CULLMAN —

Mayors and officials representing Cullman County municipalities gathered Friday at the All-Steak to trade stories of happenings in their respective towns. The meeting marked the 6th annual Cullman County State of the Towns luncheon, hosted by the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce.

The event affords town officials the opportunity to update their peers in municipal public service on issues facing their communities, as well as boast a little on successes great and small.



Good Hope

Good Hope Mayor Corey Harbison saved the biggest issue concerning the 2,100-person town for the last part of his address, injecting a little humor into discussion of the wet-dry issue.

“I know what everybody’s looking at me and expecting me to talk about,” said Harbison to a roomful of laughter.

“The issue of holding an alcohol sales referendum was brought up at our last council meeting; we were presented a petition and we are going to be looking at putting that on the ballot,” he said. “We haven’t met since the petition was presented, so we haven’t set the exact date for a special election, but that is something that will be coming up in our town.”

Harbison also updated the group on a variety of activities and issues Good Hope and its residents face, including the prospect of increasing sewer rates, pursuing a combination of grants and rate revenue increases to improve facilities at the city’s treatment plant, and updating recreational equipment and facilities.

With the implementation of a new city web site, www.goodhopeal.gov, the city is also in the process of making ordinances, police reports, meeting minutes and community activities available online anytime, the mayor noted.



Hanceville

Hanceville council member JoAnn Walls spoke on behalf of Mayor Kenneth Nail, who was in Kentucky Friday checking on possible equipment upgrades for the city’s water treatment system.

“He and our water board co-chairman are in Lexington looking at some equipment that would help refurbish our sewer system,” said Walls. “We’re really proud of the fact that our water board and our city are working together to move forward.”

Walls also used humor as she briefed the crowd on the city’s upcoming wet-dry referendum, saying the city has been open and inviting of public input and debate on it and other issues. 

“Since mayor Nail took over, Hanceville has been operating under an open-door policy. And with an open-door policy and a wet-dry referendum coming up soon, you can imagine the kind of ‘fun’ we’re having at the city hall,” joked Walls.

Other highlights of Walls’ update featured the new Hanceville Recreation & Wellness Center; the city’s monthly Old-Time Bluegrass Festival; the announcement of two new businesses intending to locate in the city. One, a CVS pharmacy, will be located on the northwest corner of the intersection of U.S. Highway 31 and AL Highway 91; the other, a convenience store, will be on Highway 91 East. By



Baileyton

“I have been blessed,” said Baileyton Mayor Johnny Dyar.

Dyar gave a good report of his town at the annual chamber luncheon.

He discussed  two on-going projects the town is working on.

“We are trying to re-do our walking trails in the park and make a play ground that will be handicap accessible,” he said.

They are also planning on building a new 30 foot-by 30 foot concession stand at the town park.

Another project the town is hoping to soon accomplish is building a new senior center.

Dyar said the current building is constantly at capacity.

Plans call for a brick 100-foot by 60-foot wide building with handicap accessible restrooms, an office area, storage closet, spacious kitchen, large stage, three exits, nine windows and double front doors at the entrance. It will be located across from the town hall on Firestation Road.

The center currently has about 60 seniors attending weekly gatherings.

“There is one year they don’t want to here and that’s later,” Dyar said of the seniors who want a new center. “We are going to build them one.”

Dyar said he is proud of his town.

“With the help of officials, we have been blessed and if you know a way we can get some money, we appreciate it.”



Colony

Colony Mayor Morris Fitts admitted there are problems in his town, but he is willing to do all he can to help fix it.

“I was new and I’m still learning and I have a long way to go,” he said. “If we bring people together, we can do anything.”

He has a few main goals for his town.

“I am asking God to get myself right and work together with the council,” he said. “If we as leaders get together, we can do it.”

Fitts also wants to get the town finances in order.

The town is also without a town clerk and Fitts said he wants to find one soon.

“We already had four and we don’t need that,” he said. “We are in a bad situation, on paper, it looks bad. We can work anything out.”

He thanked all the other mayors and leaders for their continued support.

“They are ready to help us,” he said. “All I need is a jump start, I don’t ask for a handout. Once we get working together and have fun...we can do this, I know we can.”



Fairview

Randall Shedd has been serving as mayor of Fairview since 1996 and since that time, they town has been trying to get something done about the intersection of Hwy. 69 and Wesley Avenue. He said work is currently on-going.

“We look forward to it being complete,” he said.

The town has also been working on plans for the town park for many years.

The 20-year plan for the Fairview Community Park is making updates and renovations on the park including a senior center, library, town hall, walking trails, new ball fields and much more.



Garden City

Harden Davis, mayor of Garden City since 2003, gave an update on his town’s recent improvements.

The town is working on River Park located on the Mulberry River and finishing up storm shelters.

“Our storm shelter is one of our first priorities we are working on,” he said.

He said they will also be repairing some streets and planting trees and shrubbery around the town.

River Park received damage months ago in flooding and they are still making repairs.

Davis also said the town is looking at purchasing new playground equipment for the park in town.

“We are looking ahead to replacing some old water lines and working on our community center,” he said.

The town is planning the annual Spring Clean-Up in April.



West Point

Kenneth Kilgo has served as mayor of West Point since 2006. Since his time, he has seen many improvements in the town.

“Public service has been my life,” he said.

Kilgo said the town has accomplished a lot in the past few years but he has plans for much more.

This past year, the town completed the sanitary sewer system project and welcomed Jack’s Family Restaurant into the community.

“We finally got the sewer system to fruition,” he said.

They also upgrading sidewalks throughout the town and near the school and widened the road in front of the school.

Now, Kilgo is looking to build a town municipal complex on Hwy. 157 in the old Doris Diner location. The town already owns the land and just needs to secure the funds for the project. The town hall would relocated to the new location.

“We are trying to get funds for that and want to turn our town hall into a full time senior center,” Kilgo said.

The town is hoping to make upgrades and expansions to the town park, to secure a USDA 319 Grant Erosion Prevention Farmland Protection grant and hope to secure 2.5 million to expand the sewer system down Hwy. 157 for future growth to the town.



Vinemont

Vinemont Mayor Melba Patton is proud of the community she lives in and is excited for the future growth.

Since her first term as mayor 14 years ago, she has seen a lot of growth in town including walking trails added at the town park, a red light added in the town and she has seen the infrastructure grow.

“We have plans to accomplishment quite a bit more,” she said.

Currently the town is working on the new municipal park.

The park is located on Hwy. 31 North, just north of the Vinemont Post Office. The 32.5 acres of land owned by the town, has been cleared off and the land is marked where the fields and concession stand will be.

Plans call for five baseball/softball fields, concession stand with restrooms and 240 parking spaces. Patton and town officials have been planning the project for the past 12 years and Patton is excited to see more work being done.

“Anything worth while takes time,” she said. “It will be built for school children and for people past school age.”

She said the wait now is for the land to dry so heavy equipment will be able to start work.

Patton also discussed the town jam session which they do the first Friday of the month at the scout center form 6-10 p.m.

“It’s a great program,” she said.

Country, bluegrass and gospel music is performed by local musicians.

“Anybody that wants to come participate, can,” she said. “It is strictly for the people to enjoy.”



Holly Pond

Herman Nail, Mayor of Holly Pond did not mention the Wednesday announcement regarding the town’s VF Jeanswear plant. The local distribution center will shut its doors on April 30, after more than 25 years of operation. Approximately 150 jobs will  be lost.

Nail instead focused on the positives in the community. He announced they will begin on the library and museum project soon in memory of former governor Guy Hunt.

“Presently, the town of Holly Pond doesn’t have a public library,” he said. “The town council has tried to rectify this situation.”

The town has already purchased property and begun clearing it. It is located at 456 New Hope Road in Holly Pond, in front of the ball park. The 1.5 acre plot was bought for $68,000 in October of last year.

“This will allow our citizens to have information and state history,” Nail said.

Nail said this will not only impact his town, but the entire county.

“We believe we will have increased tourist attractions to our town and to Cullman County.”

The town has received a loan to begin the project.

“The loan will not cover everything,” he said. “We ask for your help. We believe this will be good for our town and for Cullman County.”

Nail also gave an update on improvements to the park and senior center.



* Dodge City mayor Tawana Canada was unable to attend the meeting.



*  Tiffany Green can be reached by e-mail at tgreen@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220. Benjamin Bullard can be reached by e-mail at bbullard@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 270.