The largest city in St. Clair County continues to grow. 

At the Pell City City Council meeting on June 12, the council approved the annexation of 906 Pleasant Valley Drive into city limits. The property is adjacent to the industrial park and is a “keyhole” location, meaning it is surrounded by property that is already within city limits. 

After annexation, a recommendation to the Planning Commission will be made to rezone the property for heavy manufacturing. 

“We see a lot of positive development prospects for the property,” Pell City City Manager Brian Muenger said. 

The city is also updating more than 869 street name signs and several mesh signs stating “Mowers Ahead” and “Litter Crew Ahead.” The street name signs, which are green with white lettering, cost $18.83 each, bringing the total replacement costs to more than $16,000.

The City Council has begun the budget process for the 2017-2018 fiscal year, meeting with department heads to receive their budget requests, year-to-date revenue and expenditure information, and year-end projection. 

The budget can not be finalized until early to mid-September, pending additional information for retirement and health care costs which will not be received until late August or September. The City Council plans several meetings with department heads over the next months to hear their budget requests.

“I want to hear what they need and why they need it,” Pell City City Councilman Jay Jenkins said.

According to Teri St. James, Finance Director, a considerable amount of work remains before the Council can consider adopting a revised budget for Fiscal Year 2016-2017 as well as the operating budget for the next fiscal year.