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July 2024 | Volume 15 | Issue 2
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City could hold referendum as soon as August to change form of government By EMILY REED Residents in Homewood could be casting a ballot in a special election as soon as August to determine a new form of government for the city and possibly the hiring of a city manager. Supporters of the change seemed confident in June that they would get the remaining amount of signatures from a petition to hold the referendum that has circulated since mid-March.
The petition requires signatures from 10% of voters who participated in the last municipal election and still reside in the city. There was no formal deadline to stop collecting the signatures on the petition, but city officials were clear they did not want to hold a referendum near the general election in November. City Council President Alex Wyatt said in a June 4 informational session regarding the change in government that
the hope was to collect the remaining signatures in the next few weeks. “We want to get this petition wrapped up so that we can hopefully have an election in August or September,” Wyatt said. “If we don’t have it then, the referendum may be pushed until after the general election, but we are trying to get it before the general election.”
The polling location at Homewood Public Library. Staff photo.
See REFERENDUM | page 22
‘Able to help’ New fire chief settles into role By EMILY REED
H
omewood’s new fire chief is working to settle into his new role and looking forward to making a difference within the department. Chief Brandon Broadhead was named to the position recently, after Chief Nick Hill retired. Broadhead brings 20 years of experience within Homewood Fire Department, where he most recently served as deputy chief. “I have always wanted to be the person that is able to help,” Broadhead said. “Now I am in charge of a fantastic group of firefighters that want to do the same thing. Watching them make a difference in someone’s life brings joy to my life.
See FIRE CHIEF | page 23
Homewood Fire Chief Brandon Broadhead outside Fire Station No. 1. Broadhead is Homewood’s sixth fire chief. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
INSIDE
Sponsors................. 4 City............................5
Schoolhouse........... 6 Business.................. 8
Real Estate............ 12 Events..................... 14
Sports..................... 16 Community........... 20
Opinion................... 21 facebook.com/thehomewoodstar
Back to School
All-South Metro
Festival-goers can enjoy food, live music, a pep rally and more at this year’s Back to School Bash.
See who’s made this year’s All-South Metro Baseball and Softball teams.
See page 15
See page 16
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