Mayor focuses on positives at State of the City breakfast

By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Mayor Dwight Tankersley reviewed the city’s accomplishments since he was elected to office in 2004 and unveiled plans for continued progress at a State of the City Breakfast at Sparkman Civic Center Tuesday morning.
Speaking to about 85 elected and appointed public officials and community leaders, Tankersley spent about 30 minutes explaining where the city’s revenue comes from, how the money is being spent and what the federal government is going to be asked for when a 14-member delegation goes to the nation’s capital to lobby next week.
Tankersley said Hartselle’s general fund budget ranks second among 23 Alabama cities of similar size on a per capita expenditure basis. More than 52 percent of its revenue comes from local sales tax and collections continue to grow despite the nation’s depressed economy.
Tankersley said about 50 percent of the city’s budget is allocated for employee payroll and benefits. School appropriations account for 9.5 percents ands the city council had control over the spending of 10.9 percent.
More than $4 million has been expended for capital improvements since 2004, Tankersley said. Included were the purchase of 19 acres of land at I-65 and Hwy. 36, a sewer extension under the interstate in partnership with Hartselle Utilities, Street resurfacing and improvements totaling $800,000, purchase of an off-street parking lot on Main Street and local match funds for grants for the development of a new soccer complex, airport improvements and downtown sidewalk canopy replacement.
Tankersley announced construction will begin on the replacement of the Hammitt Street railroad bridge March 1. He also said the Alabama Department of Transportation is currently replacing and upgrading traffic signals in the downtown area. When completed, motorists will be able to make left turns without impeding traffic flow.
He said the legislative agenda he will take to Washington, DC. includes a request for the additional funding of the proposed four-laning of Highway 36 from I-65 to Roan Road, an upgrade of the city’s wastewater treatment plant, infrastructure for the proposed Morgan County Industrial Park, a city-wide wireless network, additional emergency sirens, airport improvements, floods zone mitigation police car cameras and additional fire fighting equipment. Funding will also be requested for several projects as a part of the President’s stimulus package. They include phase three of the downtown canopy and sidewalk improvement project, landscaping and beautification of I-65 interchanges, the Hartselle Fine Arts Center and a new high school.
In closing, Tankersley made reference to a quote he picked up from Brewer football coach Billy Coleman: “A Positive Attitude Changes Everything.”
The breakfast was sponsored by Redstone Federal Credit Union as an event of the Hartselle Areas Chamber of Commerce. Angela Brandon, chair-elect, legislative V-P, Wal-Mart, welcomed guests. The mayor was introduced by Joseph Newberry, president and CEO of Redstone Federal Credit Union and Matt Nail, director of Quail Creek Resort, gave the invocation.