Garden City Mayor Tim Eskew says his town has been busy with many projects, including installing more than a mile of new water lines.

Cullman County and mayors representing its 11 municipalities said an uncommon camaraderie among elected officials is the driving force of economic and community progress at the “State of the Community” address Thursday night.

The Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce’s  governmental affairs committee hosted the event at TP Country Club. Elected officials from the county and each of the municipalities — Baileyton, Colony, Cullman, Dodge City, Fairview, Garden City, Good Hope, Hanceville, Holly Pond, South Vinemont and West Point — were invited to share information about their cities and towns with chamber members and the business community.

Cullman County Associate Commissioner Darrell Hicks said this past year was very productive due in large part to the county, city of Cullman and other municipalities working together. A good example of that cooperation was how officials devised a way to come up with $2 million in matching funds for the planned County Road 222 interchange at Interstate 65, Hicks said.

“The county couldn’t afford it, and neither could the cities of Cullman or Good Hope or the chamber alone,” he said. “So we sat down for a historic meeting and agreed to finance it together so it wouldn’t be a financial burden on any one group.”

Hick said the county was fortunate to be rewarded all but one of the ATRIP (Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program) road projects it submitted. Cherrie Haney, interim director of the Cullman County Economic Development office worked to get the county a $1.25 million grant to cover the remaining road project, he said. The ATRIP projects will amount to almost 70 miles of paved roads and $12 million, making it potentially the largest road spending in Cullman County history, Hicks said.

“We can accomplish most anything by all of us, all our communities, working together,” he said.

Holly Pond Mayor Herman Nail said although his town only has three employees, they always “buckle down and get the job done.” Holly Pond currently has 28 businesses, but later this year, another company will be opening up shop. Last summer, HessAire purchased the former VF Jeanswear facility that operated in Holly Pond for more than 25 years and employed 150 before it closed in 2010. The company plans to open a new manufacturing plant inside the building and employ 50  with the help of a $1.7 million property tax abatement from Holly Pond and Cullman County. Nail said it will be an asset for not only Holly Pond, but for the county and the state.

A new medical clinic is also saving residents from having to drive to Cullman. Nail said the town has renovated the park behind town hall, and it has new lighting, making it walker friendly. Holly Pond was also awarded a combined $313,000 in no-match grants from the Alabama Department of Environmental Agency and Tennessee Valley Authority to install energy efficient motors at the waste water treatment plant, he said.

West Point Mayor Kenneth Kilgo said Cullman County and its municipalities have “visionary leaders that stick together.” He praised the county’s unique tax structure where a portion of the city of Cullman’s sales tax is split among the county’s 11 municipalities.

“It’s the most conducive of cooperation,” Kilgo said.

His top three priorities for the town are community safety, infrastructure and annexation. He pointed to West Point’s population doubling between 2000 to 2010 thanks to aggressive annexation. Kilgo said he was proud $159,000 in sewer improvements were paid off in less than three years.  County Road 1242, a gateway into town, has been repaved, and two new storm shelters have been installed.

Next up is a new volunteer fire station and the completion of the forthcoming Magnet Paints facility on CR-1246, Kilgo said. The company may relocate its headquarters from New York to West Point, and the town hopes to bring the Civil War Museum and Crooked Creek Civil War battlefield into its limits, he said.

Good Hope Mayor Corey Harbison recounted several projects and new businesses coming to his city, including using FEMA funds for two new storm shelters and $1 million in ATRIP money to replace the bridge on Beech Grove Road, a connector road to Dodge City. Work on the road project could get underway this summer, and traffic will be detoured, Harbison said.

Good Hope is also working on converting a portion of the old egg plant into a sheriff’s substation while plans are in the works to turn the city’s old cotton gin into a restaurant. A project to extend sewer lines along Lindsey Road, paid for with a $250,000 Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) grant, is nearly complete.

A new pharmacy and urgent care office is coming to town along with James R. Smith Trucking Co. and the new Wilco Hess travel center which will include a Wendy’s fast food restaurant. Harbison also announced plans for another potential retail project, Harris Shopping Center, near I-65.

Fairview City Councilman Eric Laney filled in for Mayor Dale Seals at Thursday night’s event and spoke about two upcoming road projects and new grants for the town’s ball park. A new pharmacy is moving into Hopper’s Grocery Store, and the new Fairview Feed Store just started doing business behind town hall.

“And soon, Fairview will have something in common with West Point when Brandin’ Iron opens their new steakhouse in our town,” Laney said.

Fairview is also making plans to build a new community center and town hall, Laney said.

Hanceville Mayor Kenneth Nail had kind words for his fellow mayors, saying he wished he could take the best characteristics out of each for himself. He said his philosophy as mayor is to look for ways to help Hanceville’s citizens. He pointed to nearly $6 million in upgrades to the city’s maligned sewer system and a recent $133,000 grant the city received to expand its sidewalks. Hanceville also touts the first and only Dollar General fuel station while O’Reilly Auto Parts plans to open next month, Nail said. Kennedy Galvanizing’s $3 million investment into the city has created 35 jobs while other businesses are generating revenue. The city has also expanded walking trails from its schools to Veterans park and demolished nine homes which were eyesores for the neighborhood, Nail said.

South Vinemont Mayor Melba Patton said while her town may be one of the smallest, she believes its residents’ are its number one asset. She’s looking forward to the completion of the new sports complex this summer, which includes four ballfields and a 3-story concession stand. ATRIP money is going to be used to build a lane going into the sports complex. She also thanked her council for being supportive and productive.

“They misspelled mayor. It should be servant. Because we’re elected to serve the people,” Patton said.

 

Garden City Mayor Tim Eskew said his town has been busy with a slew of projects, including putting a $350,000 grant to work by installing more than a mile of new water lines. The project has resulted in water loss dropping from 28 percent to 13 percent, he said. Three streets have been repaved and three others patched while nine firefighters have recently been provided with new turnout gear. One area of concern, however is the dwindling number of businesses in town, but Eskew said he was hopeful that trend is turning around. Two new businesses are coming to Garden City.

“One has already moved in, and we’ve got to find a building for the other,” he said. “They both were after the same building.”

Eskew, who elected in 2012, thanked his fellow mayors for their support and guidance over the past year.

Baileyton Mayor Johnny Dyar will be passing on his chairman seat of the Cullman County Mayors’ Association to Hanceville Mayor Kenneth Nail this year. Dyar said serving in the position has been an honor. Known as an ardent supporter of seniors, Dyar said he was proud of Baileyton’s new senior center and new fire station. Another point of pride is the town’s improved walking trails. Dyar said the trails, bathrooms and playground are all now handicap accessible. A new storm shelter, health clinic and expanded internet coverage are also benefiting Baileyton residents, Dyar said.

In Cullman Mayor Max Townson’s address, he urged residents who thought 2013 was a banner year for the city to “get ready for 2014.” Comparing the area to a boomtown, he said new restaurants and grocery stores will be on tap this year.

“I go back to the tornado, and it’s almost like Cullman is a phoenix rising,” Townson said. “We’re getting new industry and new jobs.”

He’s optimistic the city’s first-quarter revenue — accounting for the months October through December — could come in slightly above projections. Another positive indicator of the health of the local economy is the recent unemployment rate of 4.7 percent for Cullman County.

“People need four things in life: food, clothing, shelter and a job,” he said. “Our economic development office is making sure we have that.”

Townson also cited the city’s AA- bond rating, among the highest in the state. And while he wasn’t pleased with costs escalating on the Duck River Dam, Townson said he believed the project is necessary for” future generations to continue to flourish and prosper.”

The city and county has made strides to improve the Cullman Regional Airport since it is the first impression for visiting industries and retail business. Townson is also looking forward to a refurbished Cullman Shopping Center with work getting underway this year, and this summer’s Rock the South concert. He praised the city’s parks and recreations department and the recent downtown streetscape project which has illuminated U.S. 31 with new decorative street lamps. ATRIP funds will also be spent to replace bridges on Eva Road and Larkwood Drive, which was in particularly bad shape with a 14 out of 100 rating.

Dodge City Mayor Tawana Canada and Colony Mayor Vernon Fields did not attend Thursday’s event.

Tiffeny Owens can be reached by email at towens@cullmantimes.com or by phone at 256-734-2131, ext. 135.