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
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.
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!
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.”
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
The City of Pell City is excited to announce that popular restaurants Outback Steakhouse and Whataburger will soon join the impressive selection of retailers at Pell City Square.
Construction is underway at both sites, and the City anticipates both will be open to the public before the close of 2024. The new restaurants will be located on the west side of the Pell City Square development, with Outback on the northwest corner parcel next to Ross Dress for Less.
“The arrivals of Outback Steakhouse and Whataburger fulfill a key promise made by this administration to attract high-quality dining for our residents as part of the Pell City Square development,” Pell City Mayor Bill Pruitt said. “These businesses bring not only exciting new options but also create significant economic opportunities through job creation and increased local investment.”
The addition of these beloved national chains brings the Pell City Square closer to completion. The project, which sits on the site of the former St. Clair County Hospital, was announced in 2022. It contained four outparcels that would be developed separately from the primary retail component.
The additions of Outback and Whataburger mean all City-controlled parcels are committed. Only two outparcels totaling 3.44 acres remain on the east side of the site, both controlled by Bill Ellison, president of I-20 Development.
Outback will have 187 seats in the restaurant with a maximum occupancy of 210. Combined with Whataburger, the new restaurants are expected to add approximately $3 million in annual taxable income to Pell City’s economy.
The Pell City Square development was initially projected to generate $25 million in taxable sales. Revised figures following an immensely successful holiday season in 2023 now project that figure to be higher.
“We’re expecting that the Pell City Square’s taxable sales for 2024 will surpass original projections by around 20 percent,” Pell City City Manager Brian Muenger said. “When we include the new restaurants, taxable sales are likely to exceed $33 million annually.
“Not only do these figures show our City has been successful in capturing local spending that would otherwise travel to competing markets, but it also provides the City with a significant boost in its ability to provide services and amenities for current and future residents.”
Pell City Square is located off I-20 Exit 158 on Dr. John Haynes Drive in Pell City. The 148,000 square foot retail space features Hobby Lobby, Ulta, Pet Smart, Ross Dress for Less, TJ Maxx, Old Navy, America’s Best Eye Care and Five Below.
