[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6121899,"mediaKeyId","2698564-955618ff9860349e87455ee5f71d968a","parentId",2698564,"title","Irondale resident injured by unleashed dogs; council reviews process for declaring a dog \"vicious\"","audioSeconds",317,"startMs",4887000,"endMs",5204000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2698564-955618ff9860349e87455ee5f71d968a&start=4887&end=5204","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2698564-955618ff9860349e87455ee5f71d968a/thumbnail_4887000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6121899/Irondale-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Irondale-resident-injured-by-unleashed-dogs-council-reviews-process-for-declaring-a-dog-vicious","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6121899-d1672e46b3b7605b1169b7259f297c53/orig.mp4?Expires=1774766122&Signature=HUCU6Sewkd51TGn3Fw2pmvZ33oemQUI4bvzbYR-~Lb8ijotS08fwcPTKWrTglTo9YGbrSIizdLQEobMcbMbyBWTcrTNRw7RkHsb78IAd40JU6NyaU84aeBsFFxdCx-cKjCv5TFvchI8679hIrFQNRyhzqR9E9FpPIjX-Fi~Ykvq8XlIR~uECSTMRBZPMbMEXy6ya~kvKIyMr35tbAleVu9QTqhfxOPZlmCAIvg0FZcgZIW8-oUNxqzEtiV6w3ohcamSVsO-z2rTghHqrBgwlwviFITg-hnFwqJ8Jj32MY5v0a0rUWNyOIXEU7QTC4gO~NNCL-wVaIsJDO8xW8tONdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Irondale City, Alabama","date","2025-03-19T01:57:31Z","article","A local resident told the Irondale City Council she was injured after two unleashed dogs — which she identified as a Great Dane and a pit bull — ran at her during a walk and left her with a fractured shoulder bone and a partially torn ligament.

Chava Bedley described the incident to the council and said she was treated at Saint Vincent’s and began physical therapy for a fractured shoulder and a 75 percent torn ligament. “The only thought in my mind…I've gotta do something to keep that pitbull hitting my arm…so I started rolling on the pavement,” Bedley said, describing how bystanders and first responders helped her.

Bedley and other residents said the animals were unleashed in a neighborhood and referenced municipal ordinances that require leashes; she identified the episode as a public-safety concern and urged enforcement. The council and the presiding officer explained how the city handles aggressive or dangerous animals: an animal can be declared vicious only after a report is made and the statutory process is initiated.

Council President Spivey advised that the bite/attack needs to be reported to the police so the legal process — which can include seizure of the animal and fines — can begin. “The ordinance that says…the only way a dog can be deemed vicious is if it's reported. And that sets the whole process in place of addressing that,” he said.

Council members asked whether fines had been issued in the specific case and directed the question to the chief of police. The chief confirmed that once an animal is formally reported as vicious, the department may pursue removal and recommend charges in keeping with city code.

Why it matters: Beyond the individual injury, unleashed or potentially dangerous dogs raise public-safety questions for pedestrians, children and neighbors. The council’s response focused on ensuring the incident was logged with police so that the city’s code enforcement and animal-control processes could begin.

What residents were told to do: File a report with the police department so the animal can be evaluated under city code; once a formal report exists, officers and animal-control staff can pursue seizure, fines, or other remedies that municipal code provides.

Attribution: Account and injury details provided directly by Chava Bedley during public comment; council procedural guidance from Council President Spivey and council members’ questions about enforcement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","E-911 and City Council Meeting 3/14/25","oneSentenceSummary","A woman who said she was attacked by two unleashed dogs reported a fractured shoulder and torn ligament to the Irondale City Council. Officials told her that the statutory process for declaring a dog \"vicious\" requires a formal report; the police department can pursue fines and removal once the process begins.","taxTitle","Irondale City, Jefferson County, Alabama","taxId",71505,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6121903,"Votes at a glance: Irondale council approves cellphone-in-school-zone ordinance, multiple consent items; decorum resolution fails",1473,9307000,10780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2698564-955618ff9860349e87455ee5f71d968a&start=9307&end=10780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2698564-955618ff9860349e87455ee5f71d968a/thumbnail_9307000.jpg","/articles/6121903/Irondale-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Votes-at-a-glance-Irondale-council-approves-cellphone-in-school-zone-ordinance-multiple-consent-items-decorum-resolution-fails","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6121903-1f652b79b64a5ac0a5b02dc85962cae0/orig.mp4?Expires=1774766122&Signature=M5obGh3K3DLXV5FQznINyzqnlYBnmfl2165NtdVUw6d601ruV5BAU4lXc48gr8IHqUyelEFy6fw7DiD04vq3AF67kIoxmrbFw3XsqLXzod-iGxjGfekQ-11qesyn79MwLO-80-WHQu~pBU3rhWjKYTzCbupGpEdsJbxq5dUVwWE3gVN7uaLI4BGKPc8acmP7IVq3Zl3Df2qmqaS5f5GOmA4KTX8C5ovioc-qlUS~FBd0sTsb3tCYhY4dHjMI0mGTqmfFsnHK0tOjZ6DQBd-c6JhGh5Uab6yVDsCGQpUc2dkb6sxOCYnTkF3Y30vMJb1Fsxwe2zBKMWv8Qpr7PqP04w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council action in brief: The Irondale City Council approved an ordinance that prohibits operating a handheld wireless telecommunications device while driving in a school zone, approved several routine consent items (see list below), and rejected a proposed resolution to establish formal decorum and conduct standards for council meetings.

School-zone cellphone ordinance: Councilman London introduced an ordinance to prohibit operation of handheld wireless telecommunications devices in school zones. After questions and clarifications from the city attorney about definitions and exceptions, the council approved Ordinance 2025-O-07. The city attorney explained the ordinance removes devices that are permanently affixed to a vehicle from the definition and allows hands-free systems, so hands-free Bluetooth or permanently installed speaker/microphone setups are not prohibited under the ordinance as written.

Consent items and purchases: The council approved a consent package that included:
- Renewal of an inmate housing agreement with an outside agency (resolution 2025-R-48).
- A lease amendment with Grama Mill Station LLC for a police substation (resolution 2025-R-49); council members asked staff to correct and circulate the monthly rent figures shown in the contract paperwork.
- Donation of $2,250 to Shades Valley High School to purchase crushed brick for the softball field (resolution 2025-R-50).
- Purchase of firefighter fitness testing/training equipment from Firesled Fitness and Training Inc. not to exceed $44,364 (resolution 2025-R-51); chief said the department will reallocate capital funds already budgeted rather than add budget dollars.
- Authorization to accept an interior design proposal for Iron Hill Fire Station No. 3 not to exceed $5,000 (resolution 2025-R-52).
- Acceptance of the Argo Building Company LLC construction bid for Fire Station 3 (resolution 2025-R-55) — see separate coverage.

Decorum resolution defeated: Councilwoman Cuellar sponsored a resolution to set formal decorum and conduct standards (resolution 2025-R-54). After a lengthy, sometimes heated debate in which members debated whether Robert’s Rules and existing law already cover the issues, the council voted the motion down. The roll-call on the motion was No: Councilman London, Councilman Box, Councilman Sims and Council President Spivey; Yes: Councilwoman Cuellar. The motion failed.

Appointments: The council appointed Von Barclay to fill a vacancy on the Commercial Development Authority (resolution 2025-R-53). The appointment passed on a roll-call vote after a short introduction from the candidate.

Why it matters: The cellphone ordinance affects driver behavior near schools and establishes a local enforcement tool specific to school zones; several consent items affect municipal services, asset leases and public-safety equipment; the failed decorum resolution showed a split among council members about whether an additional local policy was necessary beyond existing open-meetings law and Robert’s Rules of Order.

Votes at a glance (selected actions):
- Ordinance 2025-O-07 (school-zone wireless communication restriction): Approved (roll-call recorded as Councilman London Yes; Councilwoman Cuellar Yes; Councilman Vaux/LeClayo Yes; Councilman Sims Yes; Council President Spivey Yes on final passage).
- Resolution 2025-R-54 (decorum and conduct standards): Failed (Yes: Councilwoman Cuellar; No: Councilman London, Councilman Box, Councilman Sims, Council President Spivey).
- Resolution 2025-R-55 (accept Argo bid — Fire Station 3): Approved (consent agenda). See full article on the project.
- Resolutions 2025-R-48, 49, 50, 51, 52: Approved on the consent agenda; staff to provide clarifications where members requested corrected numbers (notably lease/ rent figures in R-49).

What’s next: Staff will circulate corrected contract figures for the police substation lease amendment and will provide documentation requested by councilors (project drawings for Fire Station 3 and bid tabulations). The city attorney confirmed the cellphone ordinance allows hands-free systems and excludes permanently affixed vehicle components from the banned-device definition.

Sources: Motions, roll calls and explanations recorded in the Irondale City Council meeting audio/transcript.","At its March meeting the Irondale City Council approved an ordinance banning handheld wireless telecommunications devices in school zones, approved several consent items including inmate housing, leases and purchases, and rejected a proposed decorum and conduct resolution after contentious debate.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6121906,"Irondale council accepts Argo bid for Fire Station 3; members ask to see design documents",427,8263000,8690000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2698564-955618ff9860349e87455ee5f71d968a&start=8263&end=8690","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2698564-955618ff9860349e87455ee5f71d968a/thumbnail_8263000.jpg","/articles/6121906/Irondale-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Irondale-council-accepts-Argo-bid-for-Fire-Station-3-members-ask-to-see-design-documents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6121906-9f3a56a356bf5837b78fc2111724a902/orig.mp4?Expires=1774766122&Signature=KgQdAZ8m97gfRM-6OXq6i9V-S4rtjPwS3chT2aqVicIGZam9MCg~1sC2pDqBe7vRZYq6dsLzaROu4-4f1NEkVEKpdQ3WSqAqIS-8svyP6A44pSj-Nrcr-G5DQOO0QJSHSWfG8uf9A5rgLftQC0lYGoiB2w82Rx32EtQ37UbSpescpiUllpWVCiN8jagm2YcyKNGXYlL0HJZe1Yq0vKrrQP-7p8jDqMO5b7RfE15vfybjpf4j2SzOvyzthQxeUMdnWZyNMcM2RzbuRPmMQqxMkLP92y3cTQ0La0vMbhnklWYvR2Mbhf4btxmJcaMekWJHoaD9ewoxFYM7ey2yOvjEZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Irondale City Council voted to accept a construction bid from Argo Building Company LLC for Fire Station 3 in the amount of $8,061,925, with funding drawn from the city’s bond issue the mayor said had been executed in August 2024.

Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. told the council that five bids were received and that the city’s architect and project team reviewed them and recommended Argo’s bid. “We finally made it to the point that we're in a place to be able to adopt the resolution to accept the bid from Argo Building Company,” Stewart said. The council approved the item on the consent agenda.

Why it matters: The new station is one of the municipality’s capital projects tied to the bond package. Council members pressed the administration for the project drawings and for clarity about what the approved contract covers, saying the council has oversight responsibility for city-owned construction projects.

Councilwoman Cuellar pressed the administration for the plans during discussion. “Where are the designs for the building? We were never given the designs,” she said, asking that the architect’s drawings be delivered to the council. The mayor and staff said design documents exist — they were produced as part of the procurement — and that the bid documents were issued to bidders. Council members requested a copy of the plans for review.

Council discussion also touched on schedule and scope. Mayor Stewart said the project is ready to move forward and that funds were available from the bond issue. City staff and the architect told the council the project is a four-bay fire station and that other training-facility components that had appeared in earlier, larger program concepts were separated off and may be pursued later. A representative from the architect/owner’s team confirmed the contract delivery schedule is roughly 420 days.

The council also asked about a hardened/safe area inside the building. The mayor said the facility includes a protective room intended for station employees, not a public storm shelter. Council members noted tree-removal timing and permitting constraints in the area where the station will be built.

The acceptance of Argo’s bid follows prior council approvals for the architect’s contract and for the bond funding used to finance the capital program. Council members said they want the administration to circulate the construction drawings and key project documents so councilors can track scope and allowances as construction begins.

What happens next: With the bid accepted, the city will execute a contract with the recommended bidder and begin mobilization and preconstruction. Council members asked staff to distribute plans and the bid-tabulation package to the full council.

Votes and motion: The motion to accept the Argo bid was included on the consent agenda and carried when the consent agenda passed; the vote on the consent motion was recorded as in favor: Council President Spivey, Councilman London, Councilman McQuear, Councilman Box and Councilman Sims.

Credits/Attribution: Mayor James D. Stewart Jr.; Councilwoman [First name not provided] Cuellar; architect Charles Williams (presenting as part of the project team).","The City of Irondale accepted a recommended construction bid from Argo Building Company LLC for Fire Station 3 for $8,061,925, funded from the bond package; several council members asked the administration to provide the council with the architect’s design documents before work proceeds.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Irondale resident injured by unleashed dogs; council reviews process for declaring a dog "vicious"

Votes at a glance: Irondale council approves cellphone-in-school-zone ordinance, multiple consent items; decorum resolution fails

Irondale council accepts Argo bid for Fire Station 3; members ask to see design documents