By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



As the national recession continues to hit cities across Jefferson County, Fultondale has been seemingly lucky, according to city leaders.

In his annual State of the City address Thursday morning, Mayor Jim Lowery said the city would continue to be “prudent and conservative” in matters related to its $9 million budget expenditures.

Speaking before residents and members of the Fultondale Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the event, Lowery outlined strides the city made in 2008 while previewing plans for 2009. The theme of the mayor’s presentation was “Progress You Can Believe In.”

Lowery and Councilman Joe Bolton, who also serves as the chairman of the city’s financial committee, said the Colonial Promenade shopping center continues to be profitable for the city. Bolton said three of the center’s biggest stores — Target, JC Penney and Best Buy — have not fared as bad during the recession as competing retailers like Circuit City, which recently announced it will shutter all its stores.

“Our financial outlook is as strong as it’s ever been,” Bolton said. “The store we’ve been able to get, they’re at the upper end of retail stores.”

While Bolton and Lowery said the city remains on sound financial footing, they did reveal some cutbacks, citing economic concerns. Those cutbacks will come in the form of delayed projects, including a new middle school, convention center, library and public safety building.

Bolton said to begin work on those projects would require relying on a bond market he described as “non-existent.” However, he said delaying the larger projects will allow the city to build a municipal reserve, which the city had been unable to do prior to the influx of tax revenue from new retailers.

However, Lowery said residents may have to be satisfied with the 1 million square feet of retail development in the city, for now at least. The mayor said the city had no intentions of purchasing vacant property in hopes of landing a retail development.

“We took chances, but don’t expect this group to step out there like that again,” he said. “We’re going to hunker down and reap the benefits of what we sowed until this recession or depression is over.”

Elsewhere in his speech, Lowery outlined quality of life initiatives with added attention to the public safety sector. The mayor praised the city’s police and fire department personnel for their level of professionalism and training.

“We’ve built departments that I would be happy to go to take to any city and they would be successful,” he said.

The city is also examining ways to improve the fire department’s ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating from a six to a four, which would reduce homeowner insurance costs. Lowery said additional equipment and training will play a part in changing that rating. A new $330,000 fire engine, approved by the council last year, is expected to be delivered this fall.

Other initiatives Lowery touched on included the formation of a C.E.R.T. (Community Emergency Response Team) which consists of about 20 residents. The team received training through Jefferson County on how to deal with natural disasters or other emergencies.

The mayor also mentioned the success of the Senior Watch program, implemented by police officer Allen Rogers, a former Jefferson County officer who worked with the Crimestoppers program. Lowery said the initiative, which utilizes the awareness of seniors home during the day, has resulted in a few burglary arrests since its inception.

Thursday’s presentation was the first of three planned addresses. Lowery will also give the presentation to the city’s employees and at the senior center at Black Creek Park.