City officials are asking for suggestions from the public on what to name the new farmers market and on how the structure should operate, said Jimmy Simms, manager of the farmers market.

The City of Cullman is hosting a public forum at 6 p.m. Thursday at the City Hall Auditorium.

“The purpose of the meeting is really to get input from the people,” Simms said. “More than us to sit down and carry the meeting, we want people to comment on what they want their market to be. That includes hours of operation, days of operation, and what they want their market to accomplish.”

Simms said the 7,200 square-foot timber structure, to be located at the corner of First Avenue and Arnold Street Northeast, is unique in that it will be the largest timber frame structure in Alabama and one of the largest in the southeast. He said interest in the farmers market has been “overwhelming.”

Chorba Contracting Corp. of Guntersville is the general contractor for the project. Southern Timberwrights, also of Guntersville, will build the timber frame structure consisting primarily of Southern Yellow Pine. In conjunction with the construction of the facility, the City of Cullman and Southern Timberwrights will hold a Timber Framing School directed by Mike Goldberg, a timber framer from Atlanta, Ga. with more than 25 years experience, and Emmanuel Benetollo, a timber artisian from Birmingham.

Littrell Brothers Lumber Company in Vinemont is milling timbers for the project.

Simms said the school offers the public an opportunity to learn about timber framing.

“Also, the elements of the market that they will be personally responsible in doing will be a permanent part of the facility.” he said.

Anyone who wants to suggest a name for the farmers market is asked to call 775-7207 or 775-7206. The person making the suggestion is asked to leave their name, address and phone number. Suggestions can also be made at the Municipal Building located at 201 Second Avenue NE, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Suggestions can be e-mailed, along with the person’s name, address and phone number, to jsimms@cullmancity.org. The deadline to suggest a name is Feb. 28.

Simms said city officials want to keep the structure operational throughout the year, hosting at least one event each month.

“We’re referring to the facility as the farmers market, but it’s going to be more than that,” he said. “It’s going to be a farmers market and community pavilion. Our first priority is to farmers, to have a venue for their produce, but this is also going to be a venue for community events like festivals, and hopefully everything from cooking demonstrations to local bands performing.”

Registration forms for the Timber Framing School are available at the Cullman Building Department, in the Municipal Building at 201 Second Avenue NE. Additional information can be obtained by contacting 775-7207 or 775-7206.

The cost of the school is $295 daily. The school will be held March 8-10, and will include classroom instruction from 6 to 9 p.m. the first day, followed by three days of on-site labor from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.