The pace of governmental action is slow, but as a new year begins there is much optimism about the city of Cullman's agenda for 2006. Here's what Mayor Don Green had to say in a quick, off-the-cuff visit last week:

Highway 278 from the central business district to Interstate 65: New gateway already exceeding expectations. Good traffic flow. Will be even better when trees, shrubs and flowers are added. New sidewalks will go from West Elementary to Smith Farms on north side, from the school to Cullman County Health Department on south side. Efforts to camouflage some existing property will be pursued.

Highway 278 from the central business district west: Grant money committed to design study. Highways monies available for land acquisition. State highway department director likes the city-county unified approach.

Ingle Park: Phase One of the expansion (Field of Miracles and three ballparks) moving along nicely. Funds from rental tax won't be sufficient to fund the entire project. Phase Two (aquatic center) remains important and must be pursued. Phase Three (wellness center) needs further study and is now questionable. Private sector may be adequately serving those needs.

Main Avenue: Busier than ever. Ingle expansion, new medical complex, fast food restaurant now under construction, and increased 278 use creating heavy traffic. Engineering company taking a look. Most of right of way for four-laning has already been acquired. Hope is that once crews finish the Cleveland-Graham work, they can move to widening project. Goal of starting by year's end not unreasonable.

City band: More than 100 musicians expressed interest. Practice sessions at Cullman High band room under way. Director Robert Bean has 60 regulars. First concert could be late January or early February.

Consolidated jail: Working well from city's point of view.

St. Joseph Road: Has helped Highway 157 traffic some and is working well. Continued development, however, keeps 157 crowded. County considering opening Commerce Street on which the Cullman mental health facility is located.

City planner: Council should authorize hiring procedure to be formalized at its Monday meeting. Some applications have already been received. Emphasis on urban planning development and municipal planning experience will restrict flow of possible applicants.

Downtown revitalization: Two specific needs. One is a comprehensive plan. The other is actual interest of downtown property owners, tenants and developers. A recent meeting attracted less than 10 people and few of those who did attend were actual merchants or property owners.

Farmers' Market: On schedule for this calendar year. Metal buildings north of the Warehouse District will be torn down. Street and sanitation departments will handle ground preparation. Promise of private development monies ($50,000) seems secure. Multi-purpose design with catering kitchen and restroom facilities still most popular concept.

Greif Brothers site: Once acquired (and both the company and the city want that to happen), city wants to consolidate water, sewer, street, sanitation and garage functions into that single location on Second Ave. SE. Use of existing cannery portion of the complex as a base for fine arts activities is another consideration. Delay caused by property conflict with CSX Railroad. Project inching forward.

Police Department: Looking for a new home after federal guidelines rejected long-term use of old post office that now is home to city school system. Greif Brothers site a possibility. Patrol units now operating out of Rosemont Apartments' housing authority building in a situation that appears good for all parties.

Third fire station: Recent study indicates need for third station not the emergency originally thought, though some disagreement seems apparent regarding its priority status. Immediate attention seems to be focused on Station No. 2 (near post office). Modern trucks are longer and larger, causing garage concerns. Living quarters need to be improved. Tearing the station down and building a new one in the same vicinity has apparent council support.

Fire Chief: Mike Hackney continues to function as an interim. Regional search for permanent chief likely in first quarter of the year. Local candidates will be welcome. Department running well under Hackney.

Blue Laws: Allowing more flexibility for stores to operate on Sunday has become a non-issue. Some stores are open longer; others are unchanged; having the flexibility seems a palatable option.

Smoking Ordinance: Compromise that provided options for local businesses to declare smoking or non-smoking is working better than expected. Even those opposed – both asides – seem pleased.

Duck River: Still waiting to be permitted. Sense of urgency for more water has eased. Projection that city would need 30 million more gallons by 2050 has been reduced to 15 million. Looking at other options as well as Duck River.

BRAC (Pentagon Base Realignment and Closure): More than 10,000 jobs (government and private) will be relocated to Huntsville's Redstone Arsenal. City, chamber and county are working to develop a plan that touts the advantages of living in Cullman County and commuting to the site. First presentations will be made Tuesday in Virginia.

Though the mayor and council don't always agree on projects and priorities, there is no doubting the Cullman agenda is one of diversity, one that rivals the slow process of moving a battleship and one that shares the need for both vision and action.

Maybe in a non-city political year, government here can move at a quicker pace.

• Ed Darling is the publisher of The Cullman Times. His column appears on Sundays.