The Trussville Tribune
July 21 - 27, 2021
St. Clair County Jail experiencing COVID-19 outbreak
From The Tribune staff reports
ASHVILLE — A COVID-19 outbreak has been reported at the St. Clair County Jail in Ashville. The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office said 37 inmates and one corrections officer tested positive for the virus. There are 160 inmates in the jail.
Leeds BOE From front page
Among the highlights of the report were that cash and cash equivalents was $3.6 million and property taxes receivable of $4.3 million by the end of 2020. The regular receivable was $668,000 and inventories, such as child nutrition items, was at $44,000. Total assets were $67.8 million. Total liabilities were at $75 million. The total net position was negative $14 million but the report stated that this is common among school boards throughout the state. $8.7 million in revenue came locally, helping to reduce any deficit that had accrued. The general fund was found to have $6.7 million in assets. The report found that the financial situation at the Leeds City Schools was overall favorable. “So in layman’s terms, we made an ‘A’,” joked board member Kathy Dutton. Audit reports are uploaded at the Business and Finance section of the Leeds City Schools website under “resources”. Afterward, Chief School Financial Officer Ryan Miller gave the financial report for May, the eighth month of the
“All available precautions are being followed to isolate and observe positive tested inmates,” said Sheriff Billy Murray. “The St. Clair County Jail in Ashville is implementing all COVID 19 safety protocols as has been followed since the initial outbreak of the pandemic.” The sheriff’s office said this is the first time since the
fiscal year. In his report, Miller stated that the general revenue was at 72.49%. The local revenue was at 91.3%, which is up 2.25% from May last year. Expenditures were 62%, which Miller described as being good as the aim would be to keep it at under 66%. Accounts payable were $509,000 and the excess of revenues over expenditures was 2.3%. The unreserved fund balance was $4.5 million.
Superintendent John Moore mentioned that 11 teachers in the school system opted to sign up for the TEAMS salary schedule that was discussed at the previous meeting that would increase salaries for teachers of math and science. Moore said that two declined while one teacher was unqualified. In his comments, Moore also mentioned that the head nurse, Melissa Lail, is currently working with Christ Health Center to get COVID vaccines for students of ages 12 to 18. A three-year grant that the
St. Clair County Jail Ashville
beginning of the pandemic that the jail has experienced a widespread outbreak.
system received was discussed briefly with Moore saying that an item of expenditure from the grant may be used to extend after-school services, in particular for childcare “with an academic focus” in the next school year. Progress at the Leeds Middle School stadium was also discussed briefly with Maintenance Manager Jim Simpson saying that there are concrete piers being installed. He said that progress on the stadium should be complete before the football season though he said that “everything’s safe and ready to go” now. The board passed seven action items on its agenda with most of them being related to services for special needs students. Contracts were approved for Elizabeth Johnson Myers, Crescent Counseling Services, the Woolley Institute for Spoken-Language, Mary-Margaret Newland and two contracts for Impact Family Counseling Services. In other business, the board approved a contract extension with Emcor for water treatment at the schools. The next meeting of the Leeds Board of Education will be held at 6 p.m. in the library of Leeds Middle School on Aug. 10.
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Kemp’s Kitchen expanding to Gardendale
From The Tribune staff reports
GARDENDALE — Two months after opening its second location in downtown Birmingham, Kemp’s Kitchen is set to expand to Gardendale. The restaurant began offering traditional American home-style cooking in Trussville four years ago. According to Gardendale Mayor Stan Hogeland, Kemp’s is expected to open its doors in August 2021. The Gardendale location will feature the same menu customers have grown to love in Trussville, including the chicken salad croissant, philly cheesesteak sandwich and a variety of juicy burgers. Kemp’s is also known
File photo
for its meat and veggie plate, chicken and waffles, and mouth-watering wings. The restaurant also offers healthier options such as salads and
rice bowls. Hogeland says the restaurant will be located on Odum Rd., just down from Walmart in the former Ryan’s building.
to add skilled team members to our WM family. WM provides full-time employees and their families with comprehensive medical benefits, a generous 401(k) plan and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan that allows employees to buy WM stock at a minimum 15% discount. WM’s new benefit program, Your Tomorrow, in collaboration with Guild Education, is the firstof-its-kind program providing WM employees, as well as their eligible dependents, the opportunity to choose from a full range of education
options, including earning a college degree, at no cost to the employee.” Springville and Argo City Councils are in the process of discussing contracted garbage services. Argo Mayor Betty Bradley said her own garbage has not been picked up for three weeks. After contacting Waste Management, she was told extra trucks were being sent to the area. Although her neighbor’s garbage was picked up, Bradley said hers was not. In Springville, Mayor Dave Thomas said his hands are tied. The city simply contracts the company to pick up garbage, but it has no input on the company’s operations. If you are interested in working at Waste Management, view current job openings, on the WM Careers website – https://careers.wm.com.
Garbage Pickup From front page
Some residents in Springville, Argo and Odenville reported they went without pickup for two to three weeks, although they continued to pay for the service. Waste Management, the company that picks up garbage as part of a contract with the cities, is experiencing a shortage of workers. The company released the following statement: “Waste Management is dedicated to taking care of our customers. Nationally, Waste Management and the rest of the waste industry compete in a labor market that has a shortage of CDL drivers and technicians. As many areas are opening, we have a need
