Leah Ingram Eagle
Mayor Tony Picklesimer
Mayor Tony Picklesimer speaks at the Shelby Chamber Luncheon on Feb. 26 at the Pelham Civic Complex.
The Shelby County Chamber held their annual “State of Our Communities” Community Luncheon on Feb. 25 at the Pelham Civic Complex.
Mayors from Shelby County's municipalities shared what lies ahead for their communities in 2020.
The mayor’s names were pulled out of a bowl and they spoke in random order.
- Mayor Mark Hall of Helena discussed their challenge of traffic in the city.
- Mayor Lee McCarty of Wilsonville said he hopes his town moves to city status after the census and that their downtown area is being completely redone.
- Mayor Gary Waters of Pelham discussed the repurposing of the Valley Elementary School building.
- Mayor Larry Riggins of Westover said they need serious improvement in communications, including broadband and cell service.
- Mayor Hollie Cost of Montevallo said that over the past five years the city has experienced more progress than it had in the last 50 years and said she believes they are the most diverse community in Shelby County.
Allan Rice, the city administrator for Hoover spoke on behalf of Mayor Frank Brocato who was on a trip to Washington D.C.
Rice said they are looking to double the footprint at the training at the National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI) on Valleydale Road.
"We also need a new interchange at I-459," he said. "It would benefit not only Hoover, but all of western Jefferson Co and Shelby county."
Rice said the biggest challenge is the corner of I-459 and U.S. 31. The city is working to reinvent and redevelop that property for the next 35 years.
"Exciting plans have been in the works for two and a half years to shrink the retail footprint and expand the entertainment and lodging opportunities. It will be a different place in the next few years."
Mayor Ray McAllister of Vincent said they have more going on this year than they've had in the last ten years and are in the middle of a downtown revitalization program.
Mayor Marty Handlon of Alabaster they are working on two park projects: Veterans Park and Abbey Wooley Park.
Mayor Tony Picklesimer of Chelsea brought Bradley Byrne and his wife Rebecca as his guests to the luncheon, where he discussed the once cent sales tax and how it is benefiting the Chelsea schools.
“The second quarter is at a record pace for revenues in the city of Chelsea,” he said. We are experiencing growth in every aspect of the local economy and residential growth.”
Several subdivisions, including Chelsea Acres and Chelsea Park continue to grow and he said the residential market continues to be very strong.
“I’ve turned my focus on trying to bring jobs to the city of Chelsea and has 10 acres ready for the formation of a business park, whose first client will be Therachem Medilab.
Mayor Picklesimer also discussed the construction of amphitheater, phase two of the athletic complex and the currently in-progress Plan Chelsea comprehensive Plan.
Mayors John Graham of Calera, Mayor Don Green of Harpersville and Mayor Stancil Handley of Columbiana also spoke during the luncheon.