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.
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Subdivision is currently connected to the core of the City’s water system by a 6-inch water main, which is both outdated and undersized,” City Manager Brian Muenger told the Council.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.
June 9, 2025 Meeting Report: City Council, City of Pell City
Pell City is making strides on two significant utility capital projects, though progress on both has been slower than initially anticipated.
During the regular meeting of the City Council for the City of Pell City on June 9, 2025, City Manager Brian Muenger and Utility Manager James Hadaway provided updates, noting that both projects are now officially underway following initial mobilization.
The Eden Lift Station and Force Main sewer project has shown tangible progress. Approximately 2,200 linear feet of sewer force main have been installed, and clearing of the main’s path is complete. Significant rock has been encountered in both the force main installation and the lift station excavation, slowing progress.
Construction of the new lift station is slated to begin next week, weather permitting. To date, $2.01 million of the $6.17 million project budget has been drawn down, with permits for a crucial railroad crossing still being finalized, potentially incurring additional costs due to railroad coverage requirements.
This project began on January 6, 2025, with a mandatory completion date of July 8, 2026. Despite the slower pace, officials anticipate an increase in work speed as excavation is largely complete.
The Well A to Wood Hill water main extension project has recently seen mobilization within the last two weeks, with materials delivered to the job site. While excavation and installation have not yet begun, a drawdown of funds for June is expected. The project, awarded at $2.6 million, commenced on April 14, 2025, with an estimated completion by April 14, 2026, leaving approximately 312 days for completion.
New Boundary – Avondale Walking Track Property
Pell City is considering a property exchange with Vintage Resources, Inc. to resolve an inconsistent boundary line near the Avondale Walking Track. The issue, identified before the city’s purchase of the track property in December 2024, stems from the current line not aligning with the natural boundary of a creek.
Currently, Vintage Resources’ property extends into the city’s parcel west of the creek, while a portion of the city’s property extends east across the creek, which is essentially a remnant and not practically usable by the city. The proposed exchange would involve the city trading 1.1 acres for 1.06 acres, effectively using the creek as the new boundary.
Bid Award – Golf Course Road Watermain Extension
Pell City is advancing a vital infrastructure upgrade with the replacement of a section of the 12-inch water main on Golf Course Road. Following the opening of bids on June 5, 2025, Ferguson Waterworks submitted the lowest and most responsible proposal at $295,830.38. This bid, which was within the anticipated range, covers 5,000 linear feet of 12-inch ductile iron water main, gate valves, fire hydrants, and associated fittings.
This essential project, funded through the FY25 operating budget, will see City employees replacing approximately 5,000 feet of the outdated 8-inch and 12-inch PVC mains, which have reached the end of their service life and frequently cause disruptive breaks.
Once the new 12-inch main is operational, the older 8-inch line will be decommissioned. With materials expected to be available within 40 days of approval, the Utility Department aims to substantially complete this work within the current fiscal year.
The City Council for the City of Pell City meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. A work session is held at 5:30 p.m., and the meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the James O. McGowan Council Chambers located at City Hall, 1905 First Ave. N, Pell City AL 35125.
