Growing through the motions

By Staff
Mayor working for grants
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle Mayor Dwight Tankersley spent three days in the nation's capital last week as a follow-up to an earlier visit in which grant assistance was sought for several community projects. Included were the four-laning of Highway 36, East from I-65 to Roan Road, and infrastructure extensions in the Hartselle-Morgan County Industrial Park.
He was a member of a Chamber of Commerce group representing Hartselle, Decatur and Huntsville. The group met separately in morning sessions with Alabama Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions and had luncheon meetings with Congressmen Bud Cramer and Robert Aderholt and some of their colleagues. Its members also heard from Michael Griffin, director of the National Space and Aeronautics Administration.
"We received an update on BRAC and were told of the impact it is already having in North Alabama, learned about changes taking place in the nation's space program and heard reports on how the government is trying to deal with issues such as illegal immigration and rising fuel prices," Tankersley said. "We were told that the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville will play a major role in the development of a new space vehicle over the next few years."
Tankersley said he also was able to meet personally with Congressman Aderholt and his staff and make another pitch for grant funding to help the city meet some of its capital improvement needs. He pointed out that he relayed the same message to the staffs of Congressman Cramer and both senators.
"The feedback I got from all of them was very positive," Tankersley said. "They are familiar with our legislative agenda and understand our needs. "We're very fortunate that both Cramer and Aderholt are serving on appropriations committees and I believe there's a good chance we'll get some help in the next budget cycle."