What led to the Schools and City proposing an appointed Board of Education?

From the Office of the Mayor

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.

PCBOE – Resolution 2024-1 Appointed BoardDownload

Pell City Solid Waste Collection Service Arrow Disposal (ADSI) Announces Acquisition by Meridian Waste

PUBLIC NOTICE

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

On the Board of Education’s Distribution of City Funding

PUBLIC NOTICE

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.

City, Rotary partner to finalize downtown streetscape improvements

In July 2024, the City of Pell City celebrated the installation of 20 black, cast-iron benches and 11 matching litter containers along Cogswell Ave. – the final piece of a years-long Downtown Improvement Project.

These new, modern benches were made possible through a contribution from the Rotary Club of Pell City. They join other significant improvements installed along Cogswell Ave., Comer Ave., and 19th Street including new sidewalks and curbs, planters, and streetlights.

Pell City Rotarians met on the corner of 19th St. and Cogswell Ave. to celebrate the installation of new benches in downtown Pell City. The Rotary Club of Pell City contributed $20,000 toward the purchase and installation. From left are: Immediate Past President Serge Brazzolotto, Secretary Emily Norris, City Council member and Sergeant-at-Arms Jay Jenkins, Jaxon Phillips, Steve Talley, President-Elect Brian Muenger, and President Kelly Furgerson.

Rotary Past-President Serge Brazzolotto, who led the Club from July 2023 through June 2024, initially saw the value of transforming the City’s historic downtown into a more vibrant and walkable space. He spearheaded the club’s involvement.

“It was Rotary’s goal to provide the people of Pell City with something that enhanced their experience downtown,” Brazzolotto said. “These benches will be used daily, and our Club is proud to help improve our community in such a meaningful way.”

Pell City Rotary President Kelly Furgerson and Immediate Past President Serge Brazzolotto led the effort to involve the Club in the City of Pell City’s Downtown Streetscape Improvement Project.

Total cost of the benches and litter containers was approximately $40,000. Rotary committed to assisting the City with the expense by contributing half the cost – more than $20,000.

This contribution is part of the Rotary Club of Pell City’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. The Club, founded in 1974, marked a half century of community service this year, and each bench is branded with a badge that recognizes the Club’s decades of “Service Above Self.”

“Rotary sends a tremendous thanks to the City for the vision and effort that went into improving our downtown,” Rotary President Kelly Furgerson said. “We’re excited to celebrate our 50th anniversary alongside this major accomplishment.”

The City of Pell City’s Downtown Streetscape Improvement Project dates back to June 2020, when the City applied for an Alabama Department of Transportation TAP Grant, which stands for “Transportation Alternatives Program.”

The grant request was for $640,000 to remedy ADA non-compliant sidewalks in the downtown area. The City provided local matching funds of approximately $500,000, including landscaping and lighting costs, as well as engineering and inspection fees.

Streetscape Improvements completed by the City with the assistance of the TAP Grant included the corner of 19th St. and Cogswell Ave. (above), and the corner of 20th St. and Cogswell. Ave. “Before” photos from the City’s grant submission.

In August 2023, the City awarded a bid for construction to Taylor Corporation of Oxford for approximately $830,000. Taylor Corp. completed their portion of the project in June.

Installation of the Rotary benches was the final piece. They were installed in July by the Pell City Street Department under the supervision of Greg Gossett and Blake Nixon.

“We are grateful to ALDOT for recognizing this need and helping us transform downtown Pell City,” Muenger said. “Punctuating it with a gift of this scale from Rotary is what truly makes this a community project, and one that we hope residents will appreciate for years to come.”

For more on the Rotary Club of Pell City, visit pellcityrotary.org

Investigation Underway after Devastating Pell City Plant Fire

Investigation is underway at the site of an industrial fire in Pell City that kept Pell City Fire Department (PCFD) crews mobilized for 26 continuous hours on July 30-31.

On Tuesday, July 30, at 6 p.m. PCFD responded to a report of smoke in the ventilation system at Royal Foods, located at 1904 16th Ave S. in Pell City. Crews arrived within minutes and found one of the company’s two plant facilities emitting heavy smoke.

Smoke poured from the roof of the original Royal Foods facility on June 30, 2024. Drone photography by Brian Muenger.

Pell City Fire Chief Tim Kurzejeski engaged the PCFD Special Operations Team, and on-duty staff entered the plant to attempt suppression efforts from within. Within 45 minutes, PCFD had 45 of the department’s 60 firefighters on site, but the crews were forced into defensive positions when the fire spread to inaccessible parts of the plant and compromised the roof structure.

Teams from Pell City Police Department, Pell City Street Department, and Pell City Utility Department were all called to the scene to provide critical support to the firefighting teams. With assistance from St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency, Kurzejeski requested mutual aid from regional partners. Six fire departments provided personnel and equipment to assist in containment and suppression efforts.

Photo courtesy of Jared Brannon

“The response to our request for assistance was unbelievable,” Kurzejeski said. “Our City departments were operating as a complete team alongside our partners who answered the call for aid.”

Throughout the 26-hour mobilization, PCFD and mutual aid partners used more than 3 million gallons of water to suppress the plant fire. Kurzejeski credited Utility Superintendent James Hadaway and his team for rising to meet the challenge of supplying the water without interruption.

He also thanked Street Department Director Greg Gossett and Pell City Police Chief Clay Morris for the constant support. Both teams led traffic control around the site. City Manager Brian Muenger, in conjunction with the Police Department, provided drone footage to help firefighters target hotspots, and the Street Department provided a constant supply of fuel and other resources to PCFD and their mutual aid partners.

“In Pell City, we operate as a unit,” Kurzejeski said. “During this operation you were able to see multiple departments and agencies come together without missing a beat, put their training into practice, and do everything they could to protect the structure, prevent injury, and contain the fire.”

The fire started in the plant’s original structure, a building Royal Foods moved into when it relocated to Pell City in 1992. Royal Foods’ staff were fully evacuated, and firefighters were able to contain the fire to the original facility. No injuries were caused by the fire, either to Royal Foods employees or to the suppression teams, and all other Royal Foods structures at the site were protected.

Kurzejeski and other City leaders remained in contact with Royal Foods throughout efforts to extinguish the fire, which resulted in a total loss of the structure. The company said in a statement issued July 31 that it intended to retain all 130 employees at the site, and that Royal Foods was looking forward with optimism.

As of this release, the site is still considered active and PCFD crews are continuing to monitor the plant for potential flare-ups. 19th Street is open to the public.

PCFD is investigating the cause of the fire with assistance from the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Photo courtesy of Jared Brannon

Mutual aid responders and contributing departments and agencies included:

  • Springville Fire Department
  • Odenville Fire Department
  • Leeds Fire Department
  • Lincoln Fire Department
  • Trussville Fire Department
  • New London Volunteer Fire Department
  • Pell City Police Department
  • Pell City Street Department
  • Pell City Water Department
  • St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office
  • St. Clair Emergency Management Agency
  • Alabama Power
  • Springville Community Emergency Response Team

“I’m thankful for the overwhelming support from our mutual aid partners,” Kurzejeski said. “I’d also like to thank the members of the Pell City Fire Department for their grit and commitment throughout the response. The moment we received the call, we hit the ground running and did not stop. If that jacket is on, we’re moving. I would not have expected anything less of our firefighters. They go above and beyond, give anything and everything, and always work to complete the task.”

Photo courtesy of Jared Brannon

WORLD CHAMPIONS: Pell City 8U Softball recognized by Council for 21-0 title season

On Monday, July 8, the City Council for the City of Pell City celebrated the Pell City 8U Rec All-Star Softball Team as the USA Softball World Series Champion and No. 1 ranked team in the nation. This marks the first time Pell City has won a world title in any of its athletics programs, according to Pell City Athletic Director Joey Morrow.

The City of Pell City celebrated its first World Championship for any City athletics program on Monday, July 8, in recognizing the 2024 Pell City 8U Softball team whose 21-0 record propelled them to No. 1 in the nation. The team and coaches are pictured with the Pell City Mayor, Council, and City Manager.

The undefeated 8U Pell City team dominated their competition on their way to a 2024 title and top ranking during the July 5-7, 2024 World Series played in Albertville. The team closed out the Series on Sunday against the No. 3-ranked Arab Knights by a score of 10-2 to claim the World Championship.

Pell City entered the World Series tournament as the top-ranked team in the state after earning the titles of District Champion, Area Champion, and State Champion. Including their World Series run, the team boasts a 21-0 record for the 2024 season.

The Pell City 8U Rec Allstar Softball Team coached by Dean Staples, Andrew Lee, Zane Calhoun, Kent Pierce, and Robert Barnes scored 287 runs during their four championship tournaments this summer while only giving up 88 runs.

The City of Pell City congratulates these coaches and players on their achievements.

  • Sadie Whittington
  • JaRainah Smoot-Hill
  • Ava McCoy
  • Letti Pierce
  • Nora Hall
  • Aspen McCloud
  • Emma Barnes
  • Ashlyn Jackson
  • Adalynn Phillips
  • Rayleigh Staples
  • Ella-Kate Calhoun
  • Londyn Turner
  • Baylor Lane
  • EllaJo Lee
  • Dean Staples
  • Andrew Lee
  • Zane Calhoun
  • Kent Pierce
  • Robert Barnes

Photos from Facebook / Hollie Normal Hall

Alabama Sales Tax Holiday coming July 16-18: See the list of tax-free items

The City of Pell City will again participate in the State of Alabama’s Annual Back to School Sales Tax Holiday in 2024. This year’s event begins July 19 at 12:01 a.m. and concludes July 21 at midnight.

During this time, local and State of Alabama sales taxes will be waived at retailers in the City limits, giving shoppers the opportunity to purchase certain school supplies, computers, and clothing for less than other times during the year.

For more, contact the State of Alabama Sales and Use Tax Division at (334) 242-1490 or (866) 576-6531.

Eligible clothing: Includes all human wearing apparel suitable for general use. This is not an all-inclusive list. $100 or less, per article of clothing.

  • Belts / Scarves / Neckties
  • School Uniforms / Gym Suits
  • Caps / Hats
  • Pants / Jeans / Shorts
  • Shirts / Dresses
  • Coats / Jackets / Raincoats
  • Shoes / Sneakers / Boots / Sandals
  • Diapers / Underwear
  • Pajamas / Robes
  • Socks / Gloves / Hosiery

Planet Fitness Announces Pell City Location

Planet Fitness, one of the largest and fastest-growing operators of fitness centers with more than 18 million members has begun development on a two story 30,000 square foot fitness center on Interstate 20 near Home Depot and Walmart in Pell City.

“I’m proud to announce that Planet Fitness will soon be opening a new location in Pell City,” Mayor Bill Pruitt said. “This national brand recognizes the potential of our community, and their arrival signifies a strong vote of confidence in our economic climate. It’s a win-win for our residents and businesses alike.”

Planet Fitness offers state of the art strength and cardio equipment with each cardio unit having an individual tv attached. The gym will have fully equipped locker rooms with day lockers and spa inspired showers, and much more. Once open the gym will be open and staffed 24/7. A January 2025 open date is expected.

“We are excited to bring our Judgement Free fitness experience the Pell City community” said Mike Hamilton, franchisee, at MFP, a Planet Fitness franchise division. “At Planet Fitness, we offer an affordable membership for a high-quality fitness center and welcome anyone, at any fitness level into our friendly, comfortable, and non-intimidating environment. We encourage you to come check out our new location soon and see what our unique, Judgement Free Zone® is all about.”

Planet Fitness prides itself on providing a high-quality experience at an exceptional value and being home of the Judgement Free Zone®, where members experience a hassle-free, non-intimidating environment.
New members will be able to join for just $15 a month with no commitment.

The PF Black Card® membership, which is typically 24.99 a month, includes additional amenities such as the ability to bring a guest every day at no additional charge, and access to all 2,500+ Planet Fitness locations in all 50 states, among other benefits.

For more information, please visit planetfitness.com/

Allied Mineral Breaks Ground on $23.5 Million Expansion in Pell City

City officials joined State of Alabama and company representatives on June 11 to celebrate a $23.5 million expansion of the Allied Mineral Products, LLC plant in Pell City. The new construction will add a 200,000-square-foot production facility, doubling the size of the plant, and add 13 manufacturing jobs to the local workforce.

During a speech to the crowd at the groundbreaking ceremony, Mayor Bill Pruitt noted that the company only arrived in Pell City in 2019. Doubling the size of its local facility in only 6 years is a testament to the quality of the local workforce, he said.

“It says a lot about us as a community,” Pruitt told the audience of State and local officials and company representatives. “We are proud to have you here, and we look forward to seeing you grow, prosper, and bring more employees into the Allied family.”

Pell City Mayor Bill Pruitt speaks to the audience during the Allied Mineral Products groundbreaking ceremony on June 11, 2024.

Allied Mineral first came to St. Clair County in 2017 with its acquisition of Riverside Refractories, Inc. Allied opened the Pell City production facility in August 2019.

“The reason you’re here validates that we’re doing something right that makes for a great workforce,” St. Clair Commission Chair Stan Batemon told the audience during the ceremony.

St. Clair Commission Chairman Stan Batemon addresses local, State, and company officials at the Allied Mineral production facility in Pell City on June 11, 2024.

Allied Mineral President and CEO Paul Jamieson noted that the expansion will increase the company’s number of full-time jobs at the facility to more than 100. He said thanks to the quality of Pell City’s workforce and the local support, the company’s growth in Alabama has been faster than planned. 

“We are excited to be expanding our facility so soon and are confident this will help us to continue that growth,” Jamieson said.

From left, Mayor Bill Pruitt, Allied Mineral President & CEO Paul Jamieson, Council member Ivi McDaniel, Allied Mineral Chairman Jon R. Tabor, and City Manager Brian Muenger. The entirety of the gravel area pictured will soon be transformed into a 200,000-square-foot production facility.

According to officials, the company can produce more than 1,000 different products at the Pell City plant, which are primarily types of heat-resistant coatings for industrial use. Allied’s products are used everywhere from smelting ladles to rocket launchpads.

Construction on the new facility, now under way, will be completed in late 2025. In addition to the new building, the expansion will include installation of new manufacturing equipment including cranes, drying ovens and mixers. Allied will increase the facility’s production capacity, improve efficiency, prepare it for growth and increase its ability to serve the company’s Southern regions.

Besides Pell City, Allied has U.S. locations in Brownsville, Texas and Columbus, Ohio, where it is headquartered.  The company also has facilities in Canada, South America, Europe, India, China, and South Africa.

City Awards New Police Station Project Bid to Goodgame Co.

On Tuesday, May 28, the City Council for the City of Pell City awarded the construction of its new police station to Goodgame Company. The Pell City-based construction company’s $5.95 million bid was the lowest of four returned to City administration, the highest coming back at $7.24 million.

Pell City Police Chief Clay Morris presents a rendering of the planned Pell City Police Department to City Council on May 28.

“Bids were within the margins of what we expected, and less than the costs of other departments that recently constructed new operations centers that we reviewed during this process,” Pell City Police Chief Clay Morris said. “I think if the Council approves this bid, it will set our department up for the next 30 years.”

Goodgame Company’s bid for the facility was certified by project architect David Christian, who presented to the Council during its Regular Work Session. Christian confirmed that the bid met specifications, but included some contingencies for soil compaction at the project site. 

Pell City City Manager Brian Muenger said that fluctuations in cost were accounted for, and that the project would be funded without the need to borrow.

“We anticipate completing this much-needed project entirely from existing funds,” Muenger said. “We’ve closely accounted for the construction costs, as well as associated costs of upfitting and equipping the space. Not a lot of cities can fund a project of this magnitude without the need for external financing, and the ability to do so speaks well to the financial stewardship of this administration.” 

Architect rendering of the new station proposed for the Pell City Police Department.

The project has a contractual 12-month timeline for completion. Residents can expect to see demolition and site preparation begin in July 2024.

The City’s new 15,000-square-foot police station is planned for the site of the former Boys and Girls Club in Pell City, directly behind the City’s new Pickleball Courts on 19th St. South. The planned facility will provide the Department with approximately five times its current amount of operational space in City Hall.  

“Since the most recent renovation of City Hall in 2002, the Police Department has been locked into approximately 3,000 square feet of space” City Manager Brian Muenger said. “This new facility will give them the room they need to operate appropriately for a department their size.”

Pell City Police Chief Clay Morris said the facility was designed for expansion and is expected to accommodate the needs of the City for decades to come. The new facility will provide officers with the resources they need to excel, including expanded space for administration, investigations and patrol divisions and dedicated community meeting rooms.

Architect rendering of the new Detective Room in the Pell City Police Station.

“I extend my gratitude to the City Council and administration for their unwavering vision and support,” Pell City Police Chief Clay Morris said. “This project wouldn’t be possible without their commitment to public safety.”

A pre-bid meeting was held May 7, 2024, and eight contractors requested architectural plans for the new facility. The Anniston-based firm Christian & Associates Architects, Inc. completed the plans for the new police station in March. 

Architect rendering of the exterior of the Pell City Police Station.