By Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
The Town of Pine Level is hoping House Bill 598 will soon move out of committee, go to the Senate and successfully pass. It would allow the new town to annex land up to the Pine Level Exit 186 at I-65 which could allow for future development.
The bill was originally sponsored Rep. Van Smith and co-sponsored by by Representatives Jerry Starnes and Kelvin Lawrence and introduced earlier this month. However, it has stalled for the moment in committee, as Rep. Starnes has not added his signature to the bill.
Pine Level Mayor Zachary Bigley posted this to the town’s social media April 25th, and it has caused quite a bit of controversy, particularly among Pine Level residents who want the annexation to move forward. The Autauga County Commission gave their approval of the annexation.
Legislative Annexation Pine Level
“Dear Pine Level Community,
As the first elected official in our town’s history to face the voters, I am honored to have your trust as your Mayor. One of my primary goals has always been to secure the 186 exit for Pine Level.
To expedite this process, we initiated legislative annexation, targeting the area that includes the Pine Level Volunteer Fire Department’s 2nd station on the south side of I-65, along Highway 31. I’m excited to share that in March, I received a letter from the fire chief requesting their station be annexed into our town!
This exit has the potential to generate significant revenue for Pine Level, funding our roads, parks, volunteer fire department, elementary school, and community events. If we allow this opportunity to slip away, we risk losing that revenue to neighboring municipalities. We are the ones who navigate the traffic on Highway 31 daily; we are the heart of this community.
With an incredible team of volunteers, we had the privilege of engaging with residents, landowners, and business owners in the proposed annexation area. The support from both sides of Highway 31 has been overwhelmingly positive! Leveraging that momentum, we collaborated with our state representative and senator, and I humbly presented our annexation advertising request to the Autauga County Commissioners, who unanimously approved it in accordance with Alabama code.
After fulfilling all requirements and advertising for the necessary four weeks, the local legislative annexation bill HB598 was introduced in the House, co-sponsored by all three state representatives from Autauga County. Once it clears the House, it will head to the Senate, paving the way for Pine Level to finally secure the 186 exit!
However, we’ve encountered a setback. One representative chose to consult with the mayor of another municipality before signing the bill, and unfortunately, that mayor did not support our plans. Consequently, the representative opted not to sign the bill he initially co-sponsored.
Let me clarify: Pine Level respects our neighbors and has no intention of infringing on Prattville’s jurisdiction. Our focus has been solely on our community, working with the 2nd Pine Level Fire Department station.
I’ve been advised to give a courtesy call to Prattville’s Mayor, but I’ve never received one regarding their actions. It seems these unwritten rules apply uniquely to Pine Level’s mayor!
We’re not looking for conflict. This appears to be a power move, especially with elections approaching. Your Pine Level council is dedicated to serving our community for the next four years, regardless of who holds office, as volunteers.
Pine Level has been overlooked and disrespected for too long. I’ve defended our town against disrespect on numerous occasions, and now our future prosperity rests in the hands of a single representative from Prattville. I have heard directly that Prattville has plans for exit 186.
Mr. Starnes is deliberating his decision until Tuesday. I sincerely hope he chooses to support Pine Level. It’s crucial that those who don’t reside in our area do not dictate our future.
I’m asking you to stand with me and let Mr. Starnes know that signing this bill is the right thing to do. If he chooses not to sign, we deserve transparency regarding his decision.
Politics can be challenging, but this situation is unnecessary. If the exit is blocked, it will remain dark and unlit, preventing Pine Level from receiving the full tax revenue that would benefit our community. This is not the future we want for our town!
Let’s give Pine Level the chance to thrive! If you truly support us, prove it by passing this bill!
To respectfully contact Representative Jerry Starnes, please email him at [email protected].”
The Elmore Autauga News reached out to Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie about the issue.
According to Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie, he was unaware of the plan for Pine Level to annex all the way to the Pine Level Exit. He said he talked to Representative Jerry Starnes because he wants to know more about the plan.
“I was not aware of the plan. I asked for a map of the area, but I am very perplexed by the map,” Gillespie said. “I need information to provide to the Council to make them aware. Some of the information that has been put out there is inaccurate. I am just trying to gather the facts and figure out what (Pine Level’s) plans are.”
Gillespie continued, saying, “I have never disrespected or overlooked Pine Level. I have friends in that area. We have sent our first responders there to provide services for fires, ambulances, and accidents many times.”
Gillespie said it is common knowledge that Prattville’s growth would be north. “That has been the talk for decades. But as a city, I am not aware of a plan that says we will come up there and lay a flag or put up a hotel. Professional courtesy works both ways. We have asked for a map. I have talked to Mayor Bigley, and said I need information to provide to the council to make them aware. Some information out there is inaccurate. I am simply trying to gather the facts and figure out what their plans are. I did call the mayor and he returned that call. I wish he would share those plans they have for 186. If I had been made aware of this, (Mayor Bigley) could have explained a lot of this, and cut down on the negative press we are getting. Sometimes the big guy is not always the bad guy. Saying the exit is blocked is not accurate. The exit is not blocked.”
We reached out to Representative Starnes as well, asking for a statement.
He said, “I want to clarify that I have not rescinded my support for Pine Level’s annexation. Throughout this process, I recognized the importance of extending professional courtesy to Mayor Bill Gillespie by informing him about the proposal. In response, he requested time to conduct his due diligence on the matter. Having served on the Prattville City Council for ten years, I have long viewed this annexation as an important step for the City of Prattville. However, during my tenure as a State Representative, the incorporation of the Town of Pine Level has significantly reshaped the landscape of that exit, introducing new considerations into the discussion.”
At issue, is time. If Starnes does not sign the bill, it could very well die this legislative session, and time is running out officials have told us.
We received another statement from Pine Level Mayor Bigley after our first conversation that reads, “If (Starnes) doesn’t sign by Tuesday, it may not have enough time to go through the Senate chamber before this session ends. Representative Starnes stands on the brink of history, poised to be forever etched in the memories of the people of Pine Level as the hero who signed for our success and prosperity for our burgeoning town in Autauga County. When future generations turn to the history books to learn about our town’s founding days, they will find the Rep. Jerry Starnes’ signature on this pivotal bill and it could mark him as the hero of Pine Level’s triumphs.
Conversely, his failure to endorse this measure could cast a shadow over his legacy, branding him as the individual who stifled our growth, denied Pine Level Elementary the funding it desperately needs, and obstructed our fledgling town’s ability to improve the vital infrastructure for the 11,000 residents who rely on Highway 31 daily. May (Starnes) choose to be remembered as the champion of Pine Level when the pages of history are written.”
We have reached out to other officials as well regarding this proposed bill and will add their comments when available.
