City recognizes employees of the year
The Mountain Brook City Council began its March 28 meeting by recognizing its departmental employees of the year.
One of those selected was Police Officer of the Year Drew Moore. Chief Ted Cook said Moore received at least "half a dozen" commendations in 2015, most notably for helping to catch a suspect in a child enticement case. From a blurry photo, Cook said Moore was able to use unique elements of the suspect's vehicle wheels to identify its make and model. From there, he found all Birmingham drivers with the same car and identified one matching the suspect's description.
Within hours, law enforcement officers working the case called to say they had located and arrested the suspect based on Moore's information. The council and audience members applauded Moore for his work.
Other departmental winners included:
- Kevin Wilson - Fire Department
- Ashley Eason - Police Department non-sworn employee
- Latorya Mines - Parks and Recreation Department
- Rodney Wood - Public Works Department
At the meeting, the council also:
- Reestablished voting districts and assigned polling places for general, special and run-off municipal elections.
- Approved a utility agreement with ALDOT for the Phase 9 sidewalk project at Brookwood Road, Crosshill Road and Oakdale Drive.
- Approved a conditional use for Empower Pilates at 2419 Canterbury Road. Business owner Emma Suttles plans to lead Reformer Pilates and spin classes there in evenings and weekends to avoid high-traffic times for surrounding businesses.
- Authorized a contract to rent voting machines, related equipment and election services from the County Commission for the Aug. 23 municipal election. The rental cost is $8,000 and the city will have to rent them again in the case of a run-off election in October.
- Authorized an agreement with the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority to provide bus services in the 2016-2017 fiscal year. City Manager Sam Gaston said the city is talking to the BJCTA about a potential new route that would include Cahaba Village.
- Approved a three-way agreement to maintain a sewer line and retaining wall at 2941 Balmoral Road.
- Approved the creation of the senior arborist position for a current employee of the public works department.
- Declared city-owned newspaper stands as surplus. The city intends to leave one stand in each village, but sell the rest.
- In a pre-council meeting, the council heard resident concerns about placement of sidewalks in Phase 5b of the sidewalk master plan, from Brookwood to Cahaba Road. The plan places sidewalks on the north side, which had residents concerned due to the number of trees that would be removed in the process. However, council members pointed out that the south side of the road would be dangerous to pedestrians due to exit ramps off U.S. 280, and that replanting is part of the sidewalk plan. Additionally, reconsidering the plan would cost significant time and money, so the council chose to proceed with its existing plan.