Pinson City Council considers ordinance that would raise pay of next mayor, council

PINSON, Ala. (TRIBUNE) – The Pinson City Council held the first reading for an ordinance that would increase the salary of the next  mayor and council during its meeting Thursday night.

As required by state law, the raise would go into effect after the next municipal election in August.

According to Nathan Prewett of the Trussville Tribune, the current maximum compensation is $9,500 for a council member, $10,100 for the mayor pro-temp, and $70,200 for the mayor.

If the new ordinance is approved, the new maximum compensation will be up to $11,990 for council members and up to $12,740 for the mayor pro-temp, and $86,500 for the mayor.

The council will revisit the ordinance at their next meeting on Feb. 20.

Earlier in the meeting, the council also held a first reading for an amendment to a temporary business license ordinance.

City Attorney Shane Black explained that the ordinance regarding temporary businesses states that they could obtain a permit at a reduced rate from the city as opposed to being required to have a regular business license at the greater rate.

The amendment restates the ordinance and adjusts the definition of what a temporary business is, he said.

A temporary or transient business is defined by the ordinance as any business that is conducted for less than three days and when there are no more than two events or incidents where the business is conducted within the city per year.

Mayor Robbie Roberts said that vendors such as arts and crafts vendors usually qualify as temporary businesses. He also stated that the city does not have a “system” for such businesses unlike the larger ones such as the Butterbean Festival.

“This would allow us to be able to have these events at various locations depending on what the event is and perhaps time of year and level of interest by vendors in the community,” Roberts said.

Black further explained a significant highlight of the ordinance, which is Section 5.

“[The idea was] that some of the events that you have in Pinson such as City Fest, Butterbean and the like, there are vendors that set up at the events and that in those cases the city does not have an expectation that the vendor will get a business license,” Black said.

As an example, if there is a vendor selling cotton candy at the Butterbean Festival the vendor is not expected to get a business license. Section 5 allows the mayor to give exemptions if criteria are met.

The criteria includes the brief duration of the business; educational, social or recreational benefits to the city, “any negative consequences or special events likely to result from the imposition of requirements articles in the business,” Black said.

The section also allows the council to override the mayor’s decision if necessary.

Also during the meeting, City Clerk Marie Turner gave a report on the recently demolished building on 4302/4306 Main Street, stating that the total cost was $7,029.32. A public hearing will be held at the Feb. 20 meeting to consider approving the cost.

Center Point Fire District Deputy Chief Al Tinney and Palmerdale Fire District Chief Taylor Hancock gave their reports for the month of January.

Tinney said that there were 837 calls, 35 fires (13 structure fires), 204 assist occupants, 14 weather-related hazardous conditions, 519 EMS calls, 354 EMS transports, nine mutual aid given and four mutual aid received.

He also mentioned that their training facility will be hosting a recruitment program on Feb. 24.

Hancock reported 155 calls, two structure fires with no injuries, and 130 EMS calls.

In his report earlier in the meeting, Roberts said that traffic signals at Highway 79 and Highway 151 have been malfunctioning and that the city is in contact with ALDOT to have them repaired. He also mentioned that streetlights no longer working at several intersections throughout the city will be replaced with LED lights.

In other business the council:

• Announced the tentative shred day dates as March 29, June 21, Sept. 20 and Dec. 13,
• Annexed a property on Mars Avenue, and
• Approved an amended contract with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Pinson City Council meets on the first and third Thursdays of every month at City Hall on 4410 Main Street. Live-streamed meetings can be seen on the city’s Facebook page.

Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.com.