Phase II planning session for ACE program Jan. 13
A strategic planning session for the second phase of Hartselle’s Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE) Program will be held Jan. 13 at 5:30 p.m. at Sparkman Civic Center.
The purpose of the meeting is to begin developing strategies for addressing community needs that were identified during a Phase I self-assessment session in November 2009, according to Jeremy Griffith, city planner. “We’ve reached a point where priorities will be determined as far as needs are concerned and the more input we can get from community stakeholders the better.”
Two significant events have occurred in the city since the first ACE team visit.
Downtown Hartselle experienced a severe flood on Dec. 8, 2009, damaging several Main Street businesses. The city has been unsuccessful in obtaining federal matching funds to correct the problem for several years and is now seeking funding to mitigate the damage that occurred recently and to protect its downtown business district in the future.
Also, the location of a new high school was determined and site work is now in progress on 52 acres on Bethel Road, adjacent to F.E. Burleson Elementary School. The estimated $40 million project is expected to be completed in time for occupancy in August 2012.
ACE team recommendations based on self-assessment information include the following:
Community
Development:
• Consider developing a retail link on the city’s website that features retail development listing available properties, incentives, advantages and other pertinent information.
• Continue opportunities to increase dining and lodging choices among major national chains
Economic
Development:
• Continue development of infrastructure for the new Morgan County Business Park
• Consider developing a detailed marketing plan and spec sheet for the new Morgan County Business Park
• Consider constructing a speculative building in the new Morgan Business Center Park to draw more traffic to the site
• Explore workforce development in city schools
• Promote greater attendance in business forums sponsored by the chamber
• Consider establishing consistency in store hours for downtown merchants
• Explore opportunities for additional rail-served industrial sites
Parks & Recreation:
• Consider providing soccer field lights
• Consider providing security lights at Sparkman Park
Police Protection:
• Consider providing a full-time jail staff
• Consider updated cars for the police department
• Explore broadband opportunities
Beautification:
• Consider conducting a cost analysis of “pro bono” labor
• Determine if growth would warrant creation of a full-time director
Fire Protection:
Consider increasing the training budget of the fire department
• Explore a joint training center with police department
• Continue certification of fire fighters
• Explore enhanced ambulance service
• Consider building a new fire station No. 3 on U.S. Hwy. 31 at Thompson Rd.
Utility services:
• Upgrade the wastewater treatment plant for continued compliance with ADEM and to increase capacity.
Administration:
• Investigate the feasibility of building a new city hall/municipal complex downtown when the economy recovers
Education:
• Consider implementing an ALDOT “Safe Routes to School” program on Bethel Road for the new high school and existing elementary school
Health Care:
• Investigate the need for a nursing home facility in Hartselle
• Consider investigating partnerships and programs that can collaborate to seek grant funding
Recreation and Entertainment:
• Investigate opportunities to show outdoor movies
• Investigate opportunities for young people to be included in community planning sessions for development of recreation and entertainment facilities
Housing:
• Maintain existing trend of keeping available housing inventory within the six to 12 months supply range
• Consider promoting awareness of vacant downtown second stories as loft housing opportunities
Shopping and Dining:
• Investigate promoting local incentives and support to help attract and retrain higher level restaurants and to keep entertainment dollars in the community.
