By Hannah Curran, Editor
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City Council approved the rebranding of the Trussville Entertainment District, and Mayor Buddy Choat gave an update on the I-59 reconstruction project at the Trussville City Council on Tuesday, July 12.
Mayor Buddy Choat (Photo by Hannah Curran)
A resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget to appropriate additional marketing and promotional funds within the 09 Entertainment District Fund and authorizing the mayor to sign a Professional Services Agreement with Clarity Studio for rebranding the Trussville Entertainment District was approved.
Clarity Studio has rebranded popular family destinations such as the Hub on 30A, which was rebranded into The Big Chill, and they also helped rebrand the Sand Mountain Amphitheater.
To ensure the Entertainment District’s rebranding meets the public’s needs, David Blumberg, creative director for Clarity Studio, said they would gather information by talking with people in the community, city officials, and those who work in the Entertainment District.
Blumberg also said that Clarity helps organizations find the right third-party partners for specific aspects of all of the promotions, the advertising, and the programming, so there will be some in-house pieces.
“It’s almost not even a rebrand, it’s actually a branding, because we incorporate the name the T.E.D. based on the Trussville Entertainment District, and then talking to people outside of the city, other municipalities have gone through some branding or rebranding, and this felt like it was important for us to try to identify an identity,” Choat said. “It’s not just for the entertainment district, it’ll benefit all of our downtown merchants, and we’re going to work with the Merchants Association because whatever that brand is going to encompass will impact more than just that one area. So I think it’s a positive for the city.”
Related Story: Trussville council discusses rebranding of Trussville Entertainment District
The council also approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to approve the ABC Application for Business Rare Hospitality International, Inc., doing business as Longhorn Steakhouse 5642, to be located At 5957 Chalkville Mountain Road in Trussville.
Scott McCollum, managing partner of the Longhorn Steakhouse Trussville location, said that the location currently has a responsible vendor program associated with the ABC board.
“Every one of our team members and managers goes through this program,” McCollum said. “Every team member that we hire, we do extensive training on how to card and how to refuse service.”
McCollum said that the Longhorn Steakhouse location will be opening for dinner on August 23, and then on August 24, they will be open for lunch and dinner.
Choat also gave the council an update from ALDOT on the I-59 Project.
“They have decided they are going to leave Chalkville Mountain Road southbound ramp open for three months instead of closing it right at the beginning,” Choat said. “They’re gonna allow cars to use the shoulder as they go down to avoid the construction area, and there will be no trucks allowed.”
Choat said ALDOT also agreed to open up the Argo Exit after 10 a.m.
“That’s two breaths of fresh air for us, who anticipated quite a bit of traffic here on Highway 11 because of construction,” Choat said. “Also, ALDOT will be replacing all the lighting on the new project for I-59 to Chalkville Mountain Road. All the lights that are not currently working and those that are working will be replaced with the new LED lighting that they have in downtown Birmingham that they put in for the World Games.”
Related Story: UPDATE: Reconstruction on I-59 to close Southbound ramps to locals, one lane will remain open
In other news, the council approved:
- Public Hearing for Proposed Rezoning – 7432 Roper Road;
- Ordinance to Re-Zone 7432 Roper Road to R-1 (Single Family) from R-6 (Single Family – Mobile Home);
- Public Hearing for Proposed Rezoning – 132 Glen Cross Circle & Adjoining Undeveloped Lot on Wisteria Trace;
- Ordinance to Re-Zone 132 Glen Cross Circle & Adjoining Undeveloped Lot on Wisteria Trace to R-G (Garden) from A-1 (Agricultural);
- Public Hearing for Proposed Rezoning – 7097 Happy Hollow Road;
- Ordinance to Re-Zone 7097 Happy Hollow Road to A-1 (Agricultural) from C-P (Preferred Commercial);
- Public Hearing for Proposed Restaurant Alcohol License – Longhorn Steakhouse;
- Resolution to Authorize ABC License to Longhorn Steakhouse;
- Public Hearing Regarding Nuisance – 7651 Happy Hollow Road;
- Resolution to Abate the Public Nuisance Located at 7651 Happy Hollow Road;
- Resolution to Amend the FY2022 Budget & Authorize the Mayor to Enter into an Agreement with Clarity Studio on a Rebranding Project for the City Entertainment District;
- Expenses Report;
- Alabama Municipal Court Clerks and Magistrates Association annual conference for Court Clerk Beth Burden and Court Magistrates Maria Bishop & Zykeisha Randle, September 21-25 in Orange Beach;
- Annual Government Management Information Sciences summer conference for Senior Systems Analyst – Operations Jim Nolan, July 17-20 in Orange Beach;
- Interdiction Mastermind online course for Police Officer Johnathan Goodrum, available August 1.
- TacOps South: Law Enforcement Tactical Training Conference for Police Sgt. Ryan Robinson, August 24-26 in Nashville, TN;
- International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI) Financial Crimes Training Conference for Police Detective David Warmus. August 29 – September 2 in National Harbor, MD;
- Chandler Hall hired as Event Set-up Supervisor (Grade 15 – Step 2), effective July 16, 2022; and
- Fitness Instructor Ta Huffstutler promoted to Recreation Center Director (Grade 18 – Step 4), effective July 16, 2022
The next Trussville City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, July 26, beginning at 6 p.m.
