By Terry Schrimscher, For the Tribune
SPRINGVILLE – The Springville Council met Monday Night, Oct. 2, for the first regular meeting of the month. The Council moved quickly through the brief agenda approving an annual budget and allocating funds for several projects.
Springville Council and Mayor Thomas, October 2, 2023.
The Council approved the budget for fiscal year 2023-2024, totaling $11,667,240 across all accounts. Members of the Council amended the resolution to specify the allocation of $2,500 for downtown beautification projects and $8,444 to cover radios for first responders. The city received grant funding for the radios and the city is covering the $8,444 difference from contingency funds.
Rick Hopkins, Parks and Recreation Director, announced the city will formally accept a $50,000 grant check from T-Mobile on Monday night, Oct. 9, at the Springville Farmer’s Market. The Hometown Grant was announced in September and will be matched by the city. Funds will be used to revitalize the farmer’s market area in the historic downtown district.
The Council approved a cooperative agreement with St. Clair County to begin to develop property near Walmart on I-59 into an industrial park tentatively called Riley Farm Commerce Park. Don Smith, Executive Director of the St. Clair County Economic Development Council, commented on the project to The Trussville Tribune.
“The cooperative agreement is the first step in working toward developing a commerce park that will hopefully be the future home for five or six quality companies within the next 10 years,” Smith said. “The site is located just off the Walmart interstate interchange and will be near the robust infrastructure that was put into place years ago when the interchange was first developed. This park will also be the only rail-served commerce park in the county. All of these things, combined with our county’s fast-growing population, will make this location a desirable home to some quality companies.”
“Springville is an incredible place to live but the city council and I have a vision of creating a well-balanced community where our citizens can enjoy the outdoors at one of our many parks, shop in our downtown, but also provide more employment opportunities,” added Mayor Dave Thomas. “This commerce park will provide the jobs and economic energy that will benefit our small businesses as well as provide our citizens a place to work closer to home.
“We have been very mindful of finding the ideal location where we have substantial infrastructure in place that is also close to the interstate to avoid increasing traffic in other parts of Springville. It’s has taken us years of effort to find this perfect location that checks all of the boxes.”
The Council also approved the following:
- Up to $100,000 in paving with Massey Asphalt
- The creation of a maintenance technician position for Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve
- Rehabilitation work on pump stations and sewer systems
- An agreement for professional services at the water treatment facilities
The Council also created a Personnel Board and appointed three board members. The appointees are John Wayne DeLoach and councilmembers Austin Phillips and David Vinson.
Earlier in the meeting, Thomas shared a letter from a recent visitor to the city commending Springville first responders for providing care for her husband who suffered a heart attack while visiting Homestead Hollow in the city. Thomas also thanked the Council for their vote earlier in the year to operate a city ambulance.
The next meeting of the Springville City Council will be held on Oct. 16, at 6 p.m., with a work session at 5:30 p.m. prior to the meeting.
