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Childersburg resolutions paves the way for Cooper Steel expansion

Read the accounts &/or scroll to the bottom & watch the meeting video:

The Childersburg City Council set in motion a plan for Cooper Steel South, LLC to expand their Childersburg facility and increase their production employment.

To open their Tuesday, January 21st meeting, the Council approved Resolution 2025-03, which authorizes Mayor Ken Wesson to sign a letter of intent on behalf of the City of Childersburg and the Industrial Development Authority with Cooper Steel South. That agreement is for an option to purchase 60 +/- acres located in the Industrial Park for the amount of $6,000 per acre.

In other new business, the Council approved payment of expenses for Mayor Wesson to attend the Alabama League of Municipalities 2025 Advocacy Day, where he will work alongside other municipal officials from around the state to help set the League’s advocacy agenda for the upcoming session of the Alabama Legislature. There is a $195 registration at Renaissance Montgomery on February 12, 2025.

The Council also approved Rachel Carlson and Aimee Burnette to attend the Regional Alabama Judicial College Conference on April 3, 2025 in Birmingham. The registration is $240 for each applicant.

Approval was given to pay invoices in the amount of $512,348.36. That includes a $95,000 installment for the City’s liability insurance premiums, along with a $213,000 payment on the new Police and Judicial building construction.

Mayor Wesson thanked the Elks Lodge for hosting this month’s Greater Coosa Valley Chamber Coffee, “You had a great crowd, a wonderful breakfast, and gave us a lot of information on your lodge’s community involvement. We are fortunate to have you as a community partner.

Though the weather hasn’t exactly cooperated, Wesson also reported that the citywide leaf collection program is moving along well and will hopefully be completed in the next few weeks.

The next regular meeting of the Childersburg Council will be held on Tuesday, February 4th at 6:00 p.m.

City of Childersburg approves a grant application for another new ambulance

Watch the meeting video &/or read the accounts of the meeting of the Childersburg City Council meeting held on Tuesday, January 7th at 6:00 p.m.

During their first regular meeting of the new year, The Childersburg City Council gave approval to Resolution 2025-01, which authorizes JMCM Consulting to submit a grant application for an ambulance and related equipment. The grant amount will be $385,000 with a local match of $41,249.97 and consulting fee.

In other new business, the Council approved a three-year agreement with Waste Recycling for equipment located at Hollywood Boulevard, along with a pricing schedule for the recycling material purchased by Waste Recycling. That is mostly cardboard as a service to local businesses, which typically generates about $4,000 per year more than the cost for the equipment.

That approval came in the form of Resolution 2025-02. Mayor Ken Wesson said, “It’s an important service provided to our business community. It pays for itself and then some for incidental expenses of the program.”

Wesson declared January 2025 as “Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month” in Childersburg.

The Council approved two year terms for the City Municipal Court Judges to run from January 7, 2025 to January 7, 2027. Lance Bell will again serve as the presiding Municipal Judge, and Erskine Funderburg will serve as part-time Municipal Judge.

Approval was given to a pair of training sessions for the Childersburg Police Department. Chief Keven Koss will attend the CLEEF course for certified executive law enforcement in Dothan on January 15 & 16. There is no registration fee, but there will be an expense for two nights lodging and per diem.

Micah Northcutt will attend the NRA Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor certification. That training will be held in Muscle Shoals April 21 through 25. There is an $850 registration fee along with five nights lodging and per diem.

The Council approved an advertisement with The Daily Home in their Government & Industry Update for a quarter-page color ad in the amount of $433.

Approval was given to pay invoices in the amount of $452,343.30. That includes several high dollar payments, such as City insurance premiums, a payment on the new Police and Judicial building construction, a payment to the state retirement system, as well as City employee health insurance premiums.

In an item added to the agenda, the Council approved up to $11,000 for the purchase, installation, and flags for a new 60-foot flag pole for the new Police and Municipal Court Building on Highway 280.

The next regular meeting of the Childersburg Council will be held on Tuesday, January 21st at 6:00 p.m.

Childersburg has adopted a new City Council re-districting plan

You can read the accounts of the latest Childersburg City Council meeting &/or watch the meeting video:

Last night, Tuesday, December 17th the redistricting plan from the East Alabama Regional Planning Commission for Childersburg became official Tuesday (12/17) with passage of Ordinance 1148.

The vote sets the Ward registered voter totals as follows:
Ward A – 956
Ward B – 978
Ward C – 943
Ward D – 946
Ward E – 931, with new residents in the new housing development, College Park, to be included once completed.

In the pre-meeting work session, the Mayor & Council announced a plan to schedule a paper-shredding and consumer electronics disposal event for March of the new year. Also discussed was a plan to lease leaf vacuuming equipment from ACTS, likely after the first of the year.

The Council adopted Resolution 2024-30, obligating the remaining $11,000 from the American Rescue Plan funds toward the Childersburg Police/Judicial Complex renovation project. It’s hoped that the project will be completed by the end of March, but it could take until May of the new year.

In the meantime, the Council approved use of the RS Limbaugh Community Center for Municipal Court until the new Complex is completed at 34011 US Highway 280.

Approval was given to three training requests for the Childersburg Police Department. Kristen Glenn will enroll in an on-line training session, “Conducting a Records Inventory and Purge” with an associated cost of $159. Chief Kevin Koss and Investigator Micah Northcutt will attend Command Leadership Training in Hoover from February 3rd through 7th. The cost will be $795 each including meal reimbursement, paid from Fu7nd 13 – Police Special.). Koss will attend the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP) Winter Conference in Montgomery, February 9th through 13th. There is a $200 registration fee.

Deborah Morris was approved as a part-time temporary, as needed driver for the public transportation system at a rate of pay of $10 per hour. Mayor Ken Wesson noted that the two new transportation vans have been delivered and are already in service

The Council approved payment of invoices in the amount of $169,905.64.

The next regular Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 7th, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.

December birthdays often get lost in a busy holiday season – One did not!

Plus “scenes” from the GCV Chamber Coffee

Childersburg Police Chief Kevin Koss is one of many with a December birthday. And while it was his stated wish for his special day to “get lost” in the holiday shuffle like so many do, that wasn’t going to happen!

So, on December 10th his birthday was announced in public by GCV Chamber execuitive John Mark Freeman. Then fellow City workers Ami Burnett and Ada Hamilton led the crowd at the Chamber Coffee in singing, “Happy Birthday” to Chief Koss.

Sure, his face turned a bit red from the turn of events, but you’re loved and appreciated, and your special day officially recognized. Happy Birthday Chief Kevin Koss.

Scenes from the Coffee event:

“Christmasburg” makes its official debut during annual Tree Lighting

The City of Childersburg gathered a great crowd for their annual Tree Lighting and related holiday activities in “Downtown Christmasburg.”

Starting at the historic Butler-Harris-Rainwater House, the city’s official tree was lit, along with lots of hot Chocolate, the Grace Baptist Choir, and even a Live Nativity scene.

The festivities then moved down 1st Street for Smores with the VHS Baseball team, downtown shopping, Whoville in Kiwanis Park, a train ride, and of course, Sant Claus himself!

The Childersburg Christmas Parade is scheduled for Thursday, December 12th, starting 6:00 p.m.

You’re invited to enjoy a visit or two to Christmasburg this holiday season

Every year about this time, the City of Childersburg is transformed into Christmasburg. It’s a product of volunteerism in action among citizens and organizations, led by First Lady Trish Wesson.

According to Wesson, a grand example of community cooperation is the new downtown Train Station, “The Termite Group and Jimmy Landers made the ticket booth. Donald Haynes made the Railroad crossing signs here and at Santa’s workshop. Krissy Morris made the train. Thank you so much Steve Yarnel for stabilizing our train and the fence down at the reindeer farm. Thank you to the Street Department (Eddie Strickland, Floyd and Stubblefield) for your help getting all the pole lights up.

Others pitching in have been Candy Mahaffey, Jennifer Riddle, Kathy Matthews, Diana Rutherford, Ma Jeannie, Donna Mayfield, Grace Baptist Church, Karen White Lori Reed, Misti Payne, along woth the Childersburg Fire and Police Departments, and so many other anonymous elves!

It all comes together on Our is Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. for Childersburg’s annual Christmas tree Lighting at the Butler-Harris-Rainwater House, and spreading throughout the entire downtown.

Shuttle buses will be available to board at City Hall starting at 5:15 p.m. to take visitors to the Rainwater House and back downtown after the tree lighting. Families can visit Santa at Santa’s Workshop, catch the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who at Kiwanis Park after the tree lighting.

The kids can board the train to Santa’s workshop and Whoville after the tree lighting . Have fun in the snow at Kiwanis Park. Carriage rides are available for those who quickly filled out the reservation list. Hot chocolate and Apple Cider stations will be available at just about every block.

Visit Pam’s Hair Heaven Gift Shop and stop in for Hot Cocoa there. Our newest downtown business, Fair to Middlin’ Gifts & Boutique will be open for Christmas shopping.

Roads will be closing at 5:15 p.m., so get to town early for a convenient place to park. See you in downtown Christmasburg and Merry Christmas!