[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6321427,"mediaKeyId","2350412-9dcffd391417eb41631ebdeacc06b4cc","parentId",2350412,"title","Irondale council approves bills, accepts $700,000 ALDOT paving grant and $193,007 in well‑7 repair contracts; expense-report policy postponed","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4382000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2350412-9dcffd391417eb41631ebdeacc06b4cc&start=4382&end=4382","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2350412-9dcffd391417eb41631ebdeacc06b4cc/thumbnail_4382000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6321427/Irondale-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Irondale-council-approves-bills-accepts-700000-ALDOT-paving-grant-and-193007-in-well7-repair-contracts-expense-report-policy-postponed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321427-16c75b58f4e0968248a94db09b30e49c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190428&Signature=o12V0NdnMMFlBBKwtyaO9vG1c4iVh~dIStJhvhmR4hMOICcq4HWn1lrWAwoo9IkYFNEtKbUiJlGxoUdyIswtEWojC68TTpSeF3OiDaaBM-sac9cl07KLEDhbVTS99AYC7fGPHWbDxO0a7O~fieEW4l50GVjHASMu8LivrSohLitQdxKdqV5vbwAW0suAqVaTinKLvDICyoggFpRt~rvyzBSzBu49MlyeviGS9OMKjqW5NarJ39JHJUyIbIIGLrceNACcNAsdBaIjgHAY0caFtQyY5bzteMVJ-a38Rm0cmK~Y3HO-mxkXeTMWZO1-ILtn8guQ4ydp0v2b2gsaEsgEyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Irondale City, Alabama","date","2025-02-19T13:38:41Z","article","The Irondale City Council approved a package of routine and project spending Feb. 18, including the payment of current bills and the acceptance of two water‑system repair contracts for Well 7, while postponing a proposed policy change on council expense reporting.

Why it matters: The votes green‑lit short‑term repairs that city staff said were needed to keep an Irondale well online and authorized the city’s participation in a state paving grant that will require a local match. Council discussion also highlighted continuing concern among some members about financial transparency and the format of municipal expense reports.

The council approved payment of current bills in the amount of $699,355.63 following a motion and second during the meeting; the motion carried, with one council member announcing a “no” vote during the roll call. The council later approved the form of the agenda and the amended consent agenda by voice vote.

Votes at a glance (selected items moved to or decided on the consent agenda):
- Resolution 2025 R34: Approve a one‑day special event retail alcohol license for Marty’s Burger Bar LLC d/b/a Marty’s Saint Patrick’s Day celebration (event 03/15/2025) — Approved on consent.
- Resolution 2025 R35: Authorize the mayor to execute a funding agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation for repaving parts of Grants Mill Road and Kilgore Memorial Drive — Approved on consent. Meeting materials state the ALDOT grant is approximately $700,000 with an estimated city match of 20% (~$140,000).
- Resolution 2025 R36: Allocate $5,500 from FY24–25 discretionary funds of Councilor John London to Irondale Middle School boys basketball — Approved on consent (council requested follow‑up documentation on how funds are used).
- Resolution 2025 R308 (electrical): Accept bid from Dexter Morrison Associates, Inc., $44,007.92, for electrical work at Well 7 (funded from reserves) — Approved on consent.
- Resolution 2025 R39: Accept bid from Morrow Water Technologies, Inc., $149,000, for pump and motor replacement/installation at Well 7 (funded from reserves) — Approved on consent.

Several council members discussed the ALDOT paving item and the amount of the city’s match; one council member asked staff to share the full funding agreement and supporting materials. Councilman London praised the Marty’s event and encouraged residents to attend: “This is a really great event for Bridal. Peralds quite a few people and it's a lot of fun,” he said during deliberations.

On the council’s internal oversight proposals, Councilwoman Cuellar introduced two items aimed at monthly bank‑statement delivery and a uniform format for purchasing‑card descriptions on the council expense approval reports. Council members and department staff agreed that the bank‑statement delivery (27 downloadable account statements) was straightforward. However, staff said implementing the proposed detailed per‑transaction data entry would increase their workload and that the current packet already contains a detailed spreadsheet and supporting receipts available at city hall for review.

Because the mayor and another council member who works closely with treasury tasks were not present, the council postponed the expense‑report policy (Resolution 2025 R37) for further review to allow the mayor, clerk and department heads to provide input. Councilmembers indicated they would revisit the policy after staff finishes a planned streamlining effort.

Procedural notes: The council moved items 6 and 7 (the two well‑7 contracts) from the regular to the consent agenda and then approved the consent agenda as amended. No council ordinance changes were adopted at this meeting.

Next steps: Staff will provide the ALDOT funding agreement and requested back‑up to the council; the expense‑report policy will return for a future meeting after the mayor and finance staff review the proposed format changes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting 2/18/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Irondale City Council approved payment of current bills, moved multiple items to the consent agenda and accepted bids totaling roughly $193,008 for electrical and pump work at Well 7; the council postponed a proposed uniform council expense-report policy for further review.","taxTitle","Irondale City, Jefferson County, Alabama","taxId",71505,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6321431,"Irondale councilors and residents press for answers after ADEM data shows lead and PFAS detections",521,1768000,2289000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2350412-9dcffd391417eb41631ebdeacc06b4cc&start=1768&end=2289","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2350412-9dcffd391417eb41631ebdeacc06b4cc/thumbnail_1768000.jpg","/articles/6321431/Irondale-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Irondale-councilors-and-residents-press-for-answers-after-ADEM-data-shows-lead-and-PFAS-detections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321431-70d0db6cfef12bf5154c4c377061a2bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190428&Signature=I9hNh2mo2JzETr6F7SS1SmXNtG1fgZVqIjsQFHuicr0RX-rliQbuJGEEYSsHKk9OOMhqRN57K-AecAOWPtefZ89TOFm7rEyxDFp0~jYqOupTmFEB-cljRtt84rOaGZg9drgLq6GcvkRZFRp6rBh8~qdzZnx9rfE7GGTJc3ZhzUpo-k3fcF7Lp-BuVe3eWoW84JKgx0cmQsZPYcnPKxTVujs2sjQ~Q~Fsi1aS9iSIdFvHxXixStUIAxvaHdzFhZ3KKS1trLc-Gux-b23BoHUwoPUddPcY~PojdXm25x9SdWhHITldPKVB~Nlx6mPxfDoyW77wh2vENaTU9k8uGih0cg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilwoman Cuellar urged the council on Feb. 18 to give residents clearer, quicker answers after she and several speakers flagged lead and PFAS detections in water samples posted on the Alabama Department of Environmental Management website.

The issue drew multiple public commenters and sustained discussion during the public-comment and committee-report portions of the Irondale City Council meeting because residents said the city’s usual public updates were missing or delayed.

Why it matters: Residents said small-sample results on ADEM’s site include readings above guidance levels and that older homes in the city’s interior were not being sampled systematically. Council members said they want clearer documentation from staff and legal counsel before making public health assertions.

Councilwoman Cuellar, who chairs the council’s water committee, said she has tried repeatedly to schedule a committee meeting with the water superintendent and the mayor since April 2024 to get updated testing and that those meetings were repeatedly postponed. “Does our water system have lead in it?” she asked directly during her report, pressing for a yes-or-no answer for constituents.

Retired engineer John Bavona, who said he reviewed the city’s ADEM postings, told the council that a single home sample from Round Forest Drive showed 7 parts per billion of lead and said the ADEM post was difficult to navigate. “Test results show there is lead in the drinking water, and the revised EPA safe level for lead is 0,” Bavona said during public comment.

Resident Mary Sherr cited ADEM data for PFAS family chemicals and converted the agency values for the council: she read October 2024 readings for wells 5, 6 and 7 showing PFOA at 5.1 parts per billion (above a referenced benchmark of 4) and said January 2025 values included PFHxS at 7.8, PFOS at 5.2 and PFOA at 4.3.

City staff and council members said the ADEM postings are not the city’s official public-facing summaries. Jared Morris, identified in the meeting as the water superintendent, told the council: “Come to the March 4 meeting, and you will get the correct information that you all need.” Morris also said there has been “a significant amount of misinformation” circulating and asked residents to await staff’s formal update.

Council members and commenters debated process: several speakers said the council should proactively post the same test results on the city website rather than directing residents to ADEM; others cautioned that the council must not release technical conclusions without staff and legal review. Council members agreed to continue seeking the requested materials from legal counsel and to pursue a water committee meeting to review data.

The council did not adopt any ordinance, regulation, or emergency order at the Feb. 18 meeting concerning water quality. Councilwoman Cuellar told residents she would continue to press for the documents and answers promised by staff and the mayor’s office and said the committee would reconvene in early March.

Next steps: City officials said the water department intends to present updated test results and context at a March 4 meeting; the council’s water committee will pursue a formal review and the city clerk was asked to confirm public notice for that meeting so residents can attend.

","Residents and the council’s water committee raised questions about lead and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Irondale’s drinking water after publicly posted ADEM test results; the city’s water staff asked residents to await a March 4 update.","actionData","errors"]

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Irondale council approves bills, accepts $700,000 ALDOT paving grant and $193,007 in well‑7 repair contracts; expense-report policy postponed

Irondale councilors and residents press for answers after ADEM data shows lead and PFAS detections