Tankersley addresses state of the city
Mayor Dwight Tankersley shakes hands with District 2 Commissioner Randy Vest after the State of the City Address. | Brent Maze
Mayor Dwight Tankersley gave his annual State of the City Address Thursday at Sparkman Civic Center.
The event was sponsored by the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce and Redstone Federal Credit Union.
Click here for the State of the City Powerpoint presentation
Here are a few highlights of the speech:
• General fund balance is $4.47 million. Current budget is $10.3 million.
• Sales Tax Revenue in 2009 – $5.08 million, 2010 – $4.9 million. Sales tax has increased this year $96,258 for first four months.
• Budget breakdown – 40 percent for public safety, 14 percent for public works, 13 percent for parks and recreation, 8 percent for administration.
Here’s some accomplishments from the past year:
• City achieved A+ bond rating from Standard and Poor’s and A1 from Moody’s.
• City website has been updated with city ordinances.
• City attracted Cracker Barrel and made infrastructure improvements to area surrounding the new restaurant for new commercial development.
• Application submitted to FEMA for preliminary engineering and required work to get grant to help correct flooding problem in downtown.
• Fire department has new pumper truck. Firefighters also helped upgrade Station 2.
• Police department purchased 6 new patrol cars. Laptops are now installed in all patrol cars.
• Public Works prepared the 19 acres along I-65 for economic development. The department also kept streets cleared during the numerous winter weather events this season. Repairs were also made to numerous roads damaged by heavy rains.
• Parks and Recreation opened the new splash pad. A new senior center opened at the Sparkman Civic Center. New pavilions were also built at Sparkman Park.
• Library now has 31,000-book collection. It will also receive six new computers thanks to an Auburn University grant.
• Work is about to begin on the Morgan County Business Park. Even though it’s not yet constructed, Tankersley said the city has already received interest in locating here.
• The new high school plans are supposed to go out today, March 3, with bid opening planned for March 22. Barkley Bridge also was named a Blue Ribbon School for the first time.
Here are several challenges facing the city:
• Finding new sources of funding to continue offering city services.
• Replacing a 20-year-old front line fire apparatus.
• Improving drainage throughout the city.
• Replacing public works and other city equipment and vehicles.
• Repairing the city pool, which could cost as much as $250,000.
• Lighting the soccer complex.
• Adding additional parking around the civic center and the park.
