2013: Government & Industry

Government

&

Industry

A Special Supplement to The Daily Home

2013

2A — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013

government & industry

Davis Bait hoping to hook more business

By EMILY ADAMS Home staff writer

After suffering the effects of a poor economy, Davis Bait Company in Sylacauga is focused on recovering from a downturn in business and meeting customer needs in new and different ways.

“I just want my people to come back that were laid off, and we’re working just as hard as we can on that,” said owner William Davis, who founded the company 30 years ago.

In 2007, Davis Bait Company, which produces a private label of freshwater and saltwater baits, along with Davis Industries, a manufacturing company that supplies other bait companies, was at the top of its game, producing more than 9 million baits annually and employing 30 to 40 people.

In the years since, business has dropped about 70 percent and they now have 6 employees. Even still, they maintain a large customer base and deliver about 3.5 million products a year to all 50 states and seven countries — no small feat for a business that started out of Davis’ garage.

“I always fooled with it, because I couldn’t find fishing lures like I wanted to fish with,” he said. “The quality was just not there, and then I came up with my own lures and got into building lures for me and a couple buddies I fished with.”

The turning point from a side job to a full-time business came in 1999 when 16- to 18-hour days at Kimberly Clark were interfering with his family life, Davis said.

“Basically, my little boy

Bob Crisp/The Daily Home

William Davis founded Davis Bait Company in Sylacauga 30 years ago.

was growing up without his daddy, and I had to make a decision, so I left there and spent a lot of time with him,” he said.

“Money can’t buy your time with your family.”

In the years following, Davis built up his customer base, which is now in the thousands and still growing, and devoted as much time as possible to his son, Will, who is now on a bass fishing scholarship at Bethel University with the goal of fishing professionally. Davis said the bait company allowed him to travel with his son while maintaining a steady income.

“God’s blessed us,

because we’ve always made a living with it,” he said.

“When I left the mill, I didn’t have but just a couple customers, and I couldn’t tell you how many customers we have now. I didn’t have a whole lot of money for advertising when I started, so it was by word of mouth and articles in the paper and outdoor magazines that people heard about us. A lot of the pros would win tournaments on our baits, and that’s the way we got started. It took about 7 years to realize that I was through practicing.”

Davis Bait Company and Davis Industries now produce 3,300 different

products, many of which Davis created himself. The most successful product the bait company has is the Shaky Head lure, which spawned its own popular fishing technique.

“The worm floats, so you cast it out and the worm’s tail stands up,” Davis explained. “You shake the line with your rod on a slack line, and it makes the worm tail go back and forth and look like it’s a live crawfish on the bottom. Fishes brains are very, very small.”

Davis and his son also lend their fishing expertise to St. Criox Rod Company to help develop fishing rods, and they created a

just a lot of TLC,” Davis said. “All of ours are handmade with high-quality components, and they’re touched so many times by the time they’re completed that, to the best of my knowledge, we’ve never sent out a bad lure.”

To meet the rising demand, Davis said the company is currently redesigning its website, where it will soon offer direct sales for the first time in its history.

“In the past, I’ve always thought that if I got into the retail business, it would hurt my customers,” he said. “People call here all the time wanting to buy direct, and I have to try to think of where to send them and who stocks them. But that’s all fixing to change. We’re going to set it up where every one of our products is available through the website, and that should be up within the next 60 days.”

No matter how the company changes, Davis said he would never consider having it anywhere but Sylacauga.

“I grew up here, my family grew up here; it’s just a neat town,” he said.

“I could actually move this manufacturing facility anywhere I wanted to go, but we love Sylacauga. The best part about it is that within an hour’s drive of here we could be, at a minimum, within 10 places to fish.”

And where is a lifelong fisherman’s favorite spot around here?

“Anywhere that has water,” Davis said.

For more information, contact Davis Bait Company at 256-2492281.

line of super durable wire called X-wire and X-swim, a product line of swim bait hooks, baits and jig heads.

Davis said they are also branching out into some medical equipment.

Davis and his son test out their own ideas for new products, but can also take a suggestion from a customer and make it reality in a matter of days.

Davis and his staff handcarve toolings, cast their own lure components, assemble and hand-paint lures and package and ship them all over the world, all out of a West Third Street warehouse.

“The difference between Contact Emily Adams at our products and others is eadams@dailyhome.com.

‘Keep it simple’ philosophy working for Pallet Chief

By MARK LEDBETTER

Home staff writer

Pressed to find a better way to make wooden pallets without the safety hazard of “shiners,” or nails sticking out, Fayetteville’s Barry Landers’ prototype turned into an invention so successful he quit making pallets as a side job, quit his building construction business and now sells and markets pallet manufacturing systems internationally.

Hanging on the office wall are flags from 24 countries, including the United States and Canada, that have at least one of the systems in operation.

“We have ‘hits’ on our website around the globe.

Foreign countries know more about us than people down the road,” said Gail Ezekiel, Landers’ sister and office manager.

In 1991, Landers owned Landers Construction, which specialized in construction of houses and metal buildings. Building pallets became a sideline.

Producing pallets by hand created safety hazards and produced structural deficiencies and were labor

intensive, Landers said.

“We needed a better way to build them,” he said.

“Nail guns and the human factor were the problem.”

Landers said he designed and built the prototype as a one-time machine to correct the problems.

“It worked so well for us we ended up with five in the shop,” Landers said.

Landers took his product to a trade show in Kentucky. “Response was overwhelming,” he said.

“We sold one during the show.”

By 1994 Landers said they abandoned making pallets and began to market pallet manufacturing systems.

He said he maintains a “keep it simple” philosophy when he wants to create a system. The system involves simple mechanical procedures and requires no technology.

The company soon expanded from its original shop and now includes the main manufacturing shop, a paint staff, a new manufacturing shop, and a building for research and development.

Landers said he doesn’t get his inspiration sitting We are a family owned block manufacturing plant.

P.O. Box 347 165 First Road • Coosa Industrial Park Childersburg, AL 35044

319023

We manufacture a full line of concrete block, gray & colored split-face, and gray & colored retaining wall block. We carry mortar, portland cement, sand, fire brick & other related items.

We sell and deliver all over the southeast.

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web: www.blairblock.com email: info@blairblock.com

behind a desk. Ideas come to him while riding on a tractor or a horse or while driving.

Pallet Chief prides itself in manufacturing dependable, high quality but low-cost pallet nailing and pallet stacking equipment.

Presently there are three systems: Pallet Chief I, an entry level system, Pallet Chief II and Pallet Chief II, each offering unique advantages depending on the customer’s needs.

Pallet Chief also offers two types of pallet stackers and all systems are modular. Depending on the size of pallet, the machines can produce pallets two-to-five pallets per minute.

The company is not limited to standard sized pallets and can custom build systems to need. Orders require a six-to-eight week lead time.

Because Pallet Chief has an international market, Landers said he and other staff members have to travel to other questions to work out technical problems. In his travels, Landers said China has been the most interesting.

His brother Burl is sales manager and said he has

Bob Crisp/The Daily Home

Barry Landers of Fayetteville sells and markets pallet manufacturing systems internationally.

few problems communicating with his foreign customers. “Most businessmen speak very good English,” Burl Landers said.

A recent addition to the family team is Landers’ son John Wayne. Landers said he is glad to have his son with him and he brings many skills to the industry.

When Landers isn’t busy at the shop, he spends his time serving on Gov. Robert Bentley’s Workforce Development Council, a

Hawk Plastics

193 First Rd., Alpine AL, 35014 800-467-4295 www.hawkplasticscorp.com Organized 29 years ago, Hawk Plastics started production in Oct. of 1985 in the former Beaunit building on Plant Road. Now, 28 years later, by the grace of God, the Hawk is still flying. One of the oldest American owned PVC pipe producers in the USA, Hawk Plastics has operated with the same name for its total existence. With as many as 40 employees to man the 3-shift operation, Hawk has maintained a steady workforce with 24-hour working days through 4 1/2 years of economic slowdown. Hawk received awards from the State of Alabama for 7 years with no lost time accidents; again by the grace of God. Hawk manufactures PVC plastic sewer pipe with Integral Bell Gasketed joints and specializes in standard and custom PVC perforated pipe.

Hawk produces other PVC extrusions, custom cylinders, core tubes and is the exclusive U.S. Manufacturer of patented molded plastic Ragglesticks. Marketed and sold by RAGGLESTICK Packaging, Ragglesticks are used to create compactness and stability in packaging and storing cylindrical objects such as pipe, tube, rolls, drums and barrels.

Ragglesticks was the invention of the founders of Hawk Plastics. 319048

group formed by the governor to provide grants to vocational schools, create jobs and research industries.

Landers also serves on the Fayetteville School Foundation, whose work includes raising funds for scholarships.

“It is rewarding to be a part of bringing a new workforce,” Landers said, “There is a skilled workforce that is retiring.”

Landers’ wife, Celeste,

is also involved in community affairs and is aspresident of the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity. She and their daughter, Robbie, are taking a mission trip to Honduras to work with orphanages and elementary school children.

Pallet Chief is on Fayetteville Circle in Fayetteville.

Looking back on his success with Pallet Chief, Landers said, “It’s been a lot of fun.”

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ALABAMA BAG COMPANY, INC.

QUALITY MONEY BAGS SINCE 1908 Talladega, Alabama

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318789

government & industry

THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013 — 3A

Flexibility knitting mill’s key to success

By KENNY FARMER Special Projects editor

While most of the area’s textile business has been gone for years, Talladega’s Brecon Knitting Mill, through its production of a variety of products, continues to thrive.

“There are a lot of neat markets we supply,” said Allen G. McMillan III, president of Brecon Knitting Mill. “We focus on small circular knitted products, and look for the applications where that applies.”

Brecon Knitting Mill produces products that are used by the meat industry, such as stocknets used to hang cured hams.

They also provide wristlets and cuffs, orthopedic stockings, baby caps and more to the medical trade.

Brecon Knitting also sells to the garment, air and fuel filter industries.

“Having a variety of products really helps the business,” McMillan said.

“If one of the markets is unsuccessful, at least I have the other three to keep me alive.”

McMillan said that as the market changes, manufacturers must be able to change with it.

“In our case, we started off selling wiping rags in Detroit, but that market has just disappeared.

You’ve got to be flexible enough to hang on.”

McMillan’s father began in the textile business by providing the automakers in Detroit with polishing clothes used to polish cars coming off the assembly line.

Another factor in the success of Brecon Knitting

is the fact that it was established in a time when “regulatory burdens, litigation and other issues” were less prevalent than they are today.

“Once you get the expertise, the skill set, it’s much easier to continue a business. It’s not like starting from scratch. That’s why it’s so hard to make it from scratch — you don’t have your customer base or your supplier base. You’ve got to develop those two at the same time. It’s kind of difficult.”

McMillan said he has been “very fortunate” that his business is continuing because of the success of those who came before him.

“It’s just my turn to sit in this chair. There are a lot of people who did a lot of heavy lifting before me.

Those people developed an expertise, a customer base and a supplier base.

It’s just our turn to do what we do.”

McMillan said that when you get consistency from your employees, you get a consistent product.

“I’m very fortunate to have a wonderful staff and crew,” he said.

Another advantage for Brecon Knitting is its structure.

“We’re not real bureaucratic,” McMillan said.

“We’re about two layers deep. Structure wise, we can get to the heart of an issue quicker.”

McMillan said that after the Civil War, many manufacturers began to move to the South to be closer to the areas where cotton was being produced, to reduce shipping costs. He said the migration of textile pro-

Bob Crisp/The Daily Home

Allen G. McMillan III is president of Brecon Knitting Mill. He said he has been fortunate that his business is continuing because of the success of those who came before him.

duction from this area in the past 15 or 20 years was an “evolutionary process” of the industry, only this time it was because of factors such as “labor, cost and other factors.”

“You look at what happened to Russell Athletics.

They moved their whole production further south.”

McMillan said that the textile industry now uses more man-made fibers, such as polyester and acrylics, than cotton, and the production of those materials can be done anywhere.

He said that for Brecon Knitting Mill, there was never a temptation to move the business south, like so many others did. He said to do that would have created many new problems.

“By the time you do the transportation, the delays and the issues, the hassle is not worth it,” McMillan said. “We’re fortunate that

Honda officials call 2012 a ‘resurgent’ year

By WILL HEATH Home staff writer

Honda Manufacturing of Alabama is located in Lincoln, in Talladega County.

In truth, however, the plant’s reach extends all across central Alabama.

Specifically, the more than 4,000 associates call the plant’s “five county region” — Talladega, St. Clair, Calhoun, Etowah and Jefferson — their home, and the plant is an anchor for the entire area.

“The majority of our associates live in those five counties,” said Ted Pratt, spokesman for HMA. “Our payroll exceeds $250 million per year, and it definitely spreads into the local communities.”

Officials called 2012 a resurgent year for the com-

pany, which produced a total of 336,790 Odyssey minivans, Pilot sport utility vehicles and Ridgeline pickups in the 12-month period, and the V-6 engines that power all three models. That number includes 158,477 Odyssey minivans, 156,952 Pilot SUVs and 21,361 Ridgeline pickups — HMA is the exclusive global production source for the three vehicles.

“It’s the highest amount ever built here,” Pratt said.

“All the credit goes to our associates, and what they did to provide the highest quality vehicles.”

Put together, it represents a capital investment of $2 billion in 2012, a solid bounce back after the natural disasters that plagued 2011.

“Honda experienced a

tremendous resurgence in production in 2012 after recovering from the natural disasters of the prior year,” said HMA President Tom Shoupe. “The teamwork and dedication of our 4,000 associates has once again led our company to achieve production of a record number of high-quality, Alabamabuilt Honda vehicles and engines for our customers.”

That resurgence has also led to plans for expansion.

Pratt said construction is already under way for an expansion of the engine facility in Lincoln, which will allow even greater production on site.

“We anticipate being able to produce 360,000 vehicles and engines per

our customer base is here, and there are advantages to being here However, being in the textile industry in 2013 does have its disadvantages. McMillan said that, in the past, he could count on supplying a customer “for years.” Now he sees many more customers come and go.

“Your order habits are much, much shorter, so it has put a premium on being agile. People talk about lean manufacturing, like what the automotive industry has done. They don’t carry much inventory. They make it and they ship it.”

He said companies must learn to be agile, rather than lean.

“People used to say that the big eat the small, but really it’s the fast that eat the slow.”

Despite a smaller market, McMillan still believes the key to a successful business is to understand his customers.

“You understand their needs, interests, what their problems are, what will work and what won’t work,” he said. “If you know enough about what they do, it really, really helps that relationship.

Knowing your customer is one of the fundamentals of business.”

As far as the future of Brecon Knitting, McMillan said it’s a double-edged sword.

“Textiles have thinned

out, it’s not the same industry as it was years ago. The other side of that is that, if you’re here, your competition is less. The people we competed against 20 years ago are not here, they no longer exist. Your competition is less, however, your customer base is also less.”

McMillan said he just hopes for enough business to keep the business running.

“As long as our customer base stays in the country, we have an advantage,” he said. “If you know them better, you can respond better.”

McMillan said that, overall, Brecon Knitting is in a “good spot.”

“We just need to stick to our knitting.”

THE FORD METER BOX COMPANY, INC. Pipe Products Division Pell City, Alabama

Manufacturing products for the distribution of water worldwide.

www.fordmeterbox.com

See Honda, Page 5A

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ASSOCIATES ON TWO REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

SEVEN YEARS WORKED WITHOUT A LOST TIME ACCIDENT! Honda engineers Hiro Takahashi, left, and John Deno, right, attended the North American International Auto Show in Detroit to see the new 2014 Acura MDX prototype revealed on Jan. 15. They are the HMA Engineering Project Leads for the MDX transfer from Honda of Canada Manufacturing in Alliston, Ontario, to Honda Manufacturing of Alabama in Lincoln.

A RECORD SALES YEAR IN 2012!

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4A — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013

government & industry

David Atchison/The Daily Home

This long tractor-trailer rig hauls large paper rolls from paper mills. The trucks used by Interstate Specialized Inc. are actually owned by a holding company named Interstate Freight, which Charles Browning also owns.

Father and daughter team operate several successful businesses

By DAVID ATCHISON Home staff writer

It is long, about 200 feet with 19 axles, and weighs 185,000 pounds — without a load — and it has carried huge loads for Interstate Specialized Inc. in Pell City.

“It requires a push truck to transport a load,” said Charles Browning, 64, of Pell City, who is owner of Interstate Specialized Inc. and several other companies related to the trucking and hauling business.

That is what Interstate Specialized Inc. is all about, hauling, transporting big heavy loads across the country for all types of companies.

Browning’s 39-year-old daughter, Amy Strickland, is president of the company, and has worked sideby-side with her dad as far

back as she can remember.

“I started working for him during the summer when I was 11-12,” said Strickland, who lives in Pell City. “I started working full time when I graduated from high school in 1991.”

She specializes in accounting and making sure the company operates under safe conditions, but she is taking on more and more as Browning inches toward retirement.

When asked what his title is with the company, Browning shrugs his shoulders.

“Owner, I guess,” he said.

His daughter speaks up quickly.

“We try to keep him from having a title,” Strickland said. “It would go to his head.”

The father and daugh-

ter are quite a team, operating numerous companies associated with the family business.

Browning is originally from Lincoln, but eventually took his business to the big city of Birmingham, before returning to his roots in Pell City. Many people know him as “Charlie Brown.”

“People have called him Charlie Brown since he was a boy,” Strickland said about her father.

Charles Browning Interstate Specialized is owner of Interstate transports products, nor- Specialized, Inc. mally large equipment, to 48 states and Canada.

“I think we’ve been Photos by to all the states in the David Atchison continent of the U.S.,” Browning said.

The customer base is mostly with companies Amy Strickland is in the Southeast, and the president of Interstate See Team, Page 7A Specialized, Inc.

1 5 2 2 6 H W Y. 4 1 1 , O D E N V I L L E , A L W W W. A N G L E R R E C Y C L I N G . C O M

1 4 0 6 4 A L H W Y. 7 5 , R E M L A P, A L 205.681.3355 309875

government & industry

THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013 — 5A

Douglas Manufacturing a ‘great company to work for’

By GARY HANNER Home staff writer

Douglas Manufacturing Company Inc. was established in 1978 as a leading manufacturer of conveyor components.

Douglas is located in the Pell City Industrial Park at 300 Industrial Park Drive.

The complete product line includes heavy duty pulleys, mine duty pulleys, quarry duty pulleys, engineered class pulleys and pulley lagging, idlers, magnetic separators, magnetic pulleys, impact beds, takeups and innovative conveyor accessories.

The Douglas Engineering Department uses the latest technology, including computer design and analysis programs to select and design the best components and conveying solutions in the industry.

Douglas sits on 8 acres, and has 65,000 square-feet of roof in three separate buildings. They do a lot of metal processing, and cut and shape metal into the different component categories.

Paul Ross is president of Douglas Manufacturing, a title he has held for the past seven years.

“My parents, Doug and Nancy Ross, founded the company in 1978,” Ross said. “We originally located in Birmingham, and moved to Pell City about 20 years ago. We have enjoyed the move to Pell City, and have grown a little bit ever since.”

Presently, there are 42 employees.

Ross said they move all kinds of materials and minerals from point A to point B. “It can be 10 feet or several thousand feet that people want to move this material,” Ross said. “They generally move it in large volumes generally at high speeds. They pull the material out of the ground, size it down a little bit, and our equipment takes it wherever they want it to go. It

Honda

From Page 3A

year,” Pratt said.

Part of the expansion will include a stamping press, an expanded area for “vehicle quality innovation” and an investment in the Line 2 paint department.

The plant will need that for the Acura MDX. “It’s catering to the luxury customer,” Pratt said.

“It’s something new for us.”

Pratt was among a contingent from the Lincoln plant that traveled to Detroit to witness the unveiling.

“There’s a lot of excitement,” he said. “We will be building every bit of the car here.”

Employees continue to serve the community, as well. In 2012, more than 500 associates took part in a volunteer program offered by the company, which pledges $100 to each charity, along with 5 hours of volunteer service. Pratt said associates served in a variety of different charities.

“Boys and Girls Clubs, AIDB, local animal shelters and high school facilities,” he said. “We’re very proud of it. It’s a great program.”

The company’s annual Toy and Food Drive also enjoyed a high turnout, with more than 3,600 toy and food items donated to 10 charities (two in each of the five counties).

Pratt said the company remains cautiously optimistic about the economy, for itself and its suppliers.

“We’re still not at the level we were prior to the downturn (in 2008),” he said. “But we are optimistic the growth will continue.

“I think Honda, like everybody else, has seen a rebound from our worst period. Sales are not where they were prior to the downturn, but we do have optimism things will continue to rebound.”

might be a cement mill, a power plant, a processing facility for steel mills, and other facilities that turn raw materials into finished products.”

Ross said business slacks off some through the winter months (November through February), and starts picking back up in early spring.

“We market our components throughout the United States through a network of distributors,” Ross said. “We have a trained sales force that goes out and calls on the distributors.

The Northeastern portion of the country shuts down in the wintertime because everything is outside and it gets really cold. We start back up in March or April, which creates kind of a surge in demand as they come back out of the winter shutdown and get things back up and running.”

Douglas ships all across the United States and exports to Canada and Mexico.

“We also have active export into Central and South America,’ Ross said.

“We have a warehouse in California that we distribute products from, as well as for the Western custom-

ers. We mostly ship LTL or full truckloads. We have contracts with different people, and they carry it throughout the United States. We ship out from Pell City every day. We generally have four to five semis come in here every day.”

“We have watched Pell City grow through the years,” he said. “It is a nice city and it is nice to see it grow.”

Gary Hanner/The Daily Home

For the past seven years, Paul Ross has been president of Steve Henderson serves Douglas Manufacturing as production manager Company in Pell City. and has been employed by His parents founded Douglas for the past seven the company in 1978. years.

“I really love working here,” Henderson said.

“It is a great company to work for. Everything that happens within these four walls of the warehouse is my responsibility.”

Ross said they have a pretty stable employment level.

“It has varied some over the past four years because of the economy,” Ross said.

“The economy has hurt our industry across the board.

When things are down, we are going to be down a little bit. If things are up, we’ll be up a little. We generally trend with everyone else in our industry. Since 2008Gary Hanner/The Daily Home 09, it has been a whole lot more challenging.”

Ross said they love being Shown is the finished product — drum and wing pulleys that are ready in Pell City. for shipment.

government & industry

6A — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013

Compared to many, Talladega County in good financial condition

By KENNY FARMER Special Projects editor

From completing construction on the new County Jail to receiving its second consecutive “no findings” audit, 2012 seems to have been a success for the Talladega County Commission.

“Compared with many counties, Talladega County is in good financial condition,” county administrator Wayne Hall said.

“Talladega County has not experienced the financial difficulties that we hear about in many other counties.”

There is approximately $12 million in the county’s General Fund. This money is used to operate the jail, Sheriff ’s Department, Probate Office, Revenue Commission, and the Accounting and Purchasing departments. Hall said that roughly 60 percent of the General Fund is used for law enforcement and the operation of the county jail.

The commission also provides funding for Arc centers in Talladega and

Sylacauga, Retired Senior volunteer programs, Senior Nutrition centers, Animal Control services, County Extension services, libraries, economic development, voter registrars, county health clinics, volunteer fire departments and the county’s Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.

The county’s total budget for the 2013 fiscal year is approximately $36 million. The budget is comprised of more than 70 different funds, including revenue that has been earmarked for payment of debts.

In December 2012, the commission announced it had received a “no findings” audit by the State Examiners of Public Accounts. This was the second straight year that the commission received a clean report.

The county’s total debt is approximately $28 million. The debt includes bonds that were issued for the Sylacauga Courthouse, B.B. Comer Memorial Library, Health Department building, Honda site development

and the county jail expansion project.

In February 2012, closing documents were signed to refinance certain debts that saved the county $642,981, according to Hall. He said the commission is now in the process of refinancing other debts that will save the county an additional $700,000.

This would bring the total amount saved by the commission during the past year to more than $1.3 million.

“None of the refinancing activity will extend the time required to retire the debts,” Hall said.

He said the “major challenges” faced by the commission in 2013 will be “keeping costs down, maintaining funding for basic operations and finding funds for maintenance of roads and bridges.” The Road Department budget for the 2013 fiscal year is about $5.6 million.

Despite those challenges, Hall said he is optimistic about the current state of the county.

“A lot of things have changed since Talladega

Bob Crisp/The Daily Home

The completion of the Talladega County Jail was one of several successes for the Talladega County Commission in 2012.

County was in a financial crisis in the early ‘90s,” he said.

Hall said those changes include adopting a balanced budget each year, not borrowing money to fund day-to-day operations, the monitoring of spending versus budgets, the reviewing of all payments that are processed through the county’s Accounts Payable Department and the fact that a county administrator and a complete accounting staff are in place.

In November, the commission approved an

amendment to an existing contract with the Alabama Department of Corrections that allows for the housing of up to 36 state female inmates in the Talladega County Metro Jail. The original contract allows for the housing of up to 53 male inmates.

As stated in the threeyear contract, the State Department of Corrections agreed to pay $15 for each inmate per day that they spend in the jail.

The State Department of Corrections also provides a food cost reimbursement

to the county at the rate of $1.75 per day and reimburses the county jail for its inmate medical co-payment system.

In December, the commission voted to request additional funds to build a bridge across the Coosa River that would connect South Talladega County to Shelby County. The state Legislature approved funding for the bridge in 2000, but Shelby County has not been in favor of the bridge.

County Commission See County, Page 8A

Work ethic, infrastructure help sell St. Clair County

By WILL HEATH Home staff writer

“That’s almost like a dream.”

That is how St. Clair County Commissioner Jeff Brown, commissioner from District 1, described the state of Alabama’s latest highway. The Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP) uses federal highway funds to issue bonds, which it then allocates to individual county transportation projects, based on need.

St. Clair County Commission Chairman Stan Batemon said the county currently has $26 million in proposals to the state, representing nearly 125 miles of roadway.

Each project requires a 20 percent local match; the estimated local match is around $5 million.

Will Heath/The Daily Home

The St. Clair County Commission reviews a plan from county engineer Dan Dahlke regarding the state’s plan to fund road paving.

“That’s over 10 times more than what we’ve ever done in a year,” Batemon said. “I would say, once these roads are done, we’d be able to double our

efforts. It will add value and a domino effect; it will take major roads, that, when you repair them for whatever reason, they’re generally more expensive

to fix than other roads.

“Taking these roads off our plate and making them about the best they can be will allow us to convert money that would nor-

mally be spent on these roads off our plate so we can focus on some other projects.”

2012 was a year that saw the county open a new Veterans Affairs home in Pell City, as well as the announcement of two new travel centers in Moody and a Nufab project in Riverside, commissioners welcomed news of the road project. Batemon said he believes it echoes to his early days serving in county government.

“The chairman was Bruce Etheridge,” Batemon said. “He used to sit down back then, and come up with a plan to improve the road infrastructure. The main reason he looked at that, he noticed that, as you improve the road infrastructure, the value of your property goes up.

“I think Bruce’s plan back then — it came out of a conference we attend-

ed — is one of the reasons our property values have maintained.”

Infrastructure, the chairman said, is a valuable tool to lure future projects to the county.

“We’re able to sell a high quality of work ethic, and the next thing we’re able to sell is infrastructure — things like our highways, water, that sort of thing,” he said. “Highways are one of the most important things in our toolbox.

I’d point out that St. Clair County is already the only county with no dirt roads to maintain; all our roads are paved in some way.

“This (ATRIP funding) will increase in some way the level of being able to explain to people coming to develop that we’re improving the level of standard. I think it’s going to go a long way to sell See St. Clair, Page 8A

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From Page 4A

transport company has many regular customers.

Browning said the heaviest load the company has transported weighed about a half-million pounds.

Interstate Specialized has transported large crawler cranes, paper mill rolls, industrial structural steel, transformers, concrete, smoke stacks and even concrete jail ceils.

On the side of the red trucks that haul the loads for Interstate Specialized are the initials “IF”.

International Freight, which Browning also owns, owns the trucks used by Interstate Specialized.

Strickland explained how the holding company got its name.

She said her father had the word “If ” on the side of his trucks and would always tell people, “’IF’ you have the money we will transport it for you.”

Strickland said the IF didn’t work when Browning was trying to get a loan to expand the business, so he had to come up with a name. Since all the trucks he owned had “IF” printed on the side, he decided to name the company “Interstate Freight.”

Today, Interstate Specialized has about 30 trucks and 100 trailers available, which includes some owner operators who help transport loads for the company. The company employs about 40 people and is just north of Pell City off Alabama 174.

The company also sales trucks and trailers through its company CB Sales and Leasing “We do our own repairs and maintenance,” Strickland said.

Browning came from humble beginnings. As a boy, he worked on the family farm in Lincoln.

He started his working career in a garage in Lincoln.

After graduating from Lincoln High School, Browning got married and moved to Pell City.

He left the garage and went into business for himself in the pulpwood industry, as a logger. He learned quickly the ups and downs of the logging business.

After 10 years in the pulpwood business, Browning sold his logging equipment, except for one truck. He stayed on the road as a trucker for five years before he started his own trucking company in Pell City.

“I started in my house,” Browning said.

Eventually he moved his business to Birmingham.

“I was starving to death out here,” he said.

He formed Daisy Enterprises and had close to 100 trucks before he went broke.

“I took what people didn’t want back and in 1991, I moved my operations back to Pell City,” Browning said. “We just celebrated our 20th year.”

He said the economy is picking up and so is the family business.

Browning said the slowest time of the year for the trucking business is January and February.

“Summertime is the busiest time of the year for us,” he said.

Browning said he never planned to have his own trucking business.

“It was all about making a living,” he said. “I had to buy groceries for my family and myself.”

Browning credits his accomplishments to his “faith in Jesus.”

“It’s been exciting,” he said. “It’s been an adventure.”

As for his daughter, she’s just following in her father’s footsteps.

THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013 — 7A

Lincoln takes pride in its city and facilities

By ELSIE HODNETT Home staff writer

Lincoln Mayor Bud Kitchin said the City Council reviewed the accomplishments and challenges of the previous administration to use as a foundation moving ahead in 2013.

“The new council held a retreat in October 2012 to review and begin planning for the next four years,” Kitchin said.

He said the new administration listed the top six accomplishments and challenges of the previous administration, as well as the top six objectives for the new administration.

“The new Lincoln City Hall and Fire Station and the Lincoln Sports Complex tied at the top of lists for accomplishments,” he said. “Lincoln takes great pride in its city and its facilities. The new City Hall and Fire Station is a shining star in our community. This facility creates an outstanding first impression for the many commercial and industrial prospects that have visited our city.”

Kitchin said although the Lincoln Sports Complex was completed and dedicated in late 2008, it won statewide attention during the previous administration.

“New library plans were approved and went out to bid during the last months of the prior administration,” he said. “This long sought after project was made possible by the completion of the new City Hall and Fire

Station so the old facility could be removed and make way for the library.

Groundbreaking is tentatively set for February, and the Library Board is excited to see this project moving forward.”

Kitchin said the Lomar Villa Accessibility Project provides accessibility to Lomar Villa residents via Honda Drive without crossing the railway.

“Phase II and the final phase of this project is under way,” he said.

Kitchin said funding was secured last year to replace the Choccolocco Creek Bridge on Talladega County 207.

“Many residents in the southern portion of the city cross this bridge on a daily basis,” he said. “It was down-rated to 3 tons for permissible passage, with no trucks allowed.

The city fire trucks and school buses exceed this limit. The only safe way to the southern areas of the city was an eight mile re-route to Alabama 77 to Old Lincoln Highway and back to Talladega County 207.”

Kitchin said the Blue Eye Creek Fishing Trail conceptual/architectural planning work was completed during the previous administration, and the Phase I purchase and installation of the pedestrian bridge was completed last year. The Blue Eye Creek Fishing Trail project will provide handicapped accessible fishing areas along Blue Eye Creek in old downtown Lincoln.

“Phase II and beyond

Bob Crisp/The Daily Home

Lincoln Mayor Bud Kitchin said he and the City Council are looking at all aspects of city government to find ways to reduce unnecessary expenses.

hinges on funding avenues and the pursuit of corporate sponsorships,” he said.

Kitchin said there are five top key objectives for the current administration.

“Active recruitment of new economic development opportunities is at the top of that list,” he said.

“The mayor and council are actively recruiting new commercial and industrial candidates to locate in Lincoln. Retail development is critical to a vital economy for attracting new jobs.”

Kitchin said Lincoln has prime commercial locations for new retail shopping centers and restaurants.

“New businesses will bring jobs, housing and revenue to our community,” he said. “Industrial prospects looking at Lincoln are looking up and 2013-2014

A

TA Matthew 19:26

should be banner years.”

Kitchin said traffic lights at the Interstate 20 and Alabama 77 interchange are also high on the list.

Kitchin said community cleanup and beautification is also a priority.

Interstate lighting of the I-20 exit at Alabama 77 is next on the list, Kitchin said.

Updating the city’s human resources policy and procedures rounds out the city’s list of priorities.

“Periodically, every governmental entity should review and update its human resources policy,” he said.

Kitchin said the council has requested consulting expertise in this area to assist with the review and to ensure city policies are current.

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8A — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013

St. Clair From Page 6A

City focusing on attracting business

what we have here: that By EMILY ADAMS we’re a progressive county Home staff writer and a county ready for With a new administragrowth.” tion comes new goals for Additionally, the pro- Sylacauga in 2013.

Mayor Doug Murphree gram will put private contractors in the county to said there are several projwork, as well: each project ects he would like to see that receives approval will become a priority this year, go out for bid to private including improving roadfirms, taking the work ways, attracting commeraway from the county’s cial business and cleaning up the city. department.

“I’m hoping we can get “This is an unusual some road updates, and effort,” Batemon said.

“Gov. Bentley and his especially on a few of these highway director, Mr. John streets in the downtown Cooper, and the group that area that have gotten pretput this together should ty bad,” Murphree said. city has applied definitely be commended for The $4 million of grants for this creative effort. It’s from the state that, if going to do more than any awarded, will go toward governor that I’ve been repaving Main Avenue, affiliated with, to help Fort Williams Street, take care of the county West Fourth Street, James roads.”

Payton Boulevard and Oldfield Road.

The county has spent “I don’t know how much of the last two years much of that money we closing out projects that may get, but if we get any have been ongoing over at all, it will be a big help the last four years. In 2011, toward getting some work the county completed ren- done,” Murphree said. ovation on the historic St. He also plans to push Clair County Courthouse completion of Alabama in Ashville, opened the 21 into a four-lane road new St. Vincent’s St. Clair coming into Sylacauga, a Hospital in Pell City and project that was taken off became a full partner with the State Department of the new Coosa Valley Water Supply District in Ragland. Most recently, the county began a joint project with the local Park and Recreation Authority to renovate the St. Clair Horse Arena in Odenville for future events.

Transportation’s 10-year plan.

“We need a four-lane coming in for industrial recruitment purposes and just for getting people and jobs in here,” Murphree said, “so I definitely plan to meet with the state and do all we can to get back in their plans.”

Murphree has also had several meetings with development companies in the hopes of getting some business growing on the city-owned property along U.S. 280. Two development deals for a shopping mall and restaurants on the property have fallen flat, and he hopes the new administration can get the job done.

“There are a couple of commercial businesses that really want to locate here if we can get something going on that property, so that’s still a priority,” Murphree said. “I’d also like to see some improvements to our recreation facilities in town, and that’s another thing that takes time, but it has been talked about, and I think it’s time to get moving that direction.”

As far as industrial growth, the IKO shingle

“When we turn this effort around to our economic development concerns, infrastructure is one of the most important tools in our toolbox.”

Bob Crisp/The Daily Home

The former mayor and city council appointed Contact Will Heath at Patrick Draper as the first city manager for Pell wheath@thestclairtimes. City. com.

Chairman Kelvin Cunningham said that if the bridge is built, Talladega and Shelby counties will have to build roads to make the bridge accessible.

Current County commissioners are Jackie Swinford, District 1; John Luker, District 2; Cunningham, District 3; Jimmy Roberson, District 4; and newly elected Greg Atkinson, who represents District 5.

Atkinson beat incumbent District 5 Commissioner John Carter in November, while Swinford was the first District 1 commissioner to win re-election in 25 years.

Concerning 2013, Cunningham said about the commission, “We’re just trying to keep an eye on our finances and stay within the budget.”

said the city is proud to be a six-time recipient of the America’s Promise 100 Best Communities for Young People award, and recent expansions and improvements in the schools and at Coosa Valley Medical Center will be wonderful assets to the area.

“When people are looking at a city for business or just to move here, schools are one of the first things they look at, and I think we’ve got a great system that helps us attract people,” he said. “And the hospital, with its new heart lab, will do the same thing.

They have a great management team and board that are moving things forward.”

By DAVID ATCHISON

“Our biggest challenge is smart growth,” city manager Patrick Draper said.

“We’re trying to get some projects under way and develop property along the interstate in a smart way.”

In the past year, the city has seen new developments, including one

of the biggest projects, the opening of the $50 million, state-of-the-art Colonel Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home.

Local officials said the new 240,000-square-foot veterans home, located

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Murphree said he is optimistic that he and the all-new council that was inaugurated last fall can use their fresh opinions to keep the city moving.

“I’m glad we have new ideas coming in,” he said.

“Everybody seems to be in a positive mood and want to do things that will help the city. We’ve got to talk and get some direction for what we want to do. Now that we’ve got a new year, I think we’ll do that.”

Growth, prosperity continue in Pell City Pell City continues to see growth and prosperity as the country rebounds from a recession, and officials believe the city will continue to move forward and prosper in 2013.

“This (ATRIP) program will have a domino effect,” he said. “It will take some major roads off the plate of the county department of transportation from having to do maintenance for several years, which will allow us to put that money into other roads the county has responsibility for.

From Page 6A

has obviously been an issue for a while now, and they seem to have it handled.”

The city will also have to keep a close watch on its $13.5 million budget, which is spread thinner than usual this year after the previous City Council passed a 5 percent pay raise for all city employees, thus leading to a nearly halfmillion dollar deficit.

“We’re doing OK right now,” Murphree said.

“We’ll just have to wait and see with this budget how things turn out.

Right now, we haven’t had any problems, but we’re expecting some lean months coming up, and that’s when we will probably have to take money from the reserves.”

The city has already handled its capital expenses for the year — four new police cars — but a new fire truck is also being purchased, which was an unexpected expense, and the repairs to the street machinery will have to wait until the budget outcome is more stable. Murphree said he plans to give a “state of the city” report after about six months in a few months.

In other areas, Murphree

Home staff writer

Each project, however, begins and ends with infrastructure. Batemon said he believes the roads will be improved greatly within the next five years.

County

plant on Fayetteville Road is expected to begin hiring soon and should be complete around the end of the year, and Pear Filters, a company that makes filters for jet fuel, will be locating in the former Marvin’s building, Murphree said.

Another of Murphree’s goals is to beautify the city, which will begin with some costly maintenance to street equipment. The city plans to either do about $30,000 of repairs to its street sweeper or purchase a new one, and a back hoe also needs repair. But even without the equipment, Murphree would like less litter on the streets.

“I really want to see us do a better job keeping the city clean, and that’s something I talked a lot about when we were campaigning,” he said.

EPA’s presence in town will go a long way toward accomplishing that goal as it handles the odor and cleanup of the former REEF treatment facility.

“Having EPA here is a great step in the right direction. They have made strides to getting it cleaned up in just the few months they’ve been here,” Murphree said. “That odor

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Cunningham said he “feels good” about the current sources of revenue for the county, and said there are no plans to lay off any of the county’s 250 employees.

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THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013 — 9A

Mayor: 2012 a good year for Riverside

By ELSIE HODNETT Home staff writer

Riverside Mayor Rusty Jessup said 2012 was a good year for the city.

“We spent less money in 2012 than we did in 2011,” he said. “But we still finished the year with a small deficit in the general fund of $14,000 and in the water fund of $7,000.”

Jessup said in 2011, the city finished the year in

the black in the general fund for the first time in four years.

“Even though we spent less money in 2012 than 2011, we still had that small deficit due mostly to increases in gasoline prices and insurance costs,” he said.

Jessup said the biggest concern facing the city in 2013 is making budget ends meet.

“The council is working well together,” he said.

Bob Crisp/The Daily Home

The Nufab Rebar LLC project was the biggest accomplishment in Riverside in 2012, Mayor Rusty Jessup said.

“We’ve already made several budget adjustments to ensure city finances stay healthy.”

Jessup said the city has temporarily shelved the idea of purchasing a sewer system. The city was in

negotiations to purchase a sewer system and attempting to obtain grant funding to extend sewer lines along U.S. 78 and Depot Street, but ended negotiations several months ago.

“The biggest accom-

plishment of 2012 was said. the Nufab Rebar LLC Jessup said the Nufab project, which brought project created commerce approximately 80 new jobs in Riverside, and made use into Riverside, as well as of a large piece of property helped us create an indus- that sat idle for years. trial/commercial park for further development,” he See Riverside, Page 10

so there was a flawless transition.

“Since taking office, it’s been full-speed,” Funderburg said. “I knew it was going to be a plate full.”

The new mayor made a promise to be a fulltime mayor, even though he receives part-time pay, and he is usually at City Hall between 8:30-4 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

“There are days I get out early,” he said.

Funderburg said he enjoys getting out and meeting the public.

“I like to get out and interact with people,” he said.

The city began holding community meetings in each council district, not only to hear ideas and the wants from residents, but to inform the public about current city affairs.

“We’re going to continue that,” Funderburg said, adding that he wants city business as transparent

as possible. “We’re going to be open to the public and to the press. We want people to understand what we are trying to do.”

He said the city is moving forward with many plans to improve the quality of life for residents.

He said city is looking at the former St. Clair County Department of Human Resource building as the location for a new public library.

“I think that’s a go,” Funderburg said. “We’re close to making a formal announcement.”

He believes the library building project can be completed without the city seeking a loan.

Funderburg said the Pell City Chamber of Commerce will move into the old library, if everything falls into place.

Another project on the horizon for the city is a new wellness/aquatics center.

“We feel like we’re going

to get one,” Funderburg said, adding that it is hopeful an official announcement is made within the next few months.

He said a new wellness/ aquatics center is something people of all ages could use.

“It’s not just a swimming pool,” he said, adding that it would have many physical fitness activities. “It’s not written in rock, but it’s getting there.”

Funderburg said the city is also moving forward with close to $1 million worth of paving projects this year, as well as some sidewalk projects.

“We’re going to try to improve the conditions of our roads, transportation, that’s important,” he said.

For more than a year, residents have complained about discolored water.

“We feel confident that situation has improved and almost resolved,” Funderburg said.

He said the School

Pell City From Page 8A

on 27 acres across from the new St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital, is expected to help create more than 300 jobs.

Last year, Pell City saw more development and business openings, including Goody’s, Burkes Outlet Store and the $13 million, 72-unit Jubilee town home community development.

Draper said the city has completed the work to stop sewer overflows and has mapped out the sewer system.

He said city officials will next turn their attention to the city’s aging water system, and mapping out that system as well.

Last year the city changed governments from a mayor to a council president form of government.

The mayor does not carry a vote in council meetings.

The change was because of the population growth of the city, which continues

to grow.

City officials also appointed a fire chief and a city manager to run the day-to-day operations of the city.

Mayor Joe Funderburg, who took office last November, said the city is fortunate to have a highcaliber city manager.

“Having a person like Patrick Draper is an asset to the city,” Funderburg said. “He’s doing an excellent job.”

Funderburg said he enjoys working with both the city manager and the council as an independent thinker for one common purpose — the betterment of the city.

He said there is a distribution of the workload.

“Everybody has a role,” Funderburg said.

The new mayor has hit the ground running since taking office. Even before he was sworn into office, he worked closely with former Mayor Bill Hereford

System will also continue to receive the half-cent sales tax the council approved for the school system in 2010 for three years. That three years is about to expire.

“Both Dr. (Bobby) Hathcock and Patrick (Draper) are getting close to resolving that,” Funderburg said.

He said he is constantly looking for things to help improve Pell City, like a new movie theater.

Funderburg also said the city needs to do a better job promoting itself.

“I want people to know that Pell City is more than just Logan Martin Lake,” he said.

He commended past leaders for their work in moving the city forward, and he hopes to continue moving the city forward.

“I’m real proud of what we have accomplished as a city,” Funderburg said.

“We’re all in this together, so I hope we work together as a team.”

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government & industry

10A — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013

Mayor sees good year ahead for Childersburg

By MARK LEDBETTER

Home staff writer

Elected to an unprecedented seventh term in August, Childersburg Mayor B.J. Meeks sees this term as a mixture of revenue losses requiring cutbacks in some areas balanced by industrial park development and downtown renovations as hopeful economic boosts.

Meeks said serving another term is a great honor and he has met many friends through the years.

“I believe people see me as a good steward of the city funds. Some call me tight, others thrifty,” Meeks said. “I treat it like my own money, only I don’t take it home.”

He said he has seen many changes during his tenure, including improved lighting on U.S. 280, several eating establishments, two motels, major school constructions, and expanded fire and medical coverage, and Fire Department expansion, much of which was accomplished through grants.

“This is the first budget since 2000 where our budget is less than $4 million,” Meeks said.

A major source of funding for the city comes from franchise use provided

by Alabama Power. With some industries downsizing in recent years, industrial service requirements have decreased and have adversely affected the city’s revenue.

Meeks said the city could see some changes that include incorporating the city’s hazardous materials under the Fire Department to reduce costs and possible cuts in outside fire and ambu-

Bob Crisp/The Daily Home

Receiving a $978,000 grant from the Alabama Department of Transportation to build an access road in the Childersburg Industrial Park could be favorable for landing a major industry, Mayor B.J. Meeks said.

lance assistance.”

“I would like to see fire districts spring up,” Meeks said.

He said the city is waiting to see how an anticipated payment by Alabama Power’s check in January affects the budget.

Resolute Forest Products, Blair Block, NuSteel and J X Nippon Oil are major industries utilizing power.

Dauber Company Inc. is one industry presently constructing facilities in the industrial park.

Receiving a $978,000 grant from the Alabama Depar tment of Transportation to build an access road in the industrial park could be favorable for landing a major industry, Meeks said. The 24foot wide, 4,000-foot long road will provide access to a site being developed for a potential major industry looking to locate in the park.

The road will be an extension of First Road and will access a 117 acre

site where core drilling and geotech testing soil properties have been completed, and application for an air permit has been submitted. Meeks said Alabama Power is looking at bringing in three-phase power to the area.

“We have been very fortunate with park development with the number of grants received,” Meeks said, “some non-matching grants.”

Meeks said Alabama Power continues to recruit industries for the park’s advantage site and hopes Talladega County Economic Development Authority Executive Director Calvin Miller will make an early announcement regarding one or two industries locating in the park.

Meeks said he would like to see the riverside property across from Resolute developed for recreation, however,

stipulations when property is transferred to the Childersburg Local Redevelopment Authority require that the industrial park must support 1,000 jobs before that property could not be developed.

Meeks said private firms, however, can develop the recreational area.

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Jessup said there are Alabama Department of Economic and Commercial Affairs grants available, which Riverside has applied for and obtained in the past, and which the city will consider applying for again.

“The new council has agreed that our main focus over the next four years is to upgrade and improve our water department and water system,” he said.

“The current water system is outdated and terribly inefficient. We will be add-

ing new water lines, putting in a telemetry system, making upgrades to our water meter reading process and upgrading housing for both wells.”

Jessup said the new council has a positive outlook for the next four years.

“We are pleased that our finances continue to hold us together,” he said.

“We will just continue to work at it and try to be more efficient with what we have.”

“Today requires so much technology but leadership also,” he said.

“I’ve noticed change in attitudes, and the students are proud of the changes.”

Meeks said he believes the dual enrollment program shared by CHS and Central Alabama Community College is also a plus for the community.

“I see dual enrollment placing Childersburg well above other communities our size,” Meeks said.

He said despite economic changes he sees a good year ahead for Childersburg and its residents.

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“In 2013, we will put most of our efforts into finishing our highway project in the industrial park off U.S. 78 and Vannick Road,” he said.

Jessup said in midJanuary that the city planned to let bids at the end of January.

“We hope to start construction in March or April, and have it finished

by October or November,” he said. “The project includes making U.S. 78

a three-lane highway from Seddon Street to the railroad trestle, which is probably a little more than half a mile. The old Vannick Road access will be widened and straightened to better accommodate traffic to the industrial park.”

Jessup said the city also is continuing efforts to get a railroad spur in the industrial park area.

“We will also continue upgrades to Riverside Landing and other city properties as funding allows,” he said.

Meeks said he anticipates changes at the Kymulga Grist Mill and Covered Bridge Park. The mill is presently taking steps toward the mill’s restoration. Other improvements include the development of the recently acquired adjacent 80 acres.

Improvements include campsite developments, horse and hiking trails, and other developments that hopefully will draw tourists to its location.

Anyone traveling 1st Street will notice downtown renovations have begun. The $482,648 project includes landscaping, new pedestrian lighting and new traffic lights.

Progress has been hampered because different departments are involved in the work, Meeks said. First Street is also Alabama 76 and improvements must meet Meeks noted he has seen Alabama Department of Transportation regula- significant changes taking place at Childersburg tions.

High School.

Meeks said he would like to see improvements eventually extend to 8th and 9th streets, at least to City Hall. He said

Riverside From Page 9A

improvements wouldn’t cost as much because it primarily involves sidewalks and pedestrian lighting.

The project is expected to be completed by spring.

318836

“We have been aggressive in grant awards for a city our size,” Meeks said. “They are expecting us to be knocking at their door.”

Meeks said 2012 was a “pretty good year,” although elections put some things on hold. He said normally the council begins working on the budget in July, but August elections and recent personal health issues have held the budgeting process up and the council has to make a few changes.

government & industry

THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013 — 11A

Productive year for Talladega city government

By CHRIS NORWOOD

Home staff writer

The year 2012 was a productive one for city government in Talladega, and city manager Brian Muenger sees more coming for 2013.

“The city of Talladega has seen a constant stream of positive news throughout the past year across many fronts, including capital improvement projects, successful pursuit of grant funding, and professional accolades for various city departments,” Muenger said. “The ultimate goal of the city is to improve the quality of life of our citizenry, and in doing so provide an environment that attracts others to live, work and do business. The level of achievement of the past year leaves me without doubt that we have made progress toward those goals, and looking toward the next year I believe that progress will continue.”

The city has seen unprecedented success in the pursuit of outside funding in the past year, receiving funding to perform a drainage project in Frazier Farm via the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program ($360,000),” Muenger said. “The city additionally secured funding from the Environmental Protection

Agency in the amount of $400,000 to continue environmental site assessment projects on various properties throughout the city through the Brownfield Assessment Grant Program.

Finally, the city received $150,000 through the Safe Routes to School Program to improve the walkability of the areas around the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind campus.

These projects, along with other long-running grant programs such as the Senior Nutrition Program, Summer Nutrition Plan, and Transit Program are excellent examples of the city’s pursuit of outside funding. It is also noteworthy that all of the aforementioned grants were written and are administered by city staff.”

The city also has a number of pending grant applications at the present time, including requests to the Alabama Department of Transportation for bridge replacement projects at Isbell Circle, Coosa Street and West Street. It is expected that the decision on these applications will be released at some point in late January or early February, Muenger said.

“In the arena of capital improvements, the city performed numerous projects from the approved Capital Improvement Plan (CIP),” he said. “These

Talladega city manager Brian Muenger said the city has plans to replace the roof at Heritage Hall, right, make improvements to the living quarters at the Fire Department and retrofit the restrooms at City Hall, top picture.

Photos by Bob Crisp

include improvements to the animal control facility, conducted in partnership with Talladega County, that added capacity as well as outside exercise areas ($50,000). The Ritz Theatre received a full heating and air system replacement, providing patrons with a facility that will be functional year-round ($140,000).

Numerous smaller projects were completed, including improvements to the Hill-Pope Detention pond,

sealing and restriping of seven parking lots, traffic signal replacement, and fleet upgrades. “ As for 2013, Muenger said, “I am looking forward to completing the previous CIP with the replacement of roof systems at both Heritage Hall and the Mabra Center, improvements to the living quarters at the Fire Department, and ADA compliant retrofitting of restrooms at City Hall. Also, with the conclusion of the existing

CIP, I look forward to presenting the council with a proposal for a new capital plan, which will include final renovation plans for Veterans Park and a substantial resurfacing plan.”

The city also achieved a number of professional accolades in the past year, with the Police Department receiving CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies) accreditation, the culmination of three years of

effort on the part of the department. The Finance Department was also recognized by the GFOA (Government Finance Officers Association) for the third consecutive year for excellence in financial reporting. As a whole, the city has been announced as the recipient of the 2012 Alabama League of Municipalities Quality of Life Award. These certifications and awards are an See Talladega, Page 14

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12A — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013

government & industry

Munford has seen many changes after 10 years of incorporation

By JIM SMOTHERS Home Associate Editor

After 10 years of incorporation, the town of Munford continues to find ways to serve the public, and in 2012 did something not many municipalities can do — it doubled the size of its police department.

Joining Chief Jeff Rutledge is Officer Jay Stephenson, who started work in May. Their presence supplements coverage offered by Talladega County deputies.

Lifelong Munford resident David Dabbs served on the Town Council since incorporation in 2002, and won election as mayor in a runoff in 2012 when the previous mayor did not seek re-election.

Dabbs own Big Daddy’s barbecue restaurant and Dabbs Auto Service and Body Shop, and also operates a tree service. Being mayor in a small town is a part-time job.

He’s seen the municipality grow, with its own library, community center, senior center, police department and municipal court. Munford now has 13 employees, nine of them full time.

“You have to be very careful with the revenue,” he said. “It’s been down for a while.”

According to the town’s audit for 2011, the latest year available, total expenses to operate were $495,816. Revenue was up that year, but slightly below

expenses at $484,825.

Dabbs said the last census indicated a drop in population, from about 1,500 to about 1,200, which he can’t reconcile with what he sees.

“I can’t see that there’s been a drastic change like that,” he said. He hasn’t seen any surge in abandoned homes, but he has noticed that some new mobile homes have been moved into the town.

“We have a huge school district, and some people think all that is Munford, but our town limits are small,” he said.

But they don’t have to stay that way. He’s hopeful that the town will be able to annex a service station and package store, which will redirect some of their tax money to Munford, and the town is open to accepting other contiguous property when the owners are ready to come in.

“They just need to come by town hall and give us their information.”

Doubling the size of the police department may rank as the biggest change in the town, and that could have an impact on municipal court. Currently the court meets every other month. City clerk Peggy Bussie, who also serves as the magistrate of the court, said there may be a need to change that to a monthly court date.

Other big changes took place in recreational services. Dabbs said, “All of our programs are huge and getting bigger.”

More weights and workout equipment has been added to the community center’s gym, which is now offering 24/7 access through key code access.

The facility is covered by video monitoring.

Recreation director Deonne Clark said there are about 40 gym members now, and membership is open on a monthly bases — no long-term contracts.

Individuals pay $10 per month, married couples $15 per month and families $25.

Government surplus opportunities and donations have helped the town set up a well-equipped gym.

“The only thing people tell me we’re missing is a squat rack for weight lifting,” Clark said.

The department also

Jim Smothers/TheDaily Home

Town clerk Peggy Bussie, Mayor David Dabbs and Police Chief Jeff Rutledge are seen in Munford’s Town Hall.

managed Munford’s Dixie Youth baseball program this year on a one-year trial basis, which apparently went pretty well.

She’s planning to organize it again this year, with Tball and baseball programs for boys 4-13. There is also a softball league for girls 8

and under, 10 and under and 12 and under. More than 300 kids registered in 2012.

There is also a youth sports basketball league that has almost 100 players from 6-13.

And Munford had a soccer season for the first

time in 2012 for ages 39, with about 60 players involved.

“For a small town we have a large amount of participation, more than some of the larger towns,” she said.

See Munford, Page 14

Jim Smothers/The Daily Home

Recreation director Deonne Clark talks with members of the town’s gym.

Government & industry

THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013 — 13A

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14A — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013

Munford From Page 12A

Recreation board members are Nicole Ponder, Nicole Gourtney, Billy Wayne Wilson, Todd Stephens, Jeff Stephens, Marty Dew, Phil Champion and Avery Gunter, with town council representative Tim Lipham.

The town’s senior center is active, and the library is serving quite a few people.

In one recent month, 593 patrons came in. Librarian Jenny Trickett said they checked out 429 books, 219 used computers and 31 new library cards were issued. The library also offers 10 programs during the month, including Reading Hour, tutoring and a coupon class.

Library board members are Paul Cockrell, Tammy Lathem, Betsy Garrison, Caty Hayes and Melba Sirmon.

The town also headed up a “Stuff from Santa” collection in December with the help of volunteers and local businesses and a lot of help from Jacks as a collection point. More than enough toys were donated for 41 kids. Bussie, Clark, Becky Moore, Leslie Bussie and Maria Clark of Hope House worked on the project.

Senior Citizens Advisory Committee members are Bobbie Rae Lackey, Judith Moon, Margie Turner, Nelda Nelson, Becky Moore, Rusty Stephens, Melba Sirmon, Sandra Smith and council representative Shane Turner.

Currently serving on the Town Council are Shane Turner, Kaye O’Conner, Tim Lipham, Wade Champion and Lee Garrison. Council meetings are usually held the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.

Contact Jim Smothers at jsmothers@dailyhome.com.

Mayor: Bright future for Oak Grove

By MARK LEDBETTER

and it helps people coming into the area to know the community cares about the future of our world.”

Merkel said plans to continue to utilize property leased from the Zeigler family for a community garden are still a viable option for Oak Grove.

Although the loss of funding from grants prohibits Oak Grove from continuing to operate the garden as it did in the past, Merkel said other options are available.

Home staff writer

Oak Grove Mayor Charles Merkel is fond of the town’s motto, “We’ve got it good in Oak Grove,” because he sees a bright future for the community.

Sales tax revenues have increased in recent months and are approaching 2008 pre-economic downturn figures, and with the development of a long-awaited infrastructure initiative, Merkel anticipates financial security and opportunities for town growth.

“The big news for us is in 2012 we started to see an increase in sales tax revenue,” he said, “and we are excited about that.”

Unlike other surrounding municipalities, Oak Grove does not collect property taxes from its residents and depends primarily on sales tax revenues for its finances.

He said two individuals are planning to farm an acre and they would donate a portion of their produce to continue to support Care House in Sylacauga.

Merkel said that under the arrangement, however, Care House would have to be directly responsible for distribution rather than the voucher system used in the past.

Merkel said he is still hoping that some arrangements can be made with organizations such as SAFE so the garden can benefit more people in need.

Merkel said tax revenues last spring and early summer were “flat” but at the end of summer they began to approach levels the town received prior to the economic downturn following 2008 economic reversals.

“The end of summer increases continued through the end of 2012 and is trending into 2013,” Merkel said. “Maybe this is a sign the economy is making a comeback locally.”

Merkel also sees Oak Grove’s investment in developing its own sewer system as providing the community not only with less expensive service but an opportunity for commercial and light industry development.

In October, the Town Council took the first steps toward developing an independent sewage system by allowing a filing of application for a public corporation. The adoption of by-laws and the appointing of board

Oak Grove’s Fourth Annual Heritage The Hodges Meteorite will be on display at Oak Grove’s Fourth Annual Homecoming Festival will Heritage Homecoming Festival April 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. continue to be a highlight on the community calenmembers are the next Grove,” Merkel said. rate limits of Oak Grove,” dar, he said. steps toward forming a “Oak Grove needs a Merkel said. “If we limit The Alabama Museum sewer board. one-lagoon treatment it within corporate limits of Natural History has Merkel said once a facility,” he said. “We there is not as great of a already agreed to display the Hodges Meteorite board of directors has been anticipate help from potential to grow.” established, the first step Community Development Merkel said he has at the event. The event, for the board is to make Block grants and funding contacted the Fayetteville Merkel said, will also feaadjustments regarding from USDA low interest Water Authority and dis- ture a music festival and the operations of its two loans.” cussed the possibility of craft and food vendors. collection systems, then “Typically, loans are constructing a facility “We want to give back to more studies can be made 40-year installments, and between Fayetteville and the community as a whole to determine the cost of if we build a lagoon sys- Oak Grove. acquiring and operating tem and the debt service Plans to continue to to benefit and enjoy,” he the town’s own system. is 50 percent of what we emphasize the recycling said, “but it brings attennow pay a sub to treat program initiated in 2012 tion to our town. New residents, new businesses “Under the last admin- (town sewage), it is a no into 2013. istration the biggest prob- brainer not to do it.”

“In 2013 we are going get to hear about you.”

This year’s festival will lem facing Oak Grove Merkel said Oak Grove to continue the recycling was the expense of col- will be looking at a state- program,” Merkel said. be observed from 9 a.m. to lecting, billing and pay- of-the-art treatment center “People are surprised at 2 p.m. April 27. ing full retail to Sylacauga to be built in anticipation how good it makes you Contact Mark Ledbetter Utility Board and such of growth. feel knowing you are keepa loss could conceivably “The system will not be ing things from going to a at mledbetter@dailyhome. bankrupt the town of Oak constrained by the corpo- landfill. It’s a great feeling com.

“One of the emerging projects that I hope to implement are the retrofitting of all city buildings with energy efficient lighting and controls,” he said.

“This project has been in progress for several months

and is nearing completion, working alongside Trane engineers a list of specific upgrades and retrofits will soon be ready to present to the council. If approved, the upgrades will provide significant energy savings

Bob Crisp/The Daily Home

Talladega From Page 11A

important part of the city’s focus on professional achievement, and serve to help raise the level of service provided to our citizenry, Muenger said.

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to the city. I also hope to begin design on a new consolidated recycling facility in the city, the construction of which will be funded by the Recycling Fee, implemented in late 2011.”

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Contact Chris Norwood at cnorwood@dailyhome. com.

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THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013 — 15A

EDC expects St. Clair growth to continue

By ELSIE HODNETT Home staff writer

Officials say St. Clair County is well on its way to completing a three-year strategic plan for economic growth.

“In 2012, our county saw the combination of large, previously announced projects like the Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home begin hiring employees at the same time our existing automotive suppliers like Yachiyo Manufacturing, Eissmann Automotive and WKW Erbsloeh were expanding to keep up with the rebounding car demand,” said Don Smith, executive director of the St. Clair County Economic Development Council.

Smith said the announcement of 608 jobs did not include the Veterans Administration home numbers because they were counted the year of the announcement.

“These expansions, combined with the location of Nufab Rebar LLC in Riverside and numerous retail announcements like Dollar General, Love’s, Burkes, Valero and Goody’s, have helped bring the unemployment rate down to 5.7 percent,” he said. “The unemployment in St. Clair County has not been at that level since November 2008.”

Tommy Bowers, chairman of the board for the St. Clair County EDC, said almost every community in St. Clair County had a significant announcement in 2012.

“That is a direct reflection on the hard work of our elected leaders and the partnerships between the municipalities and the St. Clair County

Goals for three-year strategic plan EDC executive director Don Smith said as of Dec. 18, 2012, the goals for the 2012-2014 three-year strategic plan include: • Obtain “Advantage Site” designation for a manufacturing park in St. Clair County. The EDC is currently evaluating existing known property for the likelihood of obtaining the required documentation to achieving designation.

Projected date of completion is the second quarter of 2014. It is approximately 10 percent completed.

• Identify and market an additional 400 acres of property for development.

The St. Clair County EDC is currently in contact with multiple large parcel owners throughout the county.

Projected date of completion is the second quarter of 2013. It is approximately 30 percent completed.

signed and remaining sections of minor modifications have been identified.

Projected date of completion is the first quarter of 2013. The project is approximately 80 percent completed.

• Create a Leadership St. Clair County Alumni Association. A LSCC subcommittee has been formed and is developing an action plan for implementation. Projected date of completion is the third quarter of 2013. It is approximately 35 percent completed.

• Redesign the St. Clair County EDC website to meet the latest needs of site selection consultants, prospective employers and developers. The EDC website has been rede-

• Survey 50 existing St. Clair County businesses and industries to determine their expansion and business needs. The EDC continues to survey existing industries to identify opportunities and threats to our local economy. A project manager has been hired to focus on this area.

Projected date of completion is the fourth quarter of 2014. It is approximately 25 percent completed.

• Announce $100 million in new capital investments. The EDC has announced $74.1 million in new capital investment in 2012. Projected date of completion is the fourth quarter of 2013. It is approximately 74 percent completed.

• Announce $20 million in additional payroll from new jobs created. The St. Clair County EDC has announced $17.9 million in new payroll in 2012.

Projected date of completion is the fourth quarter of 2013. It is approximately 89 percent completed.

• Announce $1 million in additional tax revenue for school systems. The EDC ha announced proj-

Commission,” he said.

“They make good decisions to keep our communities competitive and attractive to new businesses. During the tough times, when it was easy to

fight among ourselves, we all worked together and I believe we are seeing the benefits of those partnerships now.”

Bowers said the St. Clair County EDC’s goals are

ects in 2012 that will provide $2.4 million in additional projected educational revenue. It is 100 percent completed.

• Announce 750 new jobs throughout the county. The EDC has announced 608 new jobs in 2012. Projected date of completion is the fourth quarter of 2013. It is approximately 81 percent completed.

• Hold a biannual “Economic Development Summit” to educate elected officials on retail and industrial development.

The St. Clair County EDC held this well-attended seminar Dec. 6, 2012. It is 100 percent completed.

• Recruit additional tenants into the St. Clair County EDC Park. The EDC is in ongoing talks with prospective tenants.

Projected date of completion is the fourth quarter of 2014. It is approximately 10 percent completed.

• Hold a biannual seminar to publicize incentives available to existing businesses. This event will be held in the fourth quarter of 2013. The EDC has announced $74.1 million in new capital investment in 2012. Projected date of completion is the fourth quarter of 2013. It is approximately 5 percent completed.

• Create and publish a county and regional

equally focused on creating new jobs and opportunities now, while preparing to be competitive in the future.

“In February, we hope to see a number of our

wage survey. The EDC is working with outside partners to implement a wage survey. Projected date of completion is the first quarter of 2014. It is approximately 5 percent completed.

• Create a countywide calendar of events to promote and maximize tourism dollars. The EDC has created a countywide event calendar and is currently identifying partners to populate and market the calendar. Projected date of completion is the fourth quarter of 2013. It is approximately 30 percent completed.

• Identify a source of permanent funding for economic development.

The EDC, through the Economic Development Association of Alabama, is generating a survey of economic development organizations (EDO) to identify common sources of permanent funding for EDOs. Projected date of completion is first quarter of 2013. It is approximately 20 percent completed.

“St. Clair County is a great place to live, work and do business,” Smith said. “As long as we continue to work together, have incredible leaders in our communities, and a shared vision of our future, our communities’ potential is virtually limitless.”

investment because they do not have a competitive site with adequate infrastructure or at least a detailed plan.”

Smith said the St. Clair County EDC was fortunate to be able to help obtain more than $1.5 million in outside funding sources to help on three different projects throughout the county.

“These funds either went towards infrastructure improvements or to provide new infrastructure,” he said. “We are currently working on four other projects that will require additional investment in infrastructure, and we hope to be able to obtain grants to offset much of these costs to our local towns and cities. It costs a tremendous amount of money to run a city properly and the more funds our local communities can reinvest in themselves, the better.”

Bowers said all indicators point to the fact that St. Clair County is already rebounding and that the strong growth will continue to accelerate.

“We have strong manufacturing and retail growth taking place throughout the county, and now the housing sector seems to be back to normal levels,” he said. “Real estate agents are reporting high volumes again here as new home permits are increasing locally. As the housing markets in other counties begin to thaw, I believe this will only increase activity in St. Clair County as people move here for job opportunities and a great, but affordable, quality of life.”

communities in St. Clair County begin developing and marketing new, larger tracts of land for use by new employers,” he said. “Most communiContact Elsie Hodnett at ties are invisible to outside ehodnett@dailyhome.com.

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16A — THE DAILY HOME, Talladega and St. Clair counties, Ala., Sunday, February 17, 2013

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