Local officials give updates

By Brittany Woodby

Local officials shared some accomplishments of 2007 and their concerns and goals for 2008 at the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce’s Fourth Friday luncheon and fourth-annual State of the County and State of the City addresses.

Both Cullman Mayor Donald Green and Cullman County Commission Chairman Wiley Kitchens said they hope to start the new year off with an increase in communication between the two municipalities and see teamwork as being increasingly important in resolving present issues.

“(In response to Chairman Kitchens) He and I discussed before the meeting that we don’t know why we are separated, because we really are friends,” Green said. “I think that’s an important thing to know. Each of us ought to think about the fact we can disagree on things but still be friends. I think too many people have the wrong attitude about that.”

Green said while he disagrees with Kitchens on some things, the two remain amiable and will continue to work together to resolve the problems effecting both city and county residents. In particular, Green mentioned the area’s impending need for an additional long-term water source.

“The ongoing drought has raised awareness of the need for us to pursue an additional supply (of water) for our future,” he said.

Green said the city’s hired engineering firm still stands behind the prospect of building a reservoir on Duck River, a proposal initially made 15 years ago. Since that time, the county announced its intent to build a pipeline from the Tennessee River to bring water to county water customers. Green said the city submitted the latest figures on the Duck River project, completed just last week, to the county’s hired engineering firm for review. He said the intent is to find a solution both the city and the county can work together on.

“It is imperative that we develop a plan that we can all buy into,” he said. “Future economics will dictate there are things in the future that we must do together because we don’t have a choice. I believe (finding) a long term source of water is something we must do together.”

In addition to water, Green said the city’s and county’s shared interest in parks and recreation has marked several successes for the area over the last year.

“Most of you don’t realize, but we do,” he said. “There’s been plenty of research that supports that park and recreation programs reduce the cost of policing. We especially appreciate the work you’ve (county) done on Sportsman’s Lake as many of our city residents walk down there.”

Green said the city has made extensive strides in its parks and recreation program with the completion in 2007 of the Field of Miracles, one of only two recreational complexes in the state featuring a rubberized walking surface to promote handicap accessibility. He also said the city is celebrating success with the Wellness and Aquatic Center, which began construction in November. The $14.5 million-complex should be completed and open to the public in the spring of 2009.

Kitchens said the county has also made significant improvements to its parks, including renovations to Smith Lake Park and Sportsman’s Lake Park. Kitchens said in the upcoming year he hopes to secure a tank from the U.S. government to display at Sportsman’s Lake. However, Kitchens said one of the most significant accomplishments in the county’s parks department is the construction of a 1,500-acre OHV park.

“This will be the only one of its type in Alabama,” he said. “We feel like this will really escalate and people from across America will come to Cullman County and spend their moneys here.”

Both Green and Kitchens said several municipal buildings received upgrades. The city refurbished its fire station No. 1 with state-of-the art technology and is currently in the process of designing and preparing to build a new fire station by Heritage Park. Last fall, the city council voted to enter into a lease-to-purchase agreement with Grief Bros., Inc. for property near Depot Park where the city intends to create a centralized department complex.

Kitchens said the county commission recently voted to sign a $6 million bond issue for the construction of a building for the Department of Human Resources and is waiting for the governor to sign the contract.

He said the county’s water department and emergency management agency should be moved into a new building fitted with the latest in technology by late July.

Kitchens said county officials made a mistake last year when building a new facility to house the Cullman Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS).

“We had a grant of somewhere around $150,000. Unfortunately, that grant did not really cover all the expenses,” he said. “We really allowed these things to go on. We spent about $45,000 to $50,000 in additional funds and I really have to take the blame for this because we really did not keep on top of these things. I think the mayor will tell you, as well as anyone else, that if you don’t really watch what’s going on you can allow a lot of things to get out of hand.”