State of the Cities

Some local mayors fear layoffs, others tout economic projects

By Michael Mee News-Aegis

Argo — At their monthly breakfast meeting Tuesday, local mayors shared where their cities have gone in recent months and where they are headed as 2010 rolls on.

The breakfast was hosted in Argo at the new municipal complex, which has now been put to use after sitting dormant because of a stipulation in the contract left over from the previous administration. In recent weeks the Argo Fire Department has been using their portion of the building.

Argo

Mayor Paul Jennings spoke about how his town is starting to see the light at the end of a very long tunnel when it comes to the city’s financial troubles incurred when the municipal building was funded.

“We’re still here and we’re proud to still be here,” he said, referring to the fears many residents had over the past few years that the town might dissolve. He said that the town’s finances are doing better and compared the current budget to putting a stopper in full sink draining water. He thanked the county for loaning the town $100,000 last fall to help get the municipal complex into shape for it to be used.

Ashville

Mayor Robert McKay was frank when he said that he and his council fear that layoffs might be around the corner.

He also said that the county’s mayors should think about getting involved with a bill currently in the state legislature that might allow for an electronic bingo vote by citizens. He told his fellow mayors that they didn’t have to be for gaming to ask to be on the bill and added that it would let the people vote for or against electronic bingo gaming.

Riverside

Mayor Rusty Jessup said that his town had already experienced layoffs and added that it didn’t look like the Riverside Fire Department would likely be able to go to a full-time, paid staff. He said that work on Riverside Landing, the town’s official name for its recently purchased boat launch, was moving along nicely.

He noted that Sprayburry Road needed to be repaired  badly and that the cost was going to be somewhere around $162,000. The county and Riverside have been working on how to fund that project and what steps need to be taken to get the road into good shape.

Springville

In a sign-of-the-times Mayor Butch Isley said that his town, too, was experiencing revenue loss and that he and his council are looking into findings from their most recent audit. He said that he was glad that he made good on promises to improve the city’s park system, since it is a practical way people can get out and have fun during tough economic times.

The city purchased five additional acres to add to Big Springs Park in December for $350,000. That land was valued at $1.5 million just a few years ago.

Pell City

The city has already found the money to pay for sewer obligations thanks to stimulus money, Mayor Bill Hereford said. He said that will allow the Gateway City to finish repairs required by ADEM before the 2012 deadline.

Moody

Councilman Bobby Clements was onhand as Moody’s representative and said that his city is moving along with the Kelly Creek relocation and that having city workers go on a four day, ten hour shift has resulted in savings. Moody’s fire and police departments maintain their standard, traditional shifts.

 

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