FY 2026 Budget: A Focus on Citywide Upgrades and Increased Fire Department Staffing

On Monday, September 22, 2025, the City Council for the City of Pell City officially approved the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which will make improvements across the City with a special emphasis on public safety.

The approved plan includes a significant increase in Pell City Fire Department staffing, adding three new Firefighter-Medic positions, as well as additional Captain and Lieutenant positions, adding approximately $228,000 to the Fire Department personnel budget.

“We’re adding critical front-line positions that will provide a direct impact on the safety of our community and residents,” Pell City Fire Chief Tim Kurzejeski said. “This is a vital investment in the priority we place on public safety and providing the best fire and EMS services possible.”

Overall, new and reclassified positions across the City represent an increase in personnel spending by more than $700,000 for FY 2026.

Breakdown of Spending

The approved budget for the upcoming fiscal year forecasts total General Fund revenues of $39.3 million, with projected expenditures of $34.8 million. This conservative spending outlook is meant to ensure ample funding for capital investments and project implementation.

Here’s a look at the estimated total costs for some departments:

  • Fire: $5.8M
  • Police: $6.8M
  • Parks & Recreation: $4M
  • Street: $2.9M
  • Utilities: $4.9M

The budget also includes the following:

  • Funding for 9 new positions
  • The City’s absorption of a 4.75% increase in employee health insurance premiums
  • A Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) of 3% for eligible personnel
  • Appropriations funding for nonprofit partners, including $6M to the Pell City School System and more than $200,000 to other local organizations

Council member Jay Jenkins highlighted the importance of the City’s investment in personnel, stating, “Our city’s most important asset is our employees. They are the backbone of our community, and it’s our responsibility to ensure we are investing in them.”

City’s Financial Health

Despite ongoing capital projects, the City’s reserve fund remains significantly above the 2023 baseline. The approved budget forecasts that revenue will exceed expenditures by more than $4.4 million in the upcoming fiscal year.

As has been the case in previous years, this revenue surplus is allocated to the City’s Capital Projects Fund. This Fund most recently allowed for property purchases and construction projects, including the new Pell City Police Station and Pell City Fire Station No. 2, without the City taking on additional debt.

As such, the FY 2026 Budget projects an 11th consecutive year of growth for the City’s General Fund Balance.

“This budget demonstrates the City’s focus on improving the level of service to our citizens, balancing the long-term fiscal health of the City with immediate needs,” City Manager Brian Muenger said.

Valtir Donates Tens of Thousands of Dollars in Safety Barriers to Pell City

Valtir, a premier manufacturer of highway safety products with a facility in the Pell City Industrial Park, has made a donation of 40 plastic ACZ barriers to the City of Pell City. The equipment, worth “tens of thousands of dollars,” according to Pell City Street Superintendent Greg Gossett, is a significant upgrade from the City’s current equipment.

Pell City Street Department staff Stephen Dill, Jonathan Campbell, Wesley Angel, Greg Gossett, BJ Rawson, Fred Buse, Terry Pate, John McCutcheon, and Pete Tray. Photo by Joshua Clemons.

The barriers, originally manufactured for use as crash cushions, will serve a new purpose by helping the city manage traffic and pedestrian flow at a variety of public events. They can be placed end-to-end to create a continuous barrier, making them ideal for occasions such as the annual parades and the Downtown Block Party.

Valtir representative John Higgins said the barriers were obsolete from their inventory and were no longer being sold. Instead of recycling or scrapping the materials, Valtir chose to donate them to the city, which has previously utilized similar donated items. 

“This donation from Valtir is an excellent example of a local company investing directly back into our community,” Mayor Bill Pruitt said. “These barriers will be a tremendous asset, helping us manage our public events more safely and efficiently. We are grateful for this partnership and for Valtir’s continued commitment to Pell City.”

This donation underscores a partnership between local industry and the community, allowing the city to improve public safety and event logistics without a major financial outlay.

About Valtir’s Local History

Valtir’s connection to Pell City dates back to the late 1980s. The facility, originally founded as Energy Absorption Systems (EAS) in California in 1969, moved the majority of its manufacturing operations to Pell City after the local factory was purchased. Since then, the plant has doubled in size twice and currently employs approximately 250 local residents.

In 2010, EAS was acquired by Trinity Highway, which added guardrail manufacturing to the product mix. In 2022, a new company, Valtir, was established with a renewed focus on highway safety products. While the manufacturing is a key part of the Pell City operation, the company’s R&D engineering division remains in California, designing new products to meet evolving roadway safety standards.

City Council Announces Nearly $3 Million in Paving Projects for FY 2026

The City Council for the City of Pell City has approved a new paving project schedule for Fiscal Year 2026, authorizing the use of a $3 million capital improvement allocation to address a list of 47 streets and roads and covering a total of approximately 17.6 miles. The approval came during the council’s September 8, 2025, meeting via Resolution No. 2025-92.

The Pell City Street Department utilized a Pavement Condition Rating (PCR) system to prioritize which roads would be repaired or resurfaced. The system gave the highest priority to roads that showed the most degradation, or the largest drop in their PCR score, between 2021 and 2024.

“A PCR score is a third-party analysis of the roadway condition and points of failure,” City Manager Brian Muenger said.

A lower score indicates more cracking, potholes, and general surface deterioration. By comparing the 2021 score to the 2024 score, the city was able to identify which roads had declined the most and were most in need of immediate attention.

The preliminary road list was reviewed by Street Superintendent Greg Gossett and the paving contractor, Wiregrass Construction Company, Inc. The preliminary cost estimates currently do not include striping and other traffic markings.

Of note, City Manager Muenger indicated that any resurfacing work on Vaughan Road would occur at night, similar to the resurfacing of Industrial Park Drive in 2024.

Street NameBeginningEndingCost Estimate
10th Ave S19th St SPine Hill Rd$88,311.70
16th St N2nd AveCogswell Ave$16,600.89
16th St SCogswell Ave10th Ave S$83,478.51
17th StWhitesville RdCogswell Ave$63,635.33
19th St2nd Ave3rd Ave$16,685.33
1st Ave SDry Creek Rd23rd St$323,089.60
22nd StComer Ave4th Ave$32,975.40
27th St N12th AveDead End$21,826.52
2nd AveComer Ave16th St$66,453.87
2nd St NCogswell AveOld Wagon$27,340.90
36th St NComer Ave12th Ave$16,953.36
4th Ave N23rd StDead End$57,438.37
5th St NCogswell AveOld Wagon$13,680.72
6th St NOld Wagon3rd Ave$19,219.48
Addie LnHardwick LnDead End$19,565.47
Autumn CircleTraweek LnCul-De-Sac$13,335.83
Brown StreetWolf Creek RdBrown St$19,399.66
Bruce Etheridge Pkwy.19th St S231 S$132,762.79
Circle Dr EKay StDead End$33,766.75
Circle Dr SCircle Dr ECircle Dr S$21,538.50
Collins DrForrest DrDead End$27,354.76
Comer AveCogswell Ave231$47,644.35
Coosa StSmith RoadDead End$8,728.00
Eagle Point DrSunsetCul-De-Sac$88,747.52
Eagle Point LnEagle Point DrCul-De-Sac$71,690.02
Forest DrCollins DrDead End$5,454.32
Green AcresHoliday Est DrWindsor Dr$10,732.05
Hardwick LnDickey DrShelby Dr$33,222.83
Hilltop St9th AveDead End$20,674.75
Holiday Est DrHwy 231Dead End$60,720.11
Hunter Ridge LnPatches LnDead End$52,733.37
Hunting Ridge CirHunting Ridge DrHunting Ridge Dr$18,893.35
Hunting Ridge DrHwy 231Dead End$71,026.63
Kay StreetWolf Creek RdLakeview Dr$30,548.00
Lee RdPine Harbor RdEasonville Rd$115,931.34
Mallard DrJohnson DrDead End$27,647.36
Masters RoadHwy 34Dead End$105,241.38
Eagle Point CircleEagle Point LaneDead End$5,706.36
Nelson Dr33rd StAshley Dr$30,199.80
Old Collins Ferry RdForrest DrFunderburg Bend$67,642.00
Pleasant Valley DrCogswell AveOld Coal City$253,236.59
Seminole TrlOspery DrDead End$88,278.15
Thomason StPine Harbor RdLee Rd$38,831.15
Tyler StAshley DrBellview$10,848.58
Vaughan Ln (Night)Lewis Lake LnFlorida Rd$389,727.42
Whitesville RoadCogswell Ave17th St$99,588.22
Windsor DrGreen AcresDead End$24,971.53
Initial Total$2,894,078.91

Utility Projects Ahead of Schedule

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 Story of Pell City’s First Major Mural: Houston Project and Artist Mallory Walls

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.”

About Mallory Walls

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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.

About the Houston Project

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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.

City of Pell City again partners with LMLPA for Boo Bash on Logan Martin 2025

The fourth-annual Boo Bash on Logan Martin takes to our local waters on Oct. 5, 2025. The City of Pell City is proud to be a 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. 5.

Click Here to Register by Email for Boo Bash 2025

Boo Bash 2025 Supports LMLPA

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 5 from noon until 4 PM, 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 and has grown each year since. Now on its fourth 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 last year,” 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.”

Follow the Boo Bash Facebook Page

LMLPA Stop at Lakeside Park

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 2025 land-use agreement with LMLPA at its July 14 regular meeting. 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 even more exciting 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 games, photo booths, food trucks, and giveaways.

Learn more about the LMLPA and its mission to protect our lake

For more

The City of Pell City urges all Boo Bash participants to follow all laws and practice safe and responsible boating.

Follow the Boo Bash Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/BooBashonLoganMartin

Learn more about the LMLPA and its mission to protect our lake: https://www.lmlpa.org/

FY24 Audit Indicates Continued Financial Health

The City of Pell City is proud to announce the successful completion of its Fiscal Year 2024 audit, revealing strong financial performance and a healthy outlook for the City. This marks the 10th consecutive year of growth in the City’s General Fund Balance.

The audit, presented by Brian Muenger, City Manager, to the City Council on July 14, 2025, received an unmodified opinion from auditors Bain & Company, P.C., with no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies identified.

“The fundamentals of the audit report are strong, particularly when considering the approximately $5 million in one-time expenses incurred by the City during this term,” Muenger said. 

The audit highlights several impressive achievements for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024:

  • The city’s main fund brought in $1.9 million more than expected, exceeding projections by 5.5%.
  • After all expenses and special one-time costs, the city’s income exceeded expenditures by $2.28.
  • The city’s savings grew to $38.9 million, which is enough to cover almost 18 months of operating expenses.
  • The Utility Fund, which manages water and sewer services, had a strong year with $2.8 million in operating income, boosting its total position to $11.8 million.
  • Overall, the city’s government finances improved by $6.7 million (a 9% increase), and the Utility Fund’s finances improved by $2.6 million (a 28% increase).

Muenger commended Finance Director Teresa Brakefield and her staff for the timely completion of the audit despite significant adversity and an earlier deadline than in prior years.

City Seeking Grant to Upgrade Rosedale Water Infrastructure

Pell City is pursuing a critical project designed to improve utility service for residents of the Rosedale Community and nearby areas by installing and connecting them to an upgraded water line. 

During its regular meeting on July 14, 2025, the City Council for the City of Pell City held a public hearing about the project. The City aims to secure a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) to replace an aging water main.

“The Rosedale Subdivision is currently connected to the core of the City’s water system by a 6-inch water main, which is both outdated and undersized,” City Manager Brian Muenger told the Council. The application proposes that this line be replaced with an 8-inch ductile iron main.”

Above, a map of proposed improvements to the City of Pell City Utility System that would benefit residents in the Rosedale Subdivision. The new 8-inch waterline is marked in yellow.

If approved, this upgrade will boost water flow and reliability for residents and support future growth. The new 8-inch main will run about 4,400 linear feet, from Rosedale Drive to the northern boundary of 14th Street and through 7th Alley. The project includes installing water valves, service connections, fire hydrants, and related components.

Recently, Council Member Ivi Wilson held a public meeting to discuss ways in which the residents of the Rosedale and other District 2 neighborhoods could begin preparing their property for future development. Increasing the capacity of utility services provides developers with an additional incentive to consider investing in these areas of the city.

Installation of the 8-inch main is estimated at $600,400. The maximum CDBG award is $500,000, so Pell City must provide a matching $100,400. This local contribution will come from departmental reserves and capital improvement fees. If awarded the grant, the City will also cover survey, engineering, legal, and grant administration fees.

A mandatory public hearing for the grant application was held at 6 p.m. on July 14, 2025, during the Council meeting. No public comments were received. The city is eligible to apply for the current CDBG grant cycle; applications are due July 23rd.

City Pauses High-Density Residential Development

Since 2020, more than 750 new homes have been built in the City of Pell City, and hundreds more will be going up soon. Acknowledging this rapid growth, and in the interest of safeguarding the unique character of the community, the City Council for the City of Pell City has temporarily paused new applications for high-density residential developments.

During its regular meeting on July 14, 2025, the City Council for the City of Pell City approved a six-month moratorium on new plat applications for R-3 and R-4 zoning designations, the city’s highest-density residential zones. These designations cover single-family attached dwellings (townhouses), multi-family housing (apartments and condominiums), and other higher-density residential developments. 

Oak Village, a new subdivision of more than 200 single-family homes off Florida Road, is an example of R-4 Zoning in the City of Pell City. Approved projects in Pell City, including Oak Village, will not be impacted by the moratorium. Applications for similar developments have been paused to allow the City to refine its regulations.

Subdivision proposals containing 3 or fewer lots that contain no public improvements are exempt, and the moratorium does apply to any previously authorized plats or ongoing development within existing subdivisions. This decision allows the city to refine its growth management strategies and evaluate its comprehensive plan, a process meant to ensure future development meets community expectations for quality and design.

“Put simply, the current regulatory framework of the City does not provide the Planning Commission or City staff with the tools necessary to ensure development that meets the desired standard of the community,” City Manager Brian Muenger said. “It is recommended that the Council authorize a temporary and targeted pause on these areas of concern, during which time staff can work with the Planning Commission to refine and improve the regulations governing these activities.”

This decision not only protects the City from immediate strain on utility systems, but it also addresses a concern expressed numerous times by Pell City Board of Education candidates during public interviews last month. 

“It’s great to see our City growing. People are flocking to Pell City,” recently appointed Board of Education member Jarrett Jacobs said during his interview on June 16. “But with that comes more kids. We have got to be prepared to accommodate more children.”

Addressing Metal-Clad Buildings

An example of a metal-clad residential structure that will be impacted by the moratorium. The City intends to update regulations to prevent these buildings, which lack architectural features, from being built in residential or commercial areas alongside structures with higher architectural standards.

In addition to the residential plat moratorium, the Council has also enacted a temporary six-month moratorium on the construction or expansion of metal-clad buildings in residential and most commercial zoning districts. This decision comes in response to concerns from citizens about these structures, particularly those near existing homes, businesses, and historically significant areas.

The City’s Comprehensive Plan emphasizes aesthetic cohesiveness and the protection of existing character. However, current regulations only address construction manner and use, not appearance or construction type beyond basic building codes. This has led to situations where metal-clad buildings, lacking architectural features, could be built alongside structures with higher architectural standards.

The moratorium defines a “metal-clad building” as a principal structure where the majority of its exterior surface is metal. It applies to properties zoned for Residential and Commercial use but exempts B-3 (Heavy Business), M-1 (Light Manufacturing), and M-2 (Heavy Manufacturing) industrial or heavy business districts. 

The Planning Commission will also temporarily review Conditional Use applications for R-A zoned properties proposing such development. This pause will enable city staff and the Planning Commission to develop regulations that provide the necessary tools to ensure development meets the community’s desired aesthetic standards.

Pell City Renews Support for Coosa Riverkeeper Swim Guide

The City of Pell City is proud to partner again with Coosa Riverkeeper to support the organization’s 2025 Swim Guide.

The Swim Guide provides easily understood water quality results for popular swimming spots each week during the summer. This information allows residents and visitors to make informed decisions about when and where it is safe to swim. 

Photo from https://www.facebook.com/CoosaRiverkeeper

Coosa Riverkeeper regularly tests the water in Logan Martin Lake for contaminants like E. coli bacteria, which can cause illness. These bacteria can enter the water from various sources, particularly after heavy rainfall. The results of these tests allow residents and visitors to make informed decisions about when and where it is safe to swim, which can reduce health risks. 

Understanding the Swim Guide is as easy as understanding a traffic light:

  • Green: Water meets safety standards.
  • Yellow: Elevated bacteria levels. Use caution when swimming.
  • Red: High bacteria levels. Avoid swimming.

The City of Pell City supports Coosa Riverkeeper because their work directly contributes to safeguarding the health of you and your family when you visit the lake. Our goal is for everyone to enjoy Logan Martin Lake safely.

Before you enter the water, always check the Swim Guide. Visit https://coosariver.org/swimguide/ or download the free Swim Guide app on your smartphone.

Follow Coosa Riverkeeper on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CoosaRiverkeeper for regular updates to the Swim Guide.