Fultondale’s mayor almost didn’t give his state of the city address on Friday.

After a tornado roared through nearby cities early on Jan. 23, killing two people, Mayor Jim Lowery considered canceling his annual state of the city presentation. It has been less than 10 months since Fultondale itself was devastated by a tornado.

He decided to go ahead and hold the event, however, partly in order to highlight how the city has dealt with its own tragedy following the April 27 disaster. “Overcoming adversity” was the theme of the annual address.

“Even though we’re not at the end of the tunnel, we’ve accomplished a lot,” Lowery said.

The city’s operating budget is up, from $10.1 million in 2011 to $10.72 this year. Sales tax and lodging tax make up 75 percent of the city’s tax base.

“We’ve had a very successful year, despite the storm and the downturn in the economy,” said Lowery. “We’ve increased revenue and sales.”

Fultondale is also maintaining its municipal reserve, or savings, at $4.5 million.

In 2011, as part of the tornado recovery impact, the city issued more than 1,000 business licenses, 405 building permits and saw 42 new houses constructed.

There was also 385 re-building permits on damaged homes, 32 houses demolished and 37 businesses damaged.

Lowery said the city sent letters to owners of the two hotels on U.S. Hwy. 31 and officials are waiting to hear back. If there is no response, or if the owners fail to clean up the property or show they are making an attempt, the city will clean it up and assess the cost back to the owners.

Highlights in 2011 include:

• Kay Hicks being sworn in as a city council member in May

• five ribbon cuttings

• two groundbreakings

Both Fultondale schools also received new principals in 2011 after the former principals retired following stringent new rules from the state regarding insurance and retirement regulations. The new principals are Dr. Carol Robinson at Fultondale High School and Reta Hayes at Fultondale Elementary.

As for quality of life, the city last year opened a ball park at the Children’s Park, started renovating Black Creek Park, expanded the walking trail to Interstate 65 and renovated the Leon Russell Pavilion at Black Creek Park.

In addition, improvements were made at the Fultondale Public Library and the Fultondale Senior Center.

In 2012, the city is working to bring in new businesses including Bridgestone/Firestone, On Tap Sports Cafe and office condominiums.

The city is also working on completing a third fire station, on Walker Chapel Road, and on building a new library and public safety building.

One of the largest projects in the works is the revitalization of U.S. Hwy. 31.