By Terry Schrimscher
SPRINGVILLE, Ala.–The Springville City Council opened its first meeting of September with a work session focused largely on budget discussions for the upcoming fiscal year.
The meeting was held on Monday, Sept. 9, due to the Labor Day Holiday.
Dean Goforth, chairman of the budget committee, discussed some of the details, including a surplus for the last fiscal year.
“We had a budget surplus, once again, which is a good thing,” Goforth said. “We’ve consistently had a budget surplus for the last several years which, I think, tells you two things. One, you’re running a pretty good business and it’s growing because your revenues continue to climb.”
Goforth indicated the final numbers would not be known until the fiscal year closes and actual numbers are available, but he estimated the surplus to be approximately $845,000.
The proposed budget for the next fiscal year includes a 2% cost of living pay increase for city employees.
“We did use the budget surplus which is certainly fine for us to do,” Goforth said. “Everything’s gone up. The cost of living has gone up for everybody and I don’t think we were able to put one [pay increase] in last year.”
The council moved the next regular meeting to Sept. 23 to allow everyone to study the budget in anticipation of a vote at the next meeting.
During the work session, Chief of Police Wayne Walton also updated the council on the construction of a Law Enforcement Memorial at Big Springs Park.
The memorial, which was primarily funded with donations, was approved in September 2023.
Walton asked the council to approve funding for a flagpole at the site to complete the project. The council approved $2,931.83 for the purchase during the regular council meeting.
The council also approved the use of $14,000 from the general fund for the purchase of fire safety equipment.
The total amount of the purchase is approximately $850,000 but $808,000 will be funded by a federal grant.
The grant is shared with Argo, New London, and Shoal Creek, and those neighboring communities will contribute approximately $27,000 in matching funds.
The council also approved an agreement with Wilbanks Engineering to certify work on streambank restoration and a memorandum of understanding with the Nature Conservancy outlining responsibilities for maintaining the work.
The council also approved resolution to require construction of the new junior high school to preserve environmental and ecological protected areas during the building process.
The measure was proposed to protect waterways and endangered species indigenous to Springville from erosion, dangerous leaks and other factors.
Speaking to the Trussville Tribune, Mayor Dave Thomas commented on the accomplishments from the meeting.
“I’m thrilled with the resolution passing, regarding the new junior high construction and the flagpole being funded. The memorial is the only one of its kind in the county, remembering the fallen [law enforcement] officers from St. Clair County,” Thomas said. “And not to omit the significance of the creek bank restoration project finally moving forward, it’s exciting to know what’s coming.”
In other business, the council approved an annual transportation plan as required by the State of Alabama.
All communities receiving Rebuild Alabama funding must file a plan to designate the funding for road work.
The next meeting of the Springville City Council will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 23 with a work session at 5:30 p.m. prior to the meeting.
