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