[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6194993,"mediaKeyId","3862971-47f605f263744b172260f0880b897ee0","parentId",3862971,"title","Irondale council approves policy review and Homeland Security task force participation for police","audioSeconds",788,"startMs",2864045,"endMs",3652520,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3862971-47f605f263744b172260f0880b897ee0&start=2864&end=3652","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3862971-47f605f263744b172260f0880b897ee0/thumbnail_2864045.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6194993/Irondale-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Irondale-council-approves-policy-review-and-Homeland-Security-task-force-participation-for-police","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6194993-e851c70e80bc7f5ce7b262a2856cf95c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771063750&Signature=FlnQa5KxVVrTm7ROYTDJoyk2sn4oRRpO~lf4-1L7HzKZ0D~pzAAiWqgVdRaPuG1B1iAulUH9W3PyBoi0zxR1EummfDn4nBUxP8JOgykEig6MPNNlrGJOQYUOgd4KAcxt0jSxGNJCY5iHCBH-F5sjIP4GiqIFNbtEZM3mUzBKZVvHWNl4wzunUc-K3ME3M9WJxQdifJQGSlWCKo0kJq7D90VldchmcFwzJ1~tmU8IyTHwdiA8skbn~H4~7GYyHAZ2o9oxRb5BLoK~bJGr-a6AoYZp-d0YdGDaDtwz5DHZGpEpTJjNIYQEnvIoQEdLeeTb6XotPP6Sn-cgLD3LG65mhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Irondale City, Alabama","date","2025-06-19T05:03:01.327Z","article","The Irondale City Council approved two items intended to strengthen police practice and investigative capacity: a contract for an external policy and procedure review of the police department and a memorandum of understanding to allow an investigator to participate on a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSI) task force.

Interim Chief Paul Kellogg told the council the first action authorizes the Legal and Liability Risk Management Institute to conduct a policies review “to make sure that our policies are in line with the most current laws” and accepted best practices; the contract amount is not to exceed $2,800 and the firm gave an estimated timeline of about eight weeks.

Why it matters: Chief Kellogg and council members said the review will check department policies against recent state laws and federal court rulings and that any recommended changes would be considered by the chief, the mayor and council before implementation. Separately, the HSI task force participation will give a city investigator access to federal technology, training and manpower to investigate human trafficking, child exploitation and related crimes.

Key details and council discussion
- Interim Chief Paul Kellogg: the review will compare department policies with Alabama law, Eleventh Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court rulings and Department of Justice standards; the company provides an expert review and will arrange a briefing for council members when recommendations are ready. “They will arrange a time for us to all have a conference … to explain why they made these recommended changes,” Kellogg said.
- Timeline and cost: Chief Kellogg said the contracted review company set an about eight-week timeline; cost not to exceed $2,800.
- Homeland Security participation: The council approved a resolution authorizing an Irondale officer’s participation in a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) task force. Chief Kellogg and Investigator Matt Batson described HSI as part of ICE under the Department of Homeland Security but distinct from enforcement and removal operations (ERO). Kellogg said the HSI assignment focuses on “human trafficking, child exploitation, cyber … financial exploitation” and would not involve immigration enforcement work.
- Reimbursement and capacity: Kellogg explained task-force arrangements typically reimburse the city for overtime incurred by a task-force officer and provide federal support such as technology, training and assistance with federal warrants. He also cited recent local successes tied to task-force cooperation, including a fentanyl seizure: “Our narcotics investigators confiscated approximately 13 ounces of fentanyl,” he said.

Outcome
Both resolutions — the contract for policy review and the HSI participation memorandum — were placed on the consent agenda and approved with council concurrence during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Work Session & Meeting 6/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Irondale City Council approved a contract for an outside policy review of the police department and authorized an investigator to join a U.S. Department of Homeland Security task force to investigate human trafficking and related crimes.","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},6194997,"Irondale council holds work session to clarify after-hours access policy and key access",557,28875,586285,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3862971-47f605f263744b172260f0880b897ee0&start=28&end=586","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3862971-47f605f263744b172260f0880b897ee0/thumbnail_28875.jpg","/articles/6194997/Irondale-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Irondale-council-holds-work-session-to-clarify-after-hours-access-policy-and-key-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6194997-42a9a8f2ab41c3eed6d35b83982d183c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771063750&Signature=AjCFdErnVg14JdfbdmYZPCXCTvx71a5H-71B1hUD8vYpA-TysVTYjs-17BBvc7JUsB1PH5piv1x1lTNSRZLvTKg1U0R3zfDoyzYuvPTfgTN8VKozz1TZzA4ofGCb7XB9TIk1341zFI8esnmos77X~4dEvvvKN6-GsLxdjsFWgedlvJbbN32HHuQLTzufenPp~d7XlVexxJr19Ycl1nzBMSQH9RIdg84Ug5G0jvdzE-If-wL3rJeAJNHyEMppIQpFfYjGqFujFumvsrk0Ki0~6VZdaG8CoAEKcw0ltsa4GiNi1EPWzeKRH4rX3es8NYTDxVBjueqgJN0leKKDqo~tPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Irondale City Council met for a 5:30 p.m. work session to discuss a resolution passed at a prior meeting that changed after-hours access to City Hall and the counselors’ conference room.

Council members said the resolution’s intent was to add a safety layer — sign-in logs and dispatch notification — while still allowing after-hours work, but that implementation had caused confusion about key access and custody of security. “The goal or the intent was never to prevent anyone from being able to do anything,” Councilman Box said, adding that the policy was “meant to do was simply provide a layer of safety, a sign in sheet so that everybody knows who's in the building.”

Why it matters: Council members said the change affected routine work, such as picking up bills and using the counselors’ conference room for private meetings or executive sessions, and they want staff not to be put “in the middle” of enforcement. Council members also raised safety concerns if dispatch is not aware a person is in the building during an emergency.

Discussion highlights
- Councilman Box said he had expected keys or a code to remain available to council members and that he learned they were not provided when he attempted to access the conference room. “I was surprised that I could not get a key or get the combination to the conference room to go and check my mailbox,” he said.
- Councilor Blair said checking in with dispatch is wise and that cameras and a sign-in log can address safety while preserving access: “I don't have a problem with going in and checking in with dispatch … but I need to get in the building. I should not have to ring a doorbell.”
- Several members, including Councilman London and Councilwoman McPherter, said they preferred to resolve access and custody questions with the mayor and with Councilor Sims present, and that changes or amendments should be shared with council members when they are made.
- A city staff member addressed as Miss April reminded the council of the separation of roles, saying, “a city council person cannot tell or ask a city employee to do anything. We are a legislative body.”

Outcome and next steps
No formal change to the resolution was taken in the work session. Council members agreed to postpone definitive action until absent members, including Councilor Sims and the mayor, could participate. Several members proposed practical fixes — restoring keys or providing a back-door code, requiring dispatch sign-in for guests, and installing hallway surveillance before returning to broader access — but those were discussed as options rather than adopted policy.

The council president and members said they will schedule a follow-up work session or executive session to reconcile custody/control of security, distribution of keys or combinations, and the resolution language so staff are clear on enforcement.","Council members met in a 5:30 p.m. work session to discuss a recently passed resolution limiting after-hours access to City Hall, raising questions about keys, sign-in procedures and who controls building security; no formal change to the resolution was made and councilmembers agreed to return to the issue with absent members present.",{"_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},6194976,"Public commenters raise ethics concerns over city advertising and PR director pay",199,2597095,2796640,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3862971-47f605f263744b172260f0880b897ee0&start=2597&end=2796","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3862971-47f605f263744b172260f0880b897ee0/thumbnail_2597095.jpg","/articles/6194976/Irondale-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Public-commenters-raise-ethics-concerns-over-city-advertising-and-PR-director-pay","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6194976-89fbca35070f5aa3810e0e12983ae7bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771063750&Signature=Id--OCbDsUcE8a7ugWqkctbtTDvKIlC66zor3uR~tY~HVa-VY-~cAOBGdvzYkZUGbZDsdmDaaCKRgW8yRlF7cYki1GSwOVwG4lklVXq6cZvu1bBw2opyxI4ru2wTZ8MEVqzqSWNURlzCpgI4KAsq26L2M~qF3smWsHFCcAG9pGGBtWPd2tCr5qmWoVqvPv92cElGjrtlYmCNlzsfWlwcU-i8IwiILNsnXWwW0P3nMUNcltopB4dtmJxjhePzEV~aPsdxZ3Erm~I9WoJM~dEaE2j8XfkENWiNx3OzEUs8JKupC8Fc-GqyTFOGKeM-eTwnNWozlYWK-gGEat6YmOwmhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several members of the public used the council’s non-agenda public comment period to raise concerns about advertising contracts, city spending on public relations and potential conflicts of interest.

Carter Dukes alleged that then-mayoral campaign activities led to city contracts with a vendor. “In his 2020 run for mayor of Irondale, Mr. Stewart hired Fairview Strategies … Fairview is owned and run by Emma Tolbert,” Dukes said, and accused the city of paying contractors and later hiring the same individual as a city employee. Dukes said he had requested records under the Alabama Open Records Act and that the city had not produced them.

Mary Sherriff urged the council to avoid even the appearance of ethical violations and advised pausing public advertising during the city election period: “I urge you to stop all public advertising for the city for the next several months until the city elections are over,” she said. Sherriff argued that continuing advertising during elections would prove an improper purpose if it primarily benefits an incumbent.

Why it matters: The speakers linked the city’s use of advertising dollars and an on-staff communications director to potential conflicts of interest and asked the council to halt advertising to avoid perceived misuse of public resources during an election cycle. The council did not take action on these requests during the meeting; they were recorded as public comment.

Council response
Council did not take formal action during the meeting. The council president invited the auditor and asked the public to raise questions to him during the meeting if they wished. The public commenters’ requests — including a temporary halt to city advertising and a records follow-up — were not adopted or referred to staff for immediate action during the meeting.","During public comment, speakers accused Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. and a city PR director of potential conflicts of interest, urged suspension of city advertising during the election period and asked for public records on contracts and payments.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6194983,"Council orders cleanup of one nuisance lot, postpones action on two others for 30 days",409,4602545,5011605,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3862971-47f605f263744b172260f0880b897ee0&start=4602&end=5011","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3862971-47f605f263744b172260f0880b897ee0/thumbnail_4602545.jpg","/articles/6194983/Irondale-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Council-orders-cleanup-of-one-nuisance-lot-postpones-action-on-two-others-for-30-days","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6194983-399e840a655314e81228bbf09e324f5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771063750&Signature=gPij4srRLjX3OSmfLLyg5~ShwCmV9SAZWXtdi3cSMdm3WJLrdzsuK0hkRuyjQ3cq9U1ilzWmSM5iU~FBH-PGWLQ9-S3te54tub9-fkZFR9Azb4zisSj31RV4lWcX0F4gASFjUd~RkBxz7jzOs2CbrdXj68hgGkUqtBh2uX4egcReovouLTggf1rlD~WXyZOEG~AY0RitT6pKQKJDqXvGZ4QGxQqV9GJnTmpoTJbCeZnFL~IWE5TsikyKZ4gw7JTLuCoyYvwNvoFBsRetBeQ1FGWGjcdl5ovYXwJi~9EMm3CX7obM79Al8~meVj8IsvaWH7Q9qu2Un615amf6nO2Zsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Irondale City Council addressed three nuisance properties, declaring one a public nuisance for abatement and postponing action on two others to allow owners a chance to correct conditions.

The council declared the premises at 3316 Saddlebrook Circle a public nuisance and authorized removal of weeds and overgrowth after inspections showed the burned and abandoned lot was “severely overgrown and out of control,” according to code enforcement. That resolution was placed on the consent agenda and approved.

Two other properties were handled differently. For 3317 Saddlebrook Circle, staff reported the resident was deceased and the out-of-state next of kin had previously arranged minimal yard maintenance; code enforcement said the front yard had been mowed and recommended the council postpone action and re-inspect in 30 days.

At 2120 Second Avenue North, the property owner, Jerry Johnson, addressed the council in person. Johnson said the house was his grandfather’s, that recent tenants had left and that he had signed a landscape agreement and purchased materials to begin rehabilitation. “I have executed a landscape agreement, earlier this week,” Johnson said, and added that he expected the landscaper’s first visit by the end of the next week and recurring mowing every 20 to 30 days. The council agreed to postpone formal abatement action for 30 days to allow the owner to follow through.

Why it matters: Nuisance properties affect nearby residents’ health and safety and can create breeding grounds for pests and crime; the council used code enforcement reports and direct owner commitments to decide whether to proceed immediately or provide time to remedy the conditions.

Outcome and next steps
- 3316 Saddlebrook Circle: declared a public nuisance; city authorized abatement (approved on consent).
- 3317 Saddlebrook Circle: postponed for 30 days for re-inspection; staff to monitor and report back at the council’s next meeting.
- 2120 Second Avenue North: postponed for 30 days after owner Jerry Johnson said he had contracted landscaping services and planned renovations; council instructed staff to re-inspect and follow up.","The council declared one property a public nuisance and ordered removal of overgrowth; two other properties were postponed for 30 days after staff reported recent or promised cleanup and an owner described plans to landscape and renovate a historic house.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6194988,"Council awards paving contracts, accepts testing contract for Fire Station 3",150,4172550,4323205,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3862971-47f605f263744b172260f0880b897ee0&start=4172&end=4323","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3862971-47f605f263744b172260f0880b897ee0/thumbnail_4172550.jpg","/articles/6194988/Irondale-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Council-awards-paving-contracts-accepts-testing-contract-for-Fire-Station-3","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6194988-b57059a017e16c3d6d4b6bf430b2087e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771063750&Signature=lRiUplIcCNCr5-jkiWQsqsx6SnvoLaOwR7ehvcI50LphfDPB7gWg4cfDYccNco8Wfeb0Lo6WM14BZK7B-s2Zpl0CS-65OXosyfk7lLqIj~hTZxAL-k5W7o9DIAnmRvA3uZS84vip5Dj4K0RZNVehN7OZRB30Nw-dsjE6psrjqY~fgYM4C5NyKB6XfWa64Wft7KF8UGisYZlVfzQPIC-JW7eTue2ey1Gp9YOjBT8p1Qt79dVJ3FhjEdaw1N0h1HvUVlw02MuvMNy0f0rnfN2Yir9mRuIXs~f2UuMzwV5KkhM4O-mfTt52o~Nv--n9PJMBjbmIvvptb1ozX9U2ZYy-rw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Irondale City Council accepted bids and authorized agreements for upcoming capital work, including road paving and construction testing for a new fire station.

The council accepted a bid from Central Alabama Asphalt and Construction Co. LLC for the 2025 road paving plan in the amount of $2,608,051.32 and accepted a crack-sealing bid from Remac Inc. for $159,021.31. The council also authorized an agreement with Birmingham Engineering and Construction Consultants Inc. (BECC) for construction materials testing and special inspections for Fire Station No. 3 in an amount not to exceed $31,242.23.

Why it matters: Council members and staff said several neighborhoods have heavily deteriorated streets and that the contracts are intended to address the worst segments. The materials testing contract covers standard construction oversight tasks including proof rolling, concrete testing and structural inspections.

Council discussion and logistics
- Kelton of the engineering team described the BECC scope as “proof rolling, concrete testing, rebar inspections, structural steel inspections, and lab testing as well. Typical for a construction project of this size.”
- Public works and engineering staff noted the city had missed a year of paving work and emphasized prioritizing the worst streets; the project list includes roughly 21 miles for crack sealing and other targeted work.
- A council member asked about hourly rates for inspectors; BECC clarified the $150 hourly rate applied to a single inspector for specific services.
- Council members were told weather and access to materials will affect start dates; staff expected work to begin as soon as logistics permit.
- A groundbreaking for the Fire Station No. 3 project was announced for June 26 at 10 a.m.

Outcome
The council added these items to the consent agenda and voted to approve them during the meeting.","Council approved contracts totaling more than $2.7 million for the 2025 paving program and accepted a $31,242.23 agreement for materials testing and special inspections on the Fire Station 3 construction project; council also approved a $159,021.31 crack-sealing contract and scheduled a groundbreaking.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Irondale council approves policy review and Homeland Security task force participation for police

Irondale council holds work session to clarify after-hours access policy and key access

Public commenters raise ethics concerns over city advertising and PR director pay

Council orders cleanup of one nuisance lot, postpones action on two others for 30 days

Council awards paving contracts, accepts testing contract for Fire Station 3