Cullman Fire Rescue Chief Edward Reinhardt, Jr. will retire April 1. / Tribune File Photo
CULLMAN – On Tuesday evening, the Cullman City Council announced that Cullman Fire Rescue Chief Edward Reinhardt, Jr. will retire on April 1. The City requested Reinhardt stay on to oversee the completion of the new fire station, Fire Station No. 3, on Alabama Highway 157, (behind Merchants Bank on the east side of the old Piggly Wiggly building); it will serve the northwest part of the city and is expected to be completed by the beginning of April.
Public Safety committee chairman, Councilman Andy Page, announced that CFR Division Chief Brian Bradberry will take over as chief upon Reinhardt’s departure.
Council President Garlan Gudger told the outgoing chief, “Chief Reinhardt, when it comes time, I think you’re going to have a full party of balloons with 200 people up here, sending you off. We all love you, and we thank you for your service. We couldn’t have made it through this building process without you, sir, and I couldn’t have made it through these last two terms without you.”
Of the construction project, Gudger added, “I thank you for taking that leap of faith and helping this community. It wouldn’t be what it is without you, and I sincerely mean that with my heart, and everybody that knows you well feels the same way. We love you, and let’s enjoy these last couple of months together, but I wish you were staying another 10 years with us.”
After the meeting, Police Chief Kenny Culpepper shared, “It’s been a pleasure to work with Chief Reinhardt. We’ve been together on a lot of different disasters and issues and events, and he’s always been a professional and a true friend. I appreciate him.”
Reinhardt himself told The Tribune, “I’ve enjoyed it. Like I’ve said, it’s been a team effort. We’ve come through some rough times since I made chief. At the time I made chief, the economy was bad, and everything like that, but we worked through it. The council was really good to help us get where we need to be, and we have come a long ways.
“Like I said, it’s been a team effort. I enjoyed all the department heads I worked with, everybody. It’s been a learning process. I think we’ve built good relationships with all agencies, and I loved working with them.”
Loft apartment ordinance hearing set
With no action to be taken at the meeting, the council set a public hearing on Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. to consider amending the zoning ordinance relating to loft apartments in Cullman. The proposed amended version of the existing ordinance would allow the construction of buildings higher than two stories with loft apartments on all upper floors. Retail space would be required to occupy ground floors and basements, but would no longer have to comprise the majority of square footage.
At the same Feb. meeting, the council will hold a public hearing to consider the vacation and surplus of a 50-foot right-of-way at 1816 Teakwood Drive SE.
Annexations
The council approved two ordinances on their second readings, and suspended rules of procedure to approve five others, to annex more than 180 acres into the city limits of Cullman:
- property owned by the Utilities Board of the City of Cullman located on Eva Road as R-1 Residential District
- property owned by the Utilities Board of the City of Cullman located on Swafford Drive Southwest as AG-1 Agricultural District
- property owned by the Utilities Board of the City of Cullman located on Lake George as R-1 Residential District
- property owned by Derek and Jami Nicholas located at 220 County Road 1320 (Friendship Lane) as R-1 Residential District
- approximately 2 acres owned by Forrest and Katie Meigs located on Fromhold Road as R-1 Residential District
- approximately 11 acres owned by Ann Culpepper located on Fromhold Road as AG-1 Agricultural District
- approximately 165 acres owned by Blue Hole, LLC located on Highway 278 West as AG-2 Agricultural District
The council approved the re-appointment of Council President Pro Tem Jenny Folsom to the board overseeing the “Cats 55” PEG station.
The council lastly approved a resolution that will authorize Mayor Woody Jacobs to purchase on behalf of the City a parcel of land connecting Margaret Ingle Park and Field of Miracles.
The Cullman City Council usually meets on the second and fourth Monday nights each month at 7 p.m. in Cullman City Hall Auditorium, with work session at 6:30. The public is invited to attend.
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