, Lasseter and Hubbard have solidified their efforts to engage, grow and protect the lake community by giving back in a big way.
“Thanks to our amazing sponsors, this year Boo Bash on Logan Martin was able to raise more than $14,000,” Lasseter said. “These donations are more than enough to meet our main goal of supporting the LMLPA in adding 10 new hazard buoys to Logan Martin Lake.”
LMLPA President Neal Stephenson said the organization launched its Buoy Program in 2019 in partnership with Alabama Marine Police/ALEA. Among its many other efforts to protect Logan Martin, LMLPA relies on donations and volunteers to install lighted navigation buoys around the lake to enhance and encourage recreational boating safety.
The City Council of Pell City approved a land-use agreement with LMLPA earlier this year. Aided by the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, Lakeside Park will be the home of the organization’s awareness and fundraising efforts during the event.
Boaters can expect an exciting new stop on the route this year as City employees from Parks & Rec and the Pell City Library join the LMLPA in creating a new spooky scene at the Park featuring photo booths, food trucks, and registration for a kayak giveaway.
Another exciting addition to this year’s Boo Bash is its affiliation with the St. Clair County Airport’s Aviation Career Day and Open House. Now in its 6th year, the all-ages, all-day aviation event is packed with exhibitions, displays, and career seminars – all free to the public.
Manager Wendy Watson encouraged Boo Bash Participants to stop by the Airport before or after they take to the lake, but she added that the best time to be on the water would be between noon and 1 p.m. when dozens of historic planes are scheduled for Logan Martin flyovers.
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 October 29 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.”
The Pell City Utilities Department announced today, Sept. 24, 2024, that it has completed its Federally mandated review of all service lines ahead of schedule, and that no lead pipes were located within the service area.
The news should be comforting, as lead within a water system is proven to be a dangerous health issue. Utilities Superintendent James Hadaway said residents should feel at ease after his department’s thorough review.
The team of Pell City Utilities Department employees, led by Superintendent James Hadaway (left), spent two years inspecting approximately 6,000 service connections in the City of Pell City’s water system.
“The fact that we do not have any lead service lines within our system shows this Department and this City are committed to the safety of our citizens,” Hadaway said. “We are proud to make this announcement.”
Pell City Utilities began its review of service lines in 2022. The project was mandated as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) 2021 revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) made in response to the drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
The LCR revision required that all public water service systems were to complete an inventory within three years, with the mandatory reporting date being set on Oct. 16, 2024. Over the course of two years, Pell City Utilities employees investigated all 5,991 service lines to comply with the requirements.
“It required us to work on this project nearly every day, but it was worth it to be able to report this news,” Hadaway said.
Residents can review the Department’s summary report to the EPA here, and view the service line material classifications for individual addresses here.
What a fantastic day we had at City Hall and other Pell City facilities yesterday.
On Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, The City of Pell City was thrilled and honored to host more than 300 bright and curious fourth grade students from Pell City Schools on an inaugural tour of our municipal departments and facilities.
Organized by Coosa Valley Elementary Teacher Angela Davidson and City Special Projects Coordinator Jeff Thompson, the students went behind the scenes to learn more about City administration, police and fire operations and the Pell City Public Library. These young minds were eager to learn about how our city operates, and we were more than happy to share our knowledge.
In addition, Davidson organized the students’ visits to the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency, and Central Dispatch. Finally, every fourth grader also had the opportunity to tour the Museum of Pell City and learn the history of our community.
The City of Pell City is grateful to Ms. Davidson for taking the initiative to create this wonderful opportunity, and we’re especially proud of our City’s fourth-grade students for their exemplary behavior, insightful questions, and excitement about our wonderful employees and the work they do.
Special thanks to the organizers and presenters at the seven different stops throughout the day:
Bill Pruitt, Mayor of Pell City
Captain Josh Herren, Pell City Police Department
Battalion Chief Joey Vaughan, Pell City Fire and Rescue
Youth Librarian Jordan Rawson, Pell City Library
Chief Deputy Matt Coupland, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Director Charity Mitcham, St. Clair Emergency Management Agency
Museum Coordinator Erica Grieve, Museum of Pell City
Thank you for joining us, future leaders – we’ll see you next year!
Bill Pruitt is currently serving in his second term as Mayor of Pell City, Alabama. This column and others that are featured in this series are written and shared with the purpose of providing information to the general public and encouraging discussion on topics that impact the lives of the residents of Pell City.
Of the questions I’ve received regarding the upcoming vote on the governance of the Pell City School System, one of the most poignant is “now, why are we doing this?”
In a nutshell, the answer is that the Pell City Board of Education is correcting a 42-year-old structural shortcoming in the formation of the Pell City School System and fulfilling a promise they made to the voters during the 2021 Tax Referendum.
The starting point for our look into the “why” of the upcoming vote is Resolution No. 2024-1, approved by unanimous vote of the Pell City Board of Education on January 25, 2024. While I will be citing the portions most pertinent to this discussion, there will be a link to the full text of the Resolution following this post. Those portions read, as follows:
“WHEREAS, since the formation of the Pell City School System, those individuals that reside outside the city limits of the City of Pell City and within the unincorporated portion of the Pell City School Attendance Zone and Tax District (the “County portion”) have not been legally eligible to serve on the Pell City Board of Education or to vote in elections for the Pell City Board of Education; and,”
Pell City Board of Education Resolution No. 2024-1
When the Pell City School System separated from the St. Clair County School System in 1982, there were certain areas outside of the city limits that were served by schools within Pell City. By agreement, those students continued to be educated by the newly formed system. However, residents outside of the City limits had no right to serve on the Board of Education and had no voting representation on the Board.
Although the System has represented all students equally, without regard to residency, it has been a long-standing point of contention that residents in the county portion of the school system had no voice on the Board that made the decisions regarding the education of their children.
“WHEREAS, the Pell City Board of Education is committed to providing representation for those individuals that reside in the County portion of the Pell City School Attendance Zone and Tax District; and,”
Pell City Board of Education Resolution No. 2024-1
During the Kids Count tax referendum, the Pell City School System promised to address the issue of representation for families residing outside of the city limits. The Board of Education remains committed and is fulfilling their promise to correct this 42-year deficiency.
“WHEREAS, the Pell City Board of Education has analyzed and considered every option available to provide those individuals that reside in the County portion of the Pell City School Attendance Zone and Tax District the opportunity to participate in the governance of the Pell City School System; and,”
“WHEREAS, the Pell City Board of Education has determined that it is in the best interests of all citizens residing in the Pell City School Attendance Zone and Tax District to return the Pell City Board of Education to an appointed board, as it existed when the Pell City School System was formed, and to legally establish that the appointed members of the Pell City Board of Education shall be qualified individuals who reside within the entire Pell City School Attendance Zone and Tax District, with at least two of those members being appointed from the County portion of the Pell City School Attendance Zone and Tax District; and,”
Pell City Board of Education Resolution No. 2024-1
In 2023, the Pell City Board of Education enlisted the assistance of the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham to help them fulfill their promise. RPC is known for their expertise in the field of redistricting and serves the counties of Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby and Walker.
Upon analysis of the possible options, and upon the recommendation of RPC, the Pell City Board of Education determined that the most viable option for fulfilling their promise to the voters, and that in the best interest of the families of the Pell City School System, was to return to an appointed board, which is the format currently employed by 2/3 of the 70-plus city school systems throughout Alabama.
So that is the “why.” The next stops in the discussion pertain to “how will this work?”, and more importantly, “how will this impact my children?”
For more information, please see the Pell City Board of Education and City of Pell City’s information packet on Local Amendment 1 at www.pell-city.com/amendment 1.
Nothing contained herein intends to advocate in favor of or against the local ballot measure. The information is provided for the purpose of informing members of the public about the upcoming election, providing objective analysis or factual information about the local ballot measure, and encouraging citizens to vote.
The City of Pell City received notice that its contracted service provider for solid waste collection and disposal, Arrow Disposal Service, Inc. (ADSI), was acquired by by Meridian Waste Acquisitions, LLC. The transition took effect Sept. 1, 2024.
According to Meridian Waste, Pell City customers will see no impact to their services. No changes are anticipated other than minor branding updates.
According to the ADSI website, “Effective September 1, 2024, EEP & ADSI have joined forces with Meridian Waste. While the name of the company servicing you or your business will change to Meridian Waste, the original core group of drivers, helpers, landfill operators, supervisors and managers are still here to help you and keep your homes, streets and businesses clean. Your contracts remain valid and your service schedules will not change except for possible routine operational efficiencies. Thanks for entrusting EEP & ADSI, and now Meridian Waste, with your environmental services. It’s a job we take seriously, and we value your trust in us.”
Questions should be directed to Pell City Street Department Superintendent Greg Gossett at ggossett@cityofpellcity.net
In response to some discussion about the procedure for the Pell City Board of Education requesting funds from the City of Pell City, we would like to be clear. The process begins and ends with the Superintendent for Pell City Schools, who submits requests on behalf of the PCBOE. A request is made, and it is either approved or denied.
There are three documents attached to this post. The first is the original agenda for the PCBOE for a Called Meeting of Sept. 5, 2024. The second is an agenda that has been edited post-meeting, and the third is a request for funding from the PCBOE to the City Council.
The text highlighted in bold in the second agenda implies that City funding for PCBOE contracts has already been committed. Please be aware that the third document is the request for funding, which was hand-delivered to the Council by the Superintendent. It has yet to be approved.
It is anticipated the Council will approve this request for funding, as it has in the past. The third document also discloses last year’s requests from the BOE / Superintendent Martin, which the Council approved in an effort to show its continued support for the Board.
But it is also important to note that the Superintendent is requesting these funds on top of the more than $5 million that the City annually commits to the Board. These funds are discretionary, meaning the Board has full control of how they are spent.
As it has shown in years past, the Council is in full financial support of the students and teachers who drive this system. But it relies on the Board to determine how its contributions can be most impactful.
