Unofficial results from the Pell City Municipal Election for Council District No. 3, held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, have been announced.
At 7:15 p.m. on election night, City Clerk Sheree Pruitt released the following unofficial vote tally:
Greg Crump: 96
Blaine Henderson (Incumbent): 48
The unofficial total includes 20 absentee ballots that were counted by Election Officers on election day. The City also received 4 provisional ballots, which will be reviewed by the St. Clair County Board of Registrars on August 27. These provisional ballots will not be returned until Sept. 2, 2025, but are not expected to change the outcome of the election.
The results are not yet official and are subject to change until they are formally canvassed by the City Council. The Council is scheduled to hold a Special Called Meeting to canvass the results on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at noon in the Council Chambers.
UPDATE: Questions about the property or the proposal process can be submitted to City Manager Brian Muenger by September 3, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
The City of Pell City is seeking bids for the purchase of a surplus property located at 46 Cogswell Drive, Pell City, AL 35125. The property, which is approximately 5.8 acres, includes a 1,600-square-foot brick residential home.
Key Details for Bidders
Proposal Submission Deadline: All proposals must be submitted by September 5, 2025.
Property Viewing: The property will be available for inspection on August 28, 2025. The City makes no warranties regarding the condition of the property, and it will be sold “AS IS, WHERE IS, WITH ALL FAULTS”.
Required Documents: Proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope with the following information clearly marked: “Proposal for City-Owned Surplus Property at 46 Cogswell Ave.”. The proposal must include a completed Bid Sheet and an Intended Use of Property Form.
Submission Location: Deliver all forms to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, located at 1905 1st Ave. N, Pell City, AL 35125.
How Bids Are Evaluated
The City Manager will review proposals and make a recommendation to the Mayor and City Council. The decision will be based on three factors:
The highest proposal amount.
The intended use of the property.
The responsibility of the bidder.
The Mayor and City Council have the right to reject any and all proposals.
Questions
If you have questions about the property or the proposal process, you can email them to City Manager Brian Muenger. All questions must be submitted by September 3, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. For full details, download the complete Request for Proposals document and the required forms below.
Inspections
YOU MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A CITY OF PELL CITY REPRESENTATIVE TO ACCESS THE PROPERTY. The City will make the property available for inspection BY APPOINTMENT ONLY on August 28, 2025. Any interested bidders are responsible for inspecting the property at their own expense to ensure it meets their needs. Inspection appointments may be scheduled via email at jthompson@cityofpellcity.net prior to August 27, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
To receive a copy of the Request for Proposal Packet, please email City Manager Muenger. Include your personal information in the message, including full name and phone number.
The Pell City Police Department is issuing an urgent warning about a phone scam targeting residents and local businesses. Callers, impersonating police officers, are using threats and fear to trick people into sending them money.
The scam works like this: a caller from a local number claims that an individual has a warrant for a missed court date. They threaten that if a fine isn’t paid immediately, an officer will come to the person’s home or workplace to arrest them, and they’ll be held without bond.
This scam was recently used against a local business, Gilreath Printing. According to Jeremiah Gilreath, the caller demanded a bail payment for an employee. The scammer first told them to come to the police station, but then offered a suspicious alternative: paying bail through Venmo.
“That was the first red flag,” Gilreath said.
The scammers are going to great lengths to appear legitimate. When Gilreath called the number back, a recording answered, “Hello, you’ve reached the Pell City Police Department.” The scammer then falsely claimed the department was working with the Department of Justice and that Venmo payments were a “new standard operating procedure.”
“It sounded legit until you start asking questions,” Gilreath warned. “Just be aware.”
“These scammers are preying on people’s trust in law enforcement,” Chief Morris said. “Let me be clear: the Pell City Police Department will never call you and ask for money. We do not use digital payment apps like Venmo for fines or bail. This is not how we operate, and we urge everyone to be vigilant.”
To protect yourself and our community:
The Pell City Police Department will NEVER call you and ask for money.
PCPD will NOT call you to inform you about a missed court date or an outstanding warrant.
PCPD does NOT accept bail or fine payments via digital services like Venmo.
If you receive a suspicious call, do not give out any personal information or money. Hang up and contact the Pell City Police Department directly at (205) 884-3334 to verify the information.
The City Council of the City of Pell City will not participate in a Superintendent search led by the current Board of Education, and it requests that the current Board not appoint the next Superintendent for Pell City Schools.
In a Special Called Meeting on Monday, April 21, 2025, the City Council passed Resolution 2025-36 in a 5-0 vote. The resolution can be read here:
In Resolution 2025-36, the City Council resolves that allowing the outgoing board to appoint the superintendent would undermine the will of the voters who approved Amendment 1018 to the Constitution of Alabama (Local Amendment 1) and disenfranchise the incoming board members from participating in this critical decision. The message is simplified as follows:
Choosing a superintendent is the most important decision for a Board of Education.
Under Local Constitutional Amendment 1, the City Council will appoint the next Board in a matter of months.
The Board composition WILL change, with at least two new members who are County residents.
This year marks the first time County residents who attend PCSS will have a voice in the selection of their leader.
A Board that fully represents the entire school community should make this decision.
As stated in Resolution 2025-36, “… it would be unfair and inequitable if the current Board of Education selected the next Superintendent days or weeks before the first Board of Education members from the County portion of the Pell City School System take office. Such a result would clearly undermine the intent of the voters when they approved Local Constitutional Amendment 1.”
The resolution raises other reasons for postponing this decision, including consideration for potential candidates for the Superintendent position. The City Council believes that candidates of the highest quality might not apply since, at this time, they cannot know who they will be working for in November.
In support of Local Constitutional Amendment 1 and its purpose, the City Council opposes any action by the current Board of Education to hire a superintendent for Pell City Schools.
On March 31, the City of Pell City contracted with Wiregrass Construction Company to resurface Industrial Park Drive. Weather permitting, the project is expected to begin on Sunday, April 6th, 2025 at 6 p.m. and will be completed April 25th, 2025.
Work will begin on Industrial Park Drive from the intersection of Pleasant Valley Road to the termination point at Comer Avenue. The standard work schedule for the company will be Sunday evenings through Thursday evenings from 6 p.m.-6 a.m. Some work may be conducted on Friday evenings during the project.
The first week of the project will consist of milling and patching. Leveling and installation of the wearing surface will occur the following weeks.
Wiregrass Construction Company is responsible for traffic control during the project. The company will coordinate with impacted businesses to minimize interruptions.
We are aware of significant traffic delays currently being experienced by the public on US Highway 231 North. This is due to an ongoing paving project being conducted by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), who is responsible for the maintenance of State routes.
The paving work, which began near Dr. John Haynes Drive in Pell City, included the milling of existing asphalt, which has disabled the traffic signal loops, which detect the presence of vehicles and allow the signal to operate dynamically. While the paving work itself is being conducted at night (after 7 p.m.), the impacted traffic signal loops cannot be repaired until the paving in this area is completed. This will unfortunately lead to continued traffic disruptions in the area for several more days.
We understand the inconvenience this is causing. We have communicated the severity of these issues to ALDOT and have requested that they expedite the repair of the signal loops.
Please exercise patience and consider utilizing alternate routes in the coming days to minimize delays. We will provide further updates as they become available, including a more precise timeline for the completion of the signal loop repairs.
A significant severe weather event is expected to impact Pell City beginning the evening of Friday, March 14, and lasting through the day on Saturday, March 15. The National Weather Service Birmingham anticipates widespread thunderstorms producing large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.
STORM SHELTERS
Two storm shelters in Pell City will be open to the public – the St. Clair County Courthouse and the Center for Education and Performing Arts. Shelters will open when a tornado watch is issued for our area. The CEPA Shelter, which is located on the north side of the building, will be open all day on Saturday, March 15, beginning at 8 a.m.
Storm Shelter: St. Clair County Courthouse
Storm Shelter: Pell City Center for Education and Performing Arts (CEPA)
Only registered service animals are permitted in the CEPA shelter.
Friday, 3/14 4 PM: Scattered showers develop over Louisiana and Arkansas
Friday, 3/14 10 PM: Scattered showers move east of the Mississippi River and develop into scattered severe thunderstorms.
Saturday, 3/15 2 AM: Severe thunderstorms move into Alabama and central Tennessee.
Saturday, 3/15 4 AM: Severe thunderstorms are expected to move into central Alabama.
Saturday, 3/15 5 AM: Widespread severe weather moves into central and eastern Alabama.
Timeline of Second Round of Severe Weather
Saturday, 3/15 7 AM: Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected to be ongoing across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. A line of severe thunderstorms will develop across far western Louisiana.
Saturday, 3/15 12 PM: The line of severe thunderstorms will move east of the Mississippi River with conditions clearing out to the west. Scattered severe weather will continue east of the line.
Saturday, 3/15 5 PM: The line of severe thunderstorms crosses into Alabama and central Tennessee.
Saturday, 3/15 10 PM: The line of severe thunderstorms crosses into Georgia and eastern Tennessee.
Preparation is key
From the National Weather Service Birmingham: The links below will help you find out what you can do now to prepare for a tornado. Preparation is key to staying safe and minimizing impacts.
Be Weather-Ready: Check the forecast regularly to see if you’re at risk for tornadoes. Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed about tornado watches and warnings. Check the Weather-Ready Nation for tips.
Sign Up for Notifications: Know how your community sends warnings. Some communities have outdoor sirens. Others depend on media and smart phones to alert residents of severe storms capable of producing tornadoes.
Create a Communications Plan: Have a family plan that includes an emergency meeting place and related information. If you live in a mobile home or home without a basement, identify a nearby safe building you can get too quickly, such as a church or family member.
Pick a safe room in your home, such as a basement, storm cellar, or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows. Check more ideas for your family plan at: https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan
Practice Your Plan: Conduct a family severe thunderstorm drill regularly so everyone knows what to do if a tornado is approaching. Make sure all members of your family know to go there when tornado warnings are issued. Don’t forget pets if time allows.
Prepare Your Home: Consider having your safe room reinforced. You can find plans for reinforcing an interior room to provide better protection on the Federal Emergency Management Agency website.
Help Your Neighbor: Encourage your loved ones to prepare for the possibility of tornadoes. Take CPR training so you can help if someone is hurt.
The City of Pell City is grateful to all who reached out to us in response to a recent social media post regarding the Pell City Animal Control Center. We received many offers to help, and we heard many ideas that could improve animal welfare in St. Clair County. For those, we’re very thankful.
PCACC is St. Clair County’s only animal shelter, serving around 275 animals a month. In 2024, intake reached a historic low, while adoptions reached the highest rate ever at PCACC.
Over the past 8 years, more than 5,000 animals have found forever homes thanks to animal rescue organizations that partner with the Center. These organizations will continue to be part of our strategy.
Recently, there have been some concerning allegations we would like to address. Widespread misinformation (represented below in bold) is not helpful to our shared goal of saving animal lives.
$50 “pull fees” are harmful to rescue organizations. This information is being misrepresented. Rescue fees are not charged in most circumstances.
Our new procedures are part of a greater improvement plan for PCACC that intends to increase efficiency through digitization, organization, and improved communication.
Rescue fees have been in place since 2017 to offset treatment provided at the shelter. A $50 pull fee is meant for the most adoptable animals, who have received full veterinary care. Many partners will pay a $25 fee, which is less than the schedule set in 2017. And in many cases, there will be no charge for organizations assisting us in finding homes for animals.
This information has been communicated to all current and prospective rescue partners. Rescue organizations can find registration and animal pull forms at pell-city.com/adopt.
PCACC does not provide adequate medical care or food for animals. All animals receive personalized treatment daily. They are also fed daily an amount appropriate for their weight.
Conditions at PCACC are inhumane. We are aware of the need for minor cosmetic maintenance, which has been reported. These areas do not impact the Shelter’s ability to provide humane treatment. All animals at PCACC are treated with the utmost care.
Pell City is seeking to make a profit from the Center. More than 90 percent of the Center’s annual funding comes from the City and other local government partners. Fees and donations account for less than 10 percent of the Center’s budget. The Center is projected to lose $42,000 in 2025, absorbed by the City of Pell City.
For those asking what you can do to help, first and foremost, spay and neuter your pets, and encourage others to do the same. Animal intake at the shelter declined last year, and we want to see that trend continue.
Second, volunteer or foster. PCACC is always open to help from caring citizens looking to assist in our efforts to provide the best possible animal care. You can find registration forms at pell-city.com/adopt.
Each of your messages and emails has been received and read, and we thank you again for reaching out. We appreciate this community’s dedication to animal welfare and our shared mission at PCACC to save lives.
The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Pell City ahead of a system that is likely to impact travel on Thursday, January 9, and Friday, January 10, 2025.
Up-to-date information can be found by following the following organizations and agencies on social media via the following links:
See below for important information for Pell City residents related to the incoming weather system.
As of 4 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, the probabilities are increasing that there will be impacts to travel throughout the area from the incoming winter weather system. Northern St. Clair County is more likely to experience impacts than Pell City, however, the NWS reported that dangerous or impossible driving conditions are expected across far northern portions of Central Alabama, with hazardous driving conditions extending further south. Black ice will also be possible areawide through Saturday morning.
THURSDAY: Snow and sleet likely before 5 a.m., then sleet, possibly mixed with snow and freezing rain, could occur. The chance of precipitation is 100 percent, but little to no ice is expected.
FRIDAY: Rain, freezing rain and sleet, possibly mixed with snow are possible before 11 a.m. NWS anticipates rain, possibly mixed with sleet between 11 a.m. and noon, then rain after noon. Ice accumulation of less than 0.1 of an inch is possible.
RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO AVOID TRAVEL. BLACK ICE IS POSSIBLE THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING.
PCSS will be closed on Friday, January 10, 2025. All classes and school activities are canceled for the day. Please monitor https://www.facebook.com/PellCityPanthers for more.
Garbage Collection
Meridian Waste will not operate garbage collection services on Friday, January 10. According to representatives, trash pickup will resume on Monday, January 13 and the collection schedule will be one day behind next week.
St. Clair County EMA
According to the St. Clair County EMA, Warming shelters will be open in our area to provide safe and warm spaces for those in need. The Pell City and Ashville Courthouse Basements will be open from 5 p.m. – 8 a.m., Thursday, January 9 – Friday, January 10. Please monitor https://www.facebook.com/stclairema for more.
Alabama Power
Should the incoming winter weather affect power in our area, Alabama Power provides residents with real-time information on outages. Find the map at https://outagemap.alabamapower.com/.
Meridian Waste, Pell City’s solid waste collection service provider, will operate its normal routes and hours on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
Collection services will not run on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25, 2024, or New Year’s Day, January 1, 2025. Collection services will be offset by one day (Wednesday pickup will move to Thursday, etc.)
Questions should be directed to Pell City Street Department Superintendent Greg Gossett at ggossett@cityofpellcity.netor by phone at (205) 884-8267.
