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Transplant Fundraiser
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Southern Skeet & Trap
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The Trussville Tribune TRUSSVILLE • PINSON·CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE
August 14 - 20, 2019 Jefferson County approves $700 million budget that includes assistance for sewer bills By Erica Thomas, managing editor
JEFFERSON COUNTY — The Jefferson County Commission passed a $700 million budget on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, for the upcoming year. See BUDGET, Page 6
Trussville Police: Wouldbe ATM thief arrested From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — Investigators with the Trussville Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence in St. Clair County Friday, Aug. 9, 2019, taking into custody the man they believe is responsible for two attempted ATM thefts. See ATM THIEF Page 3
Argo City Council considers competing for state grant money to improve infrastructure By Shaun Szkolnik, for the Tribune
ARGO — The Argo City Council listened to a presentation from John Smith, of an engineering firm in Trussville named CCI. See ARGO, Page 5
Money raised for St. Clair County domestic violence shelter and services From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
PELL CITY — YWCA Central Alabama raised over $54,000 at its annual Purse and Passion event on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, in St. Clair County. The 11th annual luncheon was held at First United Methodist Church in Pell City. See MONEY, Page 16
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City of Trussville hires Director of Personnel, approves speed humps and councilman apologizes for statement made By Erica Thomas, managing editor
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City Council’s regular meeting was held on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 and the city hired its first-ever Director of Personnel. Peggy Washington-Polk was hired and will start with the city on August 19. The move was a part of the council’s consent agenda and was discussed during the council’s workshop on August 8. Mayor Buddy Choat said out of the six candidates brought in for interviews, Washington-Polk was the obvious choice. Washington-Polk lives in Trussville. She has over 23 years of experience in personnel matters and recently retired from the city of Birmingham. Consent Agenda Also, on the consent agenda, was the acknowledgment of the retirement of firefighter Daniel Clark on September 1, 2019, and the retirement of Laura Edge from the Trussville Public Library on October 1, 2019. Lindsay Rutland’s appointment to the Trussville Redevelopment Authority was approved as part of the
City Council and Mayor Buddy Choat with new Director of Personnel, Peggy Washington-Polk.
consent agenda as well. The city council also passed several merit increases and expenses for conferences and training. The money for a $75,000 renovation at City Hall was approved on consent. The renovations include a remodel of office and storage space and are expected to take 4 – 5 weeks. The city will surplus furniture, including cubicles from the administration offices. Mayor Choat said the renovations are needed to create more space and to plan for the future. One area of growth is the city’s tag sales. Choat said increased sales have created a need for more front desk space. In fact, the city sold
over 800 tags during the months of April and July. Mayor Choat said the city makes some money from car tag sales but he said the main goal is to provide a service for residents. The city will also go out to bid for Wi-Fi for the Entertainment District. Agenda Items On the regular agenda, the council approved an amendment to change the language on the city’s zoning ordinance. They will rename “massage parlors” to “massage therapy” and will add the definition of what a massage therapy business is and what it entails. The council also approved an ordinance creating a new chapter in the code of
ordinances for the purpose of approving massage therapy establishments to operate in the city of Trussville. There are no new rules for massage therapy businesses, but the ordinance is a stand-alone ordinance, separate from the existing zoning ordinance. The city council unanimously approved to rezone 5952 Service Road from A-1 to C-4. The property owner said he plans to build a mini-storage business on the property. A parcel of land was annexed into the city of Trussville, from Jefferson County. 7942 Roper Road is adjacent to property that is already in Trussville. The council unanimously approved the rezoning after a recommendation to do so by the Planning and Zoning Committee. The issue was expedited so that the property owner would be able to register children for school for the 2019-2020 school year. After a recommendation by the city’s Public Safety Committee, the council voted to install a three-way stop at Parkway Drive and Pine Street. Also, the following speed humps will be installed:
City of Clay to enter land lease agreement with Jeffco BOE By Crystal McGough, copy editor
The Clay City Council passed a motion at its regular council meeting Tuesday night, Aug. 13, 2019, to enter into an agreement with the Jefferson County Board of Education concerning the use and maintenance of property within the city. See CITY OF CLAY Page 13
Trussville woman wanted on felony warrants
Kelli Brook McLaughlin
See DIRECTOR Page 10
See Kelli BROOK Page 3
Brains and Beauty: Trussville native crowned Miss Iron City 2019
August is Slow Down, Move Over Awareness Month
By Erica Thomas, managing editor
TRUSSVILLE — Trussville native and Hewitt-Trussville High School senior MaKenzie Ward was crowned Miss Iron City 2019 on Sunday, July 28. Now, the local beauty is doing all she can to give back and to get ready for Miss Alabama 2020. Ward is no stranger to pageants, but she said she was surprised when she was crowned Miss Iron City. “I really didn’t expect it because I was the youngest one there that day,” said Ward. “I had just come off of a crazy week full of dance camp and Motion Conference, so I really wasn’t expecting to win.” Almost immediately, Ward said the reality of going to Miss Alabama sank in. “One of the first things I said was ‘I’m going to Miss Alabama! Then I thought, ‘oh my gosh, ‘I’m going to Miss Alabama...and I’m going to be competing on that stage!’ So, I was kind of nervous,” said Ward. MaKenzie Ward’s sister, Madison Ward, competed in Miss Alabama 2019, so Ward is hoping to get pointers from her big sister, for the big pageant next year.
MaKenzie Ward crowned Miss Iron City.
“Since my sister’s gone, she’s kind of told me all about it, so I’m just so excited to spend a week with all those girls and grow close together,” she said. In fact, Madison and MaKenzie were Miss Trussville 2018 and Trussville Outstanding Teen 2018, respectively. They were able to participate in events around the city together and give back to the community. Ward’s platform is “Gold Rush” and it is all about funding and bringing awareness to pediatric cancer and research. Her inspiration came from a childhood friend who battled
cancer when they were both very young. “It was really weird for me because I didn’t realize it was possible for someone his age to get sick like that, so he gave me the opportunity to go into the cancer unit with him,” said Ward. “I got to dance bedside with these kids because they were too sick to come to the dance that we were putting on for them.” September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, so Ward will be very busy spreading awareness during that time. She will host a father-daughter dance fundraiser and the money will go to
Children’s of Alabama. “Seeing these kids in their beds and knowing they were staying there for months and months, really opened my eyes to the lack of funding and the lack of awareness,” Ward said. Ward also partners with hair salons to collect hair donations to be used in free wigs for children experiencing hair loss. When it comes to competition, Ward said she loves the interview portion of pageants. “I’ve always loved the interview because I love to talk. I will have to study for Miss Alabama because there are a lot of things I could be asked about,” said Ward. Ward said with so many political and social debates at the forefront of American issues, she hopes to inspire others to find the middle ground. “There are certain issues that have really broken my heart and gotten my attention,” said Ward. “I think the main way to solve all of these issues is just to wait to listen and not wait to respond.” For the talent portion of the competition, Ward is still deciding whether she will sing or dance.
Robin’s Sewing Shoppe www.robinshoppe.com 5886 Trussville Crossings Pkwy 205.985.4212 -
Fabric Machines Classes Demos
See BEAUTY, Page 8
From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
MONTGOMERY — Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed a proclamation declaring August “Slow Down Move Over” Awareness Month. The origin of the “Slow Down, Move Over” law dates to 1994 when a paramedic was struck. See SLOW DOWN, Page 8
Trussville girl attends Space Academy at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center
See ACADEMY, Page 16
Casa Fiesta Mexican Grill
5084 Pinnacle Sq Suite 112 Trussville
655-3530