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Opinion: Paul DeMarco
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Chamber now accepting nominations for annual Gatekeeper Awards From The Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE – The Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for its 2022 Ned & Goldie Paine Memorial Gatekeeper Awards. NomSee GATEKEEPER, Page 4
Local gas and water companies raise awareness, offer tips, brace for demand From The Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — Mike Strength, General Manager of Trussville Gas and Water, said the utilities prepared for the demand that comes with several days of sub-freezing temperatures. Managing that See TIPS, Page 4
Inside the Tribune
All-St. Clair County Football team
Page 10
2023
St. Clair County Commission declared Moody environmental landfill fire an emergency situation By Hannah Curran Editor
Moody Brush Fire (Photo courtesy of the Moody Fire Department)
the heat and hopefully find a solution.” The St. Clair County Commission entered into an executive session for 15 minutes to discuss actions that could lead to litigation. After returning from the executive session, the board voted and unanimously approved a resolution to declare the existence of emergency conditions.
“This resolution literally opens the door for St. Clair County to legally get on the property, to legally put the fire out, and to legally spend government money on that property,” Bateman said. “Those hoops had to be jumped through because they were illegal until Senator Lance Bell worked with some people in Montgomery, ADEM, and other people in
our county. We feel confident that we can take action.” Bateman said that the St. Clair County engineer is already working on some requests for proposals (RFPs) for people who can extinguish the fire and has received some quotes. “I think some good things will come out of what we’re doing,” Bateman said. “We’ll be able to tighten up some of these regulations, and you’ll see more definition of what the responsibility of the county is and what the authority of the county commission is.” The resolution states on Jan. 3, 2023, the County Commission of St. Clair County found that due to a landfill fire located at 1317 Annie Lee Road, a condition of extreme peril to life and property exists in St. Clair County. “The fire exists primarily, if not entirely, underground, creating additional and unknown risk to responders,” the resolution states. “St. Clair County does not have firefighting authority, resourc-
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PELL CITY — The St. Clair County Commission declared the Moody environmental landfill fire an emergency situation during an emergency called meeting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3, at the Pell City Courthouse. “St. Clair County has 100,000 people, and we’re proud to represent that 100,000 people the best way we can; we know that people are suffering,” St. Clair County Commission Chairman Stan Bateman said. Bateman explained that this will be a process, and will be a difficult process at that. “I apologize to you, as being a member of an elected body all these years, that our government is full of bureaucracy and red tape,” Bateman said. “That’s something that holds us up when we really need to act quickly.” Bateman said part of the commission job is “to take
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es, or expertise; however, St. Clair County recognizes the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens in the vicinity of the fire is jeopardized. “St. Clair County recognizes the City of Moody, the City of Trussville, the Alabama Forestry Commission, and various other municipal and volunteer departments and agencies have put forth tremendous effort to preserve life and property, and their service and dedication is lauded by St. Clair County and appreciated by the citizens and residents in the vicinity of the fire. “Pursuant to the above and in accordance with State law, the County Commission declares the fire to be a threat to person and property and declares that emergency conditions presently exist as a direct and proximate result thereof. It has now been found that local resources are unable to cope with the effects of said emergency or effectively mitSee EMERGENCY, Page 3
New City of Leeds mural completed From The Tribune staff reports
LEEDS — The City of Leeds is excited to announce that the new downtown mural is officially complete. This has been a project several months in the making between the City of Leeds and TA Services under the direction of the Leeds Redevelopment Authority. See MURAL, Page 3
Irondale mayor, council proclaim January 2023 ‘Human Trafficking Awareness Month’ By Crystal McGough Associate Editor
IRONDALE – Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. presented a proclamation during the Irondale City Council meetSee IRONDALE, Page 2
Leadership Trussville welcomes new executive director By Hannah Curran Editor
TRUSSVILLE — Dr. Kristi Bradford was named the new executive director for Leadership Trussville at the beginning of December 2022. Bradford brings her skills, knowledge, and experience to Leadership Trussville after serving as Executive Director of a literacy nonprofit in Central Alabama for the last five and a half years. Bradford’s position entails keeping in touch with being a liaison for the board of directors. There is a five-member board of directors that serves Leadership Trussville. Leadership Trussville is a non-political, non-governmental, independent 501(c)3 nonprofit governed by a Board of Directors. “Mayor Buddy Choat is a city liaison for us,” Bradford said. “In fact, this was his vision to have Leadership Trussville. Other cities have it. There’s a Leadership Birmingham, a Leadership Hoover, a Leadership Vestavia Hills, and Leadership St. Clair County.”
Dr. Kristi Bradford (Photo courtesy of Leadership Trussville)
Leadership Trussville is modeled after those entities, and the mayor’s vision was to take these highly motivated people from our community
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and expose them to different parts of Trussville. “We’re very excited about Kristi and her leadership ability to move our Leadership
Trussville class forward,” Choat said. “She was an original board of director member, and after several meetings, we saw how engaged she was
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in our overall plan. We’re very excited to have her on board, and we look forward to her leadership.” Mike Ennis, Chair of Leadership Trussville, said Kristi brings a wealth of relationships and experience to the position. “We’re really privileged to have her lead this initiative that has been so important to the mayor,” Ennis said. According to the Mission Statement, the purpose of Leadership Trussville is to encourage and educate an annual class of qualified and highly motivated individuals who want to strengthen their leadership skills, deepen their sense of civic involvement, and be more involved with ideas and initiatives to better our community while learning first-hand about the issues and needs in Trussville. Coming up in January, the class members will be exposed to small businesses and economic development in Trussville, so they’ll hear from business leaders, tour the industrial park, and talk to See LEADERSHIP, Page 4
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