June Newsletter - City of Alabaster

CITY LEADERS...
David Frings
Mayor
I want to begin this month by updating you on the
progress that we continue to make toward the paving of
streets in subdivisions that have been abandoned by developers.
We either have received or should have received
bond proceeds for paving the streets in three more subdivisions
by the publication of this issue. These projects
include Grandview, Golden Meadows, and the Grove. I
anticipate that we will be able to have the paving and road
repairs completed in these subdivisions by this August. We
continue our work to secure the outstanding bond funds on
all of the other subdivisions and we will present proposals
for paving these projects to the City Council as the bond
companies honor our claims. I want to thank everyone that
lives in these subdivisions for your patience during this
long process. We have been in various stages of addressing
these roads for the better part of three years and our persistence
in finally beginning to pay off with newly paved
streets. I will not give up on this quest until all of these
subdivisions are repaired and paved. In addition to paving
in abandoned subdivisions, we are preparing for our annual
paving projects this summer in our long established subdivisions.
These projects are scheduled by our public
works department based on the amount of deterioration of
the asphalt. We typically spend approximately $200,000.00
re-surfacing existing city roads each budget year. These
funds are derived from our gasoline tax so it is important to
purchase as much fuel as possible in our city limits so that
your dollars pave our streets and not those in another city.
I usually do not discuss events that are held in other
cities because we want to use this venue to promote
Alabaster. I am going to break that rule in this issue
because I believe that this upcoming event that will be held
in Ray’s Arena in Jemison, Alabama is something we all
need to be educated about and support. The event is the
Rescue 1 Rodeo which raises money to increase awareness
and prevent sex trafficking of children around the world. I
met with a group of ladies from Amazing Grace Worship
Center in Alabaster that are working very hard to make this
event is a success. I have to admit that until I met with this
team, I had heard about the sex trafficking of children but I
did not know the extent of the problem or that people located
in Alabama and other southeastern U. S. states are often
involved in the transportation and abuse of these children.
The children are typically sold into slavery from Southeast
Asia or Eastern Europe. They range in age from four to
fourteen years! Listening to the stories told by these ladies
made me sick, angry, and very sad! I encourage everyone
to educate themselves on this issue and consider supporting
Rescue 1 by attending the rodeo in Jemison on August 24
and 25 at Ray’s Arena in Jemison. Let’s all do our part to
stop this trafficking of children.
Jim McClain
Council President Ward 5
frings@cityofalabaster.com mcclain@cityofalabaster.com
Spring rushes by so fast and now it’s summer. But it
also means it’s time for CityFest on Saturday, June 2nd.
Celebrating 10 years of bringing top notch entertainment
to the city, CityFest has become one of the premiere events
in the state. By day there is music but also lots of things
for Kids to do with plenty of games and various types of
“moonwalks.” And there’s the Lowe’s workshop where
children are carefully supervised and produce actual projects
they can take home that fill them with accomplishment
and pride in a job well done.
Of course, playing hard can work up a hunger and a
thirst and there are plenty of vendors on hand offering all
types of food for meals and snacks plus cold drinks and
frozen snacks to help keep everyone cool.
Music plays throughout the day but really gears up
toward late afternoon and into the evening culminating in
performances by rock group Everclear and country group
Lonestar.
For 10 years the best free party in Alabama has just
gotten better and better, but it doesn’t happen without the
hard work and dedication of a lot of people at the
Alabaster Arts Council, city employees, volunteers and
many others who work so hard to make this a real success.
Thanks to everyone for your hard work, and we all look
forward to more years of this great free party.
Congratulations to the winners of the ACCC
Tournament. We are so proud to host this softball tournament
and welcome these hard-working players to our city
to have fun and enjoy the city’s hospitality.
If you’ve got little ones at home for the summer, be
sure to check out the Library’s summer programs. Kicking
off in early June, there are all kinds of activities plus prizes
for reading books. It’s a great way to have fun and
encourage kids to keep reading. Statistics show that children
who read consistently over the summer have less loss
of learning from the previous school year and keeps them
sharp and focused for the next year. And it’s fun!
Congratulations to Dr. Melanie Shores for being chosen
as the first President of the Alabaster School Board and
to Mr. Ty Quarles as Vice President. It’s a great challenge
to create a city school system from scratch but I have no
doubt that the Board is dedicated to a successful outcome
for the children of Alabaster.
Wear a hat, use sunscreen, drink plenty of fluids
because it’s summer. And, oh yes, have fun!
SEE YOU AT CITYFEST JUNE 2 MUNICIPAL PARK! June, 2012 5