[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6244552,"mediaKeyId","3229536-f510a5d9fd3aba79c1cb65b3498037ea","parentId",3229536,"title","Irondale council approves midyear budget adjustments after extended audit and finance debate","audioSeconds",294,"startMs",4026000,"endMs",4320000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3229536-f510a5d9fd3aba79c1cb65b3498037ea&start=4026&end=4320","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3229536-f510a5d9fd3aba79c1cb65b3498037ea/thumbnail_4026000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6244552/Irondale-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Irondale-council-approves-midyear-budget-adjustments-after-extended-audit-and-finance-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244552-0b9341a1ad844b782356b15de38c464d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771124022&Signature=KpNcyDtbRAp5kiRvXvyssnCyoQrU3Aw66fGtc5Ijs5ULunG66binSZsmVJQeI4PH7coxPP8jucTWKdvITrvtqjVRqt5qZN-fRBQtvrW~oxcGYoCAz6pokepJ2wMIxh1~zQ0ks~Yg3qdw5AObSPpUJvt4XUSdSv-rnWdGOfyeIjqu6JTgqRDq~UdCh4qYevkWOvpJH2oFOR-yaK~Mp8xCE21c23QEv3lb6LZIpx77HAQ0SfqahiX9oR9tNoUd3RZCHuHnaa4zCJLKe5gmFQczW9Ar7W9PjVwkz8R3lxNnLopGO0gFZlqlIHI6yOEYh2E92T4jOSMQzAqfbJ2WgC9lwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Irondale City, Alabama","date","2025-05-07T02:23:58Z","article","The Irondale City Council approved a package of midyear budget adjustments for FY2024–25 and accepted the city’s FY2023–24 audit after extended debate among council members and city leadership.

Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. told the council the city was not running a deficit: the year-to-date figures through March showed a surplus and revised projections still indicated a surplus. The mayor also said the city had made its bond payments on schedule and that some criticisms arose from reporting timing: bond payments occur April 1, July 1, Oct. 1 and Jan. 1 and would not appear in a March 31 report.

Councilwoman Cuellar pressed for item-level clarity and had circulated an alternative set of adjustments that flagged concerns about salaries for police, fire and retiree benefits; she said several line items required additional explanation and that some entries should be kept in separate funds (she repeatedly asked that Rebuild Alabama receipts remain in their own fund). She told the council she preferred public finance questions to be raised in a public forum so residents could see the exchange.

Finance questions created a point of friction: some council members asked why the mayor or city clerk were not present at an earlier finance-committee meeting; the mayor said he had attended and described previous meetings where staff were constrained from speaking. Other council members said department heads and the city clerk had confirmed current salaries and staffing levels could be sustained with the proposed adjustments.

The council received the independent audit (FY23–24) presented by the city auditor. The audit firm reported an unmodified (clean) opinion and noted the city’s net position was about $20.1 million as of Sept. 30, 2024. The auditor highlighted growth in property and sales taxes and said water operations showed a positive operating result when interfund transfers were excluded.

Several council members asked for a dedicated work session with the auditor and city management so they and the public could review the full audit and the management letter in detail. Mayor Stewart said the auditor was invited to the council meeting in a public forum and encouraged members to ask questions then; the auditor said he was available for follow-up.

Council votes recorded in open session approved the budget adjustments, accepted the audit, and advanced other items on the meeting agenda. Several council members noted follow-up tasks: publishing detailed explanations of major line-item changes, maintaining Rebuild Alabama funds in a separate account, and scheduling a finance work session so the auditor and department heads can answer council and public questions.

Council members characterized the meeting as a substantive public accounting of the city’s finances and urged more regular, transparent committee briefings going forward.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting 5/6/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved FY24–25 budget adjustments and accepted the FY23–24 audit after a lengthy public and council discussion about revenues, bond payments, retiree obligations and the need for a follow-up finance work session.","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},6244557,"Irondale council appoints two residents to Zoning Board of Adjustment",583,437000,1020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3229536-f510a5d9fd3aba79c1cb65b3498037ea&start=437&end=1020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3229536-f510a5d9fd3aba79c1cb65b3498037ea/thumbnail_437000.jpg","/articles/6244557/Irondale-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Irondale-council-appoints-two-residents-to-Zoning-Board-of-Adjustment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244557-7a939037a6308f9727e7a6234cf73211/orig.mp4?Expires=1771124022&Signature=LACd7lCnpyX3GAHR-Qk2zhsFcQg9aiwT0nTZOw8Mx~Vu5QG-fB6fSDu6j0IQ7cOKL0BlxS7r8iBrOmY5f6u1VBZFU3hIoiTxD33U1o8QiLKR38mdkATBUOll7LeykHSIbfa56rfvZftzw1n4Unm1EtiAdnzJc0tBIDQtl1o~EZHX7-BTebvc6SK5D9prHU3u0KUrDg2OSopuSTD8OA93lVjoKSFYCXucKH4AU94uV7jt8ql~Iu8h3copf802krc89PGhivDQ5fHUYXIgh3788-KvYen6SY1HJjyPTwAE9bsmAw8iYT2qDeoMU9sy7-jnZpef0kmGfVdgRjejmIJYOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","After interviewing four applicants for two openings on the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA), the Irondale City Council appointed Trey Hawkins and Heather Flaherty to three-year supernumerary terms.

The council held a public portion of the meeting so the applicants could introduce themselves and answer brief questions. Heather Flaherty said she became interested in the ZBA after applying for a variance while renovating her home and cited her commercial and residential real-estate experience. Trey Hawkins described decades of experience in construction and neighborhood architectural-control work and said he favors “careful managed growth” while considering both the letter and spirit of zoning laws.

Council members thanked all applicants for volunteering. Councilmembers asked procedural questions — including whether a council member should abstain from voting when an appointee is affiliated with the council member’s brokerage — and were told by staff that the applicant’s licensed-realtor status did not by itself create a disqualifying conflict for council votes on appointments.

The council then moved to nominate and vote. The motion to appoint Hawkins and Flaherty carried; the meeting record shows roll-call votes were taken in open session.

The council president noted that service on the ZBA can be “in the fire,” describing some variance matters as polarized, and thanked the new appointees for stepping forward to serve.

The ZBA appointments fill two supernumerary positions; applicants who appeared but were not appointed included Francisca Roscoe and Mary Sherr.

Looking ahead, council members said appointees should be prepared for contentious cases and that the city will continue to publicize openings so residents can apply.","The Irondale City Council filled two open seats on the Zoning Board of Adjustment after interviewing four applicants; Trey Hawkins and Heather Flaherty were appointed to three-year terms.","actionData","errors"]

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Irondale council approves midyear budget adjustments after extended audit and finance debate

Irondale council appoints two residents to Zoning Board of Adjustment