Irondale Mayor James Stewart shares optimistic vision for the future in State of the City address
IRONDALE, Ala. (TRIBUNE) – Irondale Mayor James D. Stewart, Jr. shared stories of past success and a vision for the future during his State of the City address last week at Church of the Highlands.
Terry Schrimscher of the Trussville Tribune reported that Stewart shared his optimism with the crowd, saying he is thankful he didn't listen to many of the detractors who spoke out when he first ran for office.
'I never thought in my wildest dreams that we would be able to achieve so many things,' Stewart said. 'But somewhere I heard, attempt to do something that is so big that if God is not a part of it, it's doomed to fail.'
Stewart turned to the screens to show photos of many of the city's accomplishments over the last year including the new dog park, new sports complex, and new library that is currently under construction. He also touched on the city's projected budget surplus for the year.
Along with the past accomplishments, he also showed a few future plans for the city including a new Irondale City Hall being built on Crestwood Blvd. and the new Irondale Civic Center, which is being converted from the old Zamora Temple. He even showed off plans for a sculpture for the center of the roundabout connecting Old Leeds Road and Grants Mill Road.
In a crowd of city leaders, media, business owners, and citizens, Stewart gave much of the credit to Irondale's employees and business partners. Speaking to the Tribune, he praised the city's employees for their hard work and their sense of teamwork.
'At the end of the day, our team is just built different. We're like a family here, and we all collaborate and communicate—from public works to the fire department to the revenue office,' Stewart said. 'We build each other up as a team and that allows us to provide the citizens of Irondale with the best services a city can offer.'
One future Irondale business owner shared with The Tribune how impressed he was with the city's enthusiasm toward attracting business and jobs to the city.
'When looking for a place to build our new beekeeping store, we continued to hear comments about how Irondale was doing great things,' said Adam Hickman, founder of Foxhound Bee Company, which plans to open in Irondale later this year.
'Everyone on the project seemed to speak highly of working with Irondale and its leadership. So, when we approached the city to discuss our project, we learned the rumors were true. Within days of our request, we were able to meet with the Mayor and his whole team to pitch our project.'
He continued, 'Emma Tolbert, their public relations director, has been eager to promote our business however she could. The whole city, from the building inspector to the Mayor, is ready to do business, and we couldn't be happier to work with them.'
Foxhound Bee Company is expanding into Irondale from downtown Birmingham and has purchased several warehouses and 1 1/2 acres to develop its new Beekeeping and Pollination Education Center.
'The new facility will be a destination for beekeepers and the general public who want to learn more about how to become a beekeeper and what pollinators do for us,' Hickman said. 'We will even host events where we can do team-building events for groups by setting up and opening some hives.'
Stewart told The Tribune he understands criticism and relies on his faith and his team to stay the course.
'Our city's team is growing, and with that growth, challenges come. In the past several months, we've added three new departments—dispatch, public relations, and parks & recreation,' Stewart said.
'We're growing to be able to execute the plan that our citizens laid out for us with Blueprint Irondale. We know that as long as we stay focused on open communication with our team and our citizens, and we trust in God, we're going to be able to handle whatever comes our way.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon faces potential $9.8 million fine for improperly accepting campaign cash
State election officials have informed Senate President Don Harmon that he will face more than $9.8 million in penalties pending an appeal of a case alleging he broke an Illinois election law designed to rein in big money in political campaigns. The calculation of the potential penalty emerged only days after the Oak Park Democrat attempted to pass legislation designed to wipe away the election board case and the potential penalties, a maneuver stymied amid bipartisan backlash only hours before the spring session adjourned early June 1. The developments take on an added political dimension because of the looming federal sentencing on Friday of former Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan in the bribery-related ComEd scandal. In a letter dated June 5, the Illinois State Board of Elections told Harmon's campaign committee it must pay more than $9.8 million within 30 days unless an appeal is filed. The Harmon campaign has already filed a notification that it plans to appeal, and Harmon has said he 'fully complied with the law.' On Tuesday, Harmon's political spokesman, Tom Bowen, said Harmon has supported every campaign finance reform that has passed the legislature and has 'always prioritized the highest ethical standards.' 'Our committee has filed a response to the Board of Elections that we do not agree with their assessment,' Bowen said in an emailed statement. 'We look forward to our opportunity to resolve this matter.' Following a Tribune inquiry about Harmon's fundraising, election board officials notified Harmon in March that he had accepted more than $4 million in campaign contributions over the amount allowed under campaign finance restrictions he championed years ago that limit the size of political contributions. The board arrived at the $9.8 million figure based on two provisions in the law. The first would require Harmon's political fund to send to the state's operating fund an amount equal to the more than $4 million his campaign fund collected over the limit. The board also computed a nearly $5.8 million fine based on 150% of the amount the board determined Harmon overcollected. The board said it took into account a provision in the law that allowed for a couple of reductions for the first two violations among the dozens of excessive contributions in question. It's still uncertain how precarious this situation is for Harmon and his campaign fund. Politicians frequently challenge the board, and negotiations can result in final fines that are a fraction of the potential fine. If Harmon wins the appeal, he could wind up paying nothing. In a Tribune interview last week, Harmon also defended his eleventh-hour attempt to change state law with a clause that could have eliminated his elections board dispute and potential fine. He said the language he sought to insert in the statute was 'existing law' and his measure was an effort to clarify the issue. But that is Harmon's interpretation of 'existing law,' not that of elections board officials. At the heart of the disagreement between Harmon and election officials is a loophole in state campaign finance law. It allows politicians to collect contributions above state limits if any candidate in the race in which they are running — themselves or an opponent — reports reaching a 'self-funding threshold' in which they have given or loaned their campaign funds more than $250,000 for statewide races and more than $100,000 in races for the state legislature or local offices. In 2023, Harmon gave his state Senate campaign committee more than $100,000 to open the loophole for the 2024 campaign season, even though he was not running for office last year. In campaign paperwork, Harmon indicated he thought the move allowed him to collect unlimited cash through the November 2024 election cycle. But board officials informed him that the loophole would only be open through the March 2024 primary, meaning they viewed the campaign cash Harmon collected above campaign restrictions between March and the end of the year was not allowed.


Chicago Tribune
12 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon faces potential $9.8 million fine for improperly accepting campaign cash
State election officials have informed Senate President Don Harmon that he will face more than $9.8 million in penalties pending an appeal of a case alleging he broke an Illinois election law designed to rein in big money in political campaigns. The calculation of the potential penalty emerged only days after the Oak Park Democrat attempted to pass legislation designed to wipe away the election board case and the potential penalties, a maneuver stymied amid bipartisan backlash only hours before the spring session adjourned early June 1. The developments take on an added political dimension because of the looming federal sentencing on Friday of former Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan in the bribery-related ComEd scandal. In a letter dated June 5, the Illinois State Board of Elections told Harmon's campaign committee it must pay more than $9.8 million within 30 days unless an appeal is filed. The Harmon campaign has already filed a notification that it plans to appeal, and Harmon has said he 'fully complied with the law.' On Tuesday, Harmon's political spokesman, Tom Bowen, said Harmon has supported every campaign finance reform that has passed the legislature and has 'always prioritized the highest ethical standards.' 'Our committee has filed a response to the Board of Elections that we do not agree with their assessment,' Bowen said in an emailed statement. 'We look forward to our opportunity to resolve this matter.' Following a Tribune inquiry about Harmon's fundraising, election board officials notified Harmon in March that he had accepted more than $4 million in campaign contributions over the amount allowed under campaign finance restrictions he championed years ago that limit the size of political contributions. The board arrived at the $9.8 million figure based on two provisions in the law. The first would require Harmon's political fund to send to the state's operating fund an amount equal to the more than $4 million his campaign fund collected over the limit. The board also computed a nearly $5.8 million fine based on 150% of the amount the board determined Harmon overcollected. The board said it took into account a provision in the law that allowed for a couple of reductions for the first two violations among the dozens of excessive contributions in question. It's still uncertain how precarious this situation is for Harmon and his campaign fund. Politicians frequently challenge the board, and negotiations can result in final fines that are a fraction of the potential fine. If Harmon wins the appeal, he could wind up paying nothing. In a Tribune interview last week, Harmon also defended his eleventh-hour attempt to change state law with a clause that could have eliminated his elections board dispute and potential fine. He said the language he sought to insert in the statute was 'existing law' and his measure was an effort to clarify the issue. But that is Harmon's interpretation of 'existing law,' not that of elections board officials. At the heart of the disagreement between Harmon and election officials is a loophole in state campaign finance law. It allows politicians to collect contributions above state limits if any candidate in the race in which they are running — themselves or an opponent — reports reaching a 'self-funding threshold' in which they have given or loaned their campaign funds more than $250,000 for statewide races and more than $100,000 in races for the state legislature or local offices. In 2023, Harmon gave his state Senate campaign committee more than $100,000 to open the loophole for the 2024 campaign season, even though he was not running for office last year. In campaign paperwork, Harmon indicated he thought the move allowed him to collect unlimited cash through the November 2024 election cycle. But board officials informed him that the loophole would only be open through the March 2024 primary, meaning they viewed the campaign cash Harmon collected above campaign restrictions between March and the end of the year was not allowed.


Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Today in Chicago History: Tribune announces contest to build ‘world's most beautiful office building'
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on June 10, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) 175 years of the Chicago Tribune: How the newsroom — and city — has evolved since June 10, 18471847: The first copy of the Tribune was published, but no copies of that original exist. They were lost in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. 1922: The Tribune Tower design competition was announced as part of the newspaper's 75th birthday celebration. In the words of co-publishers Robert R. McCormick and Joseph Patterson, it was to be 'the world's most beautiful office building.' They offered $100,000 in prize money. First prize of $50,000 went to New York architects Raymond Hood and John Mead Howells, who designed a soaring Gothic skyscraper with a spectacular topside treatment. 1961: Bill Veeck, who bought the team in 1959, sold his Chicago White Sox holdings to Arthur Allyn Jr. Veeck returned as owner in 1975. The Rolling Stones in Chicago: A timeline of the band's 55-year fascination with the city's blues1964: The Rolling Stones recorded in the United States for the first time, at Chess Records studios in Chicago. 1971: RJ Grunts — the first restaurant from Lettuce Entertain You — opened at 2056 Lincoln Park W., Chicago. Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises: How the Tribune reviewed 50 years of the restaurant group's concept debuts'That might have been one of the worst restaurant names of all time,' Rich Melman, co-founder and chairman of the board of Lettuce Entertain You, told the Tribune in 2021. 'R was for Richard and J was for Jerry. He had a girlfriend Debbie, who was terrific, and her nickname was Piggy. She used to make these guttural sounds when she ate. That's where the name came from, the R and the J and the sound pigs make grunting.' Also in 1971: Ten people were killed and more than 100 injured when Amtrak's southbound City of New Orleans passenger train derailed near downstate Salem. 5 things you might not know about Chicago native Ted Kaczynski — the 'Unabomber'1980: 'Unabomber' Ted Kaczynski struck again. Percy A. Wood, United Airlines president and chief operating officer, was injured after opening a book inside a package that had been left in his mailbox at his Lake Forest home. He suffered burns and lacerations to his face, body, left hand and left leg. In a coded entry in his journal dated Sept. 15, 1980, Kaczynski wrote, 'After complicated preparation I succeeded IN INJURING THE PRES. OF UNITED A.L. BUT HE WAS ONLY ONE OF A VAST ARMY OF PEEPLE WHO directly and indirectly are responsible for the JETS.' 2016: There was fear that Lionel Messi wouldn't play in the Copa América Group D match against Panama at Soldier Field because of a lower back injury. So when he entered during the 61st minute, the crowd erupted in cheers. 'Every time he touched the ball, it was hard to hear yourself think,' the Tribune reported. Vintage Chicago Tribune: Pelé, Hamm, Beckham, Rapinoe, Messi and more. When soccer's big names came to playSeven minutes later, Messi had his first goal for Argentina. Two more followed, for a hat trick, during his short appearance. Argentina won and advanced to the quarterfinals. Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past.