By Erica Thomas, managing editor
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City Council met on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, and approved a draft of an agreement with the school system on facility usage.
The reciprocal use agreement with Trussville City Schools gives Mayor Buddy Choat the directive to oversee the implementation of and compliance with the agreement.
The agreement states that schools have priority use of school facilities and the city has priority use of city facilities. However, the two entities would agree to “memorialize their longstanding informal reciprocal use agreement in writing to facilitate better understanding of each party’s role in the continued relationship between the parties and to organize, to promote, and to conduct programs and activities that further the education, health and general welfare of the community,” as part of the agreement.
Discussions of a formal agreement came about after representatives for the Trussville Lacrosse teams were denied usage of Husky Field.
According to the school system’s website, Hewitt-Trussville Stadium is a state-of-the-art, $14.6 million facility. Husky Field has artificial turf, which cost about $400,000. Those asking for use of the stadium said since the city of Trussville spent thousands of taxpayer dollars to build the stadium, the city should have the right to allow teams in the city to use it. However, it was unclear who makes decisions concerning the use of Husky Field because there was no written agreement on the matter, according to city leaders.
City Attorney Rick Stotser said the stadium is considered a school facility.
The agreement will go to the Trussville City School Board for approval. The draft can be viewed below.
The council also passed a proclamation recognizing School Board Member Recognition Month. Four board members, Mark Sims, Steve Ward, Stan Garrett, and Kim DeShazo were in attendance at the council meeting, along with Superintendent Dr. Pattie Neill.
The proclamation states that the council “appreciates the vital role played by those individuals who, as local school board members, establish policies to ensure the efficient, effective school system.”
Council President Alan Taylor reminded the public that being a school board member is a volunteer position. Councilor Lisa Bright reminded the public that applications are being accepted through January for an opening on the TCS school board. Click here for more information.
In other business, Taylor announced the city will renew its stormwater ordinance in compliance with ADEM’s Clean Water Act. The ordinance must be approved every year in order for the city’s permit to be renewed.
Several rezoning requests were approved after coming to the council recommended by the city’s Planning and Zoning Committee. Those properties include:
- 3652 Sutton Avenue
- 6124 Advent Circle
- 6624 Limbaugh Loop
Finally, a resolution to enter into a jail contract agreement with the city of Irondale was approved unanimously. During the city council workshop on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, Police Chief Eric Rush said Irondale’s jail is no longer able to accommodate inmates because of the conditions of the building. Irondale will pay Trussville $32 per day, per inmate to use the jail.
“We have enough room to house 32 inmates at once,” Rush said. “On average, we have about 12 in the jail so we will be able to accommodate the city of Irondale.”
The cities of Irondale, Leeds and Argo have had similar agreements with Trussville in the past.
Other items approved as part of the consent agenda are listed below.
- Hire Brayden Berguson as part-time Parks & Recreation Unclassified Laborer (Grade 7 – Step 1), effective Jan 16, 2021
- Hire Pamela Gafnea as part-time Civic Center Front Desk Attendant (Grade 6 – Step 1), effective Jan 16, 2021
- Hire Blake Bjornson and Hunter Reid as Firefighter/Paramedics (Grade 19 – Step 1F), effective Jan 30, 2021
- Hire James Morris as part-time Unclassified Fire Range Assistant (Police), $31k/year, effective Jan 16, 2021
- Approve 5% education premium for TPD Cpl. Bobby Tomlin, effective Jan 2, 2021
- Approve 5% complex investigations premium for TPD Sgt. Chad Jones and Sgt. Joe Rosetta, effective Jan 2, 2021
- Approve registering TFD Jesse Clifton and Barry Jones for the State Fire Marshals Association conference this March in Guntersville. $75 each.
- Approve registering TPD Jamie Goolsby for online School Resource Officer Certification Course, hosted by the National Association of School Resource Officers, over Jan 25-29. $445
Draft of Reciprocal Use Agreement between the city of Trussville and Trussville City Schools:
[pdf-embedder url=”http://newsite.trussvilletribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Exh-A-Reciprocal-Use-Agreement.pdf” title=”Exh A -Reciprocal Use Agreement”]
