THE BE S T O F
S TREN GT HE NI N G T H E LEAD ERS HI P I N P E LH A M
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TH E BE S T O F PEL HAM
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C IT Y HA L L
L ET T E R FROM M AYOR & C IT Y M AN AG E R When I first moved to Pelham in 1977, the city motto was “Watch Pelham Grow.” Well, it did and it is, and it will continue to grow; but future growth will not come without some unique challenges. Our most recent Comprehensive Plan was passed in January of this year. By design, the Comprehensive Plan serves to tell the elected officials what expectations you have for the future growth of your city. One of the fundamental freedoms we enjoy in the United States is the right to self-determination, which gives us the right to live where we want to live and to have a say in what our communities look like. Thanks to all of you who participated in the public involvement and focus group meetings. Our Comprehensive Plan tells us that 76% of the land within our corporate boundaries is currently developed. This statistic alone is interesting enough, but when you consider how we are surrounded on all sides by other municipalities, this limits our ability to GA RY WATERS, MAYOR grow our city out, forcing us to “grow-in.” In-filling is expensive, time consuming, 205-620-6400 and sometimes controversial, but we are having some success. By now most of mayor@pelhamalabama.gov you have seen the Valley School project that will repurpose this Pelham landmark into an entertainment and retail destination. We are also moving forward with the “Canopy” developers on Amphitheater Road; Pelham’s first multi-use development will include residential, retail, office and entertainment. We are up to the challenges Smart Growth strategies present. Our City Manager, Ms. Gretchen Difante, has assembled a dynamic leadership team that is able to optimize each opportunity with professionalism and efficiency. In the end I hope the changes you witness will meet with your approval as we attempt to supplement and sustain our quality of life in Pelham. Be well. Over the past 15 months, Mayor Waters and I have spoken to at least twenty groups to share the dozen or so large projects going on in Pelham. Some of those completed projects include the long-overdue comprehensive plan, changes in our zoning ordinance, a building assessment for all city-owned facilities, the preparation of a request for proposal for new operating software for the entire city enterprise, the recruitment and hiring of seven key executive positions, the completion of two development contracts for $65 million in new investment in Pelham, and, under the direction of the emergency management director, the move from city hall to a temporary location after an exhaustive search for temporary space. And then there are the day-to-day operations on top of our major projects! After every presentation, at least one person makes a statement about how they had no idea we were doing all these things in Pelham and how proud they are to be a resident. I G RE TC H E N D I FA N T E , have gotten several comments from attendees telling me they want to move to PelCIT Y MAN AGER 205-620-6400 ham if they don’t already live here. As you read through the stories in this newsletgdifante@pelhamalabama.gov ter, I hope you will get the same feeling of pride in your city that has been expressed to me time and time again by those attending presentations. Rest assured, Mayor Waters, your city staff members and I are not stopping. We have another dozen or so large current projects with another dozen in the bull pen. I love hearing from residents and business owners, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you’d like us to speak to your group or if you simply have a question or an idea. We are proud to serve you! TH E BE S T O F PEL HAM
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OUR ELECTED OFFICI AL S ’PR I OR IT IE S
MAURIC E MERCER 205-937-3092
mauricemercer@pelhamalabama.gov
I always look forward to events like The Taste of Pelham and the Pelham Palooza where families come together to form a community that supports one another and our city. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to close facilities and cancel these events in order to protect our citizens. While the inability to come together physically is disappointing, this time of crisis presents an opportunity to come together in other ways as a community to help each other. There are many exciting things happening in Pelham. The addition of the Canopy and Campus No. 124 brings $65 million in new investment into our city. Perhaps more importantly, the investment signifies that Pelham is a place where people want to be and where new businesses and restaurants wish to grow. With new businesses and new opportunities at our parks and city facilities, our community becomes more vibrant and the quality of life is greatly improved. 4 |
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Through our work with the Pastor’s Forum and the Library Guild, it’s been rewarding to meet new families who have recently moved to Pelham and hear the many reasons why they’ve chosen Pelham as their home. Every conversation has me realizing how grateful I am to serve this community. Pelham residents always find a way to band together, and I am proud of us.
willingness to serve that can be found in individuals within our city. Lastly, I hope we will have a record number of Pelham residents return to the polls to elect a mayor and five council members. Please use this opportunity to reach out to those who are running and express your impressions of our city and any challenges you would like to see undertaken.
RO N SCOTT 205-837-1451
RI C K H AYE S 205-263-1588
ronscott@pelhamalabama.gov
My goals as we march into spring are to support our employees and volunteer citizen groups who are working hard to make positive changes in our city. I am amazed by the qualifications of the new individuals in our employee ranks – whether they’ve come internally, from Pelham or from across the country – they are joining a team of excellent existing employees and have been able to hit the ground running to make a difference. Perhaps most important to the process of good government is a base of concerned and actively involved citizens. I am impressed with the wealth of talent, experience and
rickhayes@pelhamalabama.gov
My biggest goal for our city is to get back to a point where virtually all of our efforts are spent optimizing what we could do for our citizens, businesses, employees and visitors and not wasting precious resources on unnecessary political issues. Road improvements are also high on my list as is the finalized design and beginning of construction of a new fire station on Highway 11. Lastly, we are excited about the nearing completion of Phase 1 of Pelham’s trails and greenways initiative and a completion of the analysis of the best options for repairing and remodeling City Hall. I’d like to see us move out
“ WE A R E F ORT UN AT E TO HAV E A V IS ION A RY CO U N C I L TH AT I S WILLIN G TO D O WHAT IT TA K ES TO P US H T H I S C I T Y F ORWARD .” GRETC HEN D IFA NT E, CIT Y M A N AG E R
of the temporary space and provide a much higher level of service to our residents and businesses next door to the very nice Pelham City Schools Central Office. Our fine community has accomplished a great deal and we have succeeded in turning around some key things, but our potential is so much more.
upgrades at Pelham City Park as well as our neighborhood parks. If we want to attract young families, our parks need to reflect a city that meets the needs of a young family including updated playground equipment and a splash pad. While Pelham has always been great at providing excellent youth sports programs, the additions of the recreation center, basketball and volleyball courts, dog park, new trail and green space and new senior center programming demonstrate that Pelham now offers something for everyone.
BET H MCMIL L AN 205-620-3909
bethmcmillan@pelhamalabama.gov
I am excited about the results of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and grateful to all the residents who took time to participate in the focus groups. As we complete the first phase of the public trail and prepare for its grand opening, design work is already underway for additional phases of the trail. It’s exciting to see the physical changes to the new Campus 124 site and to imagine the trail connecting the new entertainment district with some of our communities. The residents along the trail will have a short walk to dinner and entertainment, and the landscape along the trail will be impacted far beyond new plants and signage. We also anticipate the
MI L D RE D L AN I E R 205-540-5216
mildredlanier@pelhamalabama.gov
As your City Councilor, thank you so much for allowing me to serve you and our community. As a community family, we have so much to be grateful for in our city. We can see the wonderful new Board of Education Central Office, action packed activities at the Parks and Recreation, and outstanding programs at the library. We have all of these amazing blessings and so much more to look forward to this
year. A top priority is our City Hall. It has been prudent to evaluate our needs and options for City Hall. And opening the doors of our “City Hall home” again is vital. Another priority is continued collaboration between city leadership and our school leadership. Continued financial support for our schools, the Pelham City Schools Foundation, academic programs, along with performing arts and sports support students’ academic and personal success. Finally, promoting respect and healthy relationships throughout Pelham is another priority. The walking trail and outdoor community gathering spaces are central to our sense of community. The Canopy and Campus 124 projects will be major additions. As we continue to work together to serve Pelham, the opportunities for us to continue to thrive are boundless.
P EL H A M ’ S CIT Y CO UN C I L MEETS TH E F I RS T A N D TH I RD M O N DAY O F EAC H M O N T H AT 7 P. M . U N L ES S THE M EETI N G FALL S ON A H OL I DAY. Please visit www.pelhamalabama.gov for location and agenda. TH E BE S T O F PEL HAM
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Heavenly U NI T E D
As the door swings open to Vineyard Family Services in Pelham, another pastor walks into the room and is greeted with a chorus of “hellos,” and handshakes and hugs. The men and women in the room are a diverse mix of individuals from all backgrounds, and there is one powerful force bringing this group of pastors together. “With so many things that divide us, like politics and football, it’s refreshing to have something unite us: Christ. When you meet someone through Christ, it’s hard to get separated by things of the world,” shared Maurice Mercer, council member and facilitator for the Pelham Pastor’s Forum. Pastor Devin Watkins, Senior Pastor of Pelham’s First Baptist Church, concurs with Mercer’s opinion on unity. “We are spiritual siblings in Christ, banded together for a purpose. If it were not for this group, I would not know some of the other pastors in this area and that would be tragic.” It was in the spring of 2013 that the Pastor Forum in its current state restarted. “After conversations with various pastors about wanting to be of service to the Pelham community, as well as the mayor’s office receiving calls for assistance that a municipality couldn’t handle with public funds, Mayor Waters and I thought it would be good if we could match the needs of the community with the hearts of the faithbased community,” shared Mercer. The group meets quarterly and, over the past seven years, has participated in projects such as coat drives, community events, helping single parents, working alongside first responders, and praying together for miracles. 6 |
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Mercer explains that the pastors commit to praying for the city and its leadership in their worship services each week, and Mercer sees a direct impact to the city. “I remember when there was an accident on Hwy 11 and a young lady came up missing. City Manager Gretchen DiFante asked me to message the pastors for prayer, and within the hour this person was found. Some may think it’s a coincidence; I believe it was unified prayer.” One new program the group started in 2018 was a partnership with the Pelham Police Department in which the pastors step in to support citizens identified by the police department as needing temporary help. “We met with the pastors to explore how we could partner together,” explained Officer David Tkacik. “As the code enforcement officer, I encounter many citizens who have health issues or have simply encountered a temporary life challenge and are unable to keep up their yard or do something else to get their property into compliance,” Tkacik said. In some of these cases, the police will ask the citizen’s permission to reach out to the local church community to see if a congregation can provide assistance. The police send the request to Mercer who distributes it to the pastor’s forum. “Every request has been accept-
A ROU ND TOWN
Ward Williams with Vineyard Family Services welcomed the gathered pastors to their annual Christmas luncheon
ed and acted upon by one of our local churches,” says Tkacik. “Local churches have taken on projects from cleaning decks to prevent falling hazards and even completing small construction projects to performing simple yard work. It’s a great partnership.” Pastor Donnie Sisk, Associate Pastor of Recreation and Outreach at First Baptist Church in Pelham, echoes that sentiment. “The church has been able to assist citizens who have been vetted by the police department, and we’ve recently updated our policy to specifically help those living in Pelham. We are fortunate to be able to partner with the police to help our community members. It’s rewarding and humbling to be able to serve our neighbors in this way.” Pastor Jerry McClain of Kingdom Christian Center is excited, not just about what this band of brothers and sisters have done, but also about the future. “I expect us to stay the course and continue the effort to welcome all faith-based churches to be a part of our efforts to better our communities. I would also like to see more projects that bond us as a faith-based community, such as ‘Worship in the Park’ and tree lighting ceremonies outside near the city center park areas,” he shared. Mercer sums up the passion the various pastors feel. “Our faith-based and service-based
organizations are vital to Pelham. They are the fabric of our community. I just give God the glory for the relationships being built among the leaders, as well as the service being rendered to our residents. The residents are never hassled about joining a church, just shown Christ’s love.”
If your church would like to join, please contact Maurice Mercer at mercermaurice@gmail.com or call 205-937-3092. TH E BE S T O F PEL HAM
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S T R E N GTH ENIN G T HE L E A DERSH I P FAB RIC OF A CO MMUNI T Y THE BES T PEOPLE PRODUCE THE BES T RESULTS
When Gretchen was hired as the City Manager for Pelham, the city council gave her the directive to improve efficiency, service and professionalism across all city operations. “I realized this charge would be a big challenge, especially since I would be Pelham’s first city manager,” explained DiFante. “What was unexpected was the amount of groundwork needed to start our journey.”
NO PLACE LIKE HOME As a native Alabamian, Gretchen grew up in the South in the 1970s and 80s. She graduated college and moved to Rochester, NY. After marrying and having five children, serving 10 years with the Air Force Reserves in public affairs, earning a graduate degree, and working in senior executive positions in manufacturing, non-profit, and local government, DiFante, along with her husband and two youngest daughters, moved back to Birmingham. “I enjoyed our life in New York, but I missed the hills and valleys (and sunshine!) of the Birmingham area; and I missed Southern ways. The first time I ordered ice tea in Buffalo, I was told it was, ‘not ice tea season,’” recalls DiFante. “Have you ever heard of such?”
SHINING A LIGHT ON THE STATS “Many people outside Alabama have the image of the state as closed-minded and backwards. I spent almost three decades defending my home state, and I’m thrilled to 8 |
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return to Alabama and help show the world the great state I know my home to be,” DiFante pointed out. US News and World Report released its annual state ranking based on measurable outcomes for citizens using more than 70 different metrics, and in 2019 Alabama fell from 43 to 49th overall. The metrics are based on quality of education, economy, roads, bridges, internet and other infrastructure, public safety, fiscal stability, and opportunities afforded to citizens. “This dismal picture should not be okay with us,” says DiFante. DiFante believes that while we may not be able to change things at the state level, we can influence change locally by becoming a more professionally run city. “We can make Pelham a better city by improving efficiency, planning and budgeting smarter for the future, increasing citizen engagement and overall transparency in all aspects of our government. When I arrived, we lacked process and consistency in just about every administrative area across the board. If we don’t change these things, our ability to improve will reach a ceiling,” she shared. While statistical studies identify Alabama as one of the worst states for quality of life in general, Gretchen is determined to see Pelham become a place that tells a different story. “Pelham can be the story of a community that hires for excellence, trains for excellence, and delivers excellence,”
City Manager Gretchen with Gov. Kay Ivey
says DiFante. “However, that vision has to extend beyond what we see now. That vision is shared by our elected officials, citizens, and staff - and is one the people of this great city expect as well,” she affirmed. They want ordinances that help reduce the types of businesses that are not good for the city and encourage other businesses to locate and stay here in Pelham. They want amenities that encourage everyone to be healthy, active, and engaged.” “We need to demonstrate the link between what we are doing to improve and the benefits to our local economy and quality of life. In order to realize that vision, we need an outstanding team, and that quality starts at the top,” reflected DiFante.
DETERMINED TO MAKE PROGRESS “Past practice in Pelham had been to promote the next person in line for a job based on seniority; and over the years, some employees had been hired or promoted because of who they knew or, in some cases, to whom they were related. Education, experience, proven results, and professional certifications didn’t typically play a role in that selection,” DiFante stated. “When I started getting to know the employees, I quickly realized Pelham had an excellent and passionate group of employees. Like every organization, there were also some who didn’t want to make the change council and the mayor expected, and a few left to find opportunities elsewhere,” DiFante added. DiFante and Mayor Gary Waters found themselves with some vital senior positions to fill. “We had several roadblocks when it came to recruitment, ‘selling’ people on Pelham, and helping candidates see a vision that had only begun to take shape,” commented DiFante. The first area DiFante looked at before filling key
LEADING OUTSIDE OUR BORDERS
In 2019, Gretchen DiFante partnered with Cheryl Kidd, Birmingham City Council administrator, to pursue the start of an Alabama state chapter of Women Leading Government. Through their affiliation with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), their goal is to promote local government careers to young women, encourage professional women to network, and improve skills in a setting where they can grow as leaders and as individuals. “By forming organizations like this chapter, we are demonstrating we are thought leaders and showing we want to invest in our future,” Kidd identified. “Any time someone from our cities takes a leadership role in something positive, it is good for us and our cities. In this case, Birmingham and Pelham and our region are at the forefront of something other states have been doing successfully for a long time,” Kidd added. After speaking with leaders from other Women Leading Government (WLG) state chapters in Arizona and Colorado, Kidd and DiFante were encouraged to provide a forum in which women could gather and network. Thus, the Alabama WLG had its second annual conference last month following an inaugural conference last February. Both gatherings were held at the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena with more than 100 attendees. Last year, the keynote speaker was Karen Pinkos, ICMA President and City Manager, El Cerrito, California. “At the international conference in Nashville last year, Karen Pinkos stood at the podium with 8,000 gathered from across the country and gave a huge shout out to Alabama and what we had done with WLG. It’s all we could talk about at our state dinner the following evening,” says DiFante. “Recognition like this makes a dent in helping recreate the image of Alabama.” At that same conference, DiFante was named by the National League of Women in Government and the National Research Center as a finalist for its annual Premiere Leadership Trailblazer Award that recognizes accomplished local government leaders who have championed and inspired other women to achieve. DiFante is confident in the difference the state chapter’s efforts will make in the atmosphere and development of the City of Pelham, “We all want other cities within Alabama and outside our state to look at how Pelham is doing things and want to be just like us,” added DiFante. Alabama WLG membership is free and available to non-elected females employed in local or state government or a supporting industry. Visit their website for more information: www.AlabamaWLG.org. TH E BE S T O F PEL HAM
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positions was the city’s recruitment and hiring practices, and the city made changes in the selection process in 2017. “All positions, including department heads, are now posted internally and externally. Careful consideration is given as to the skills, experience, and values we want in every individual, and we have a diverse interview panel to rate candidates based on what the appointing authority (the department head or city manager and mayor) has determined are priorities for the position,” DiFante explained. This process has been used to fill every open department head position over the past two years. The results speak for themselves. See chart at right comparing last four director level hires with their predecessors hired prior to 2016 – this does not include public safety positions. “The push to high-quality, experienced leaders has resulted in an overall focus on employee development and achieving results,” commented Tracy Hill, Pelham’s HR Director of seven months whom DiFante recruited after nearly 18 months of networking in the industry. “Pelham was missing a lot of the basics when I arrived,” commented Hill. “We worked quickly to establish clear policies from interviewing to updating job descriptions. The employees were hungry for clarity and consistency and needed coaching and answers to complex personnel issues,” added Hill. The investment in the team does not stop at the top. “We had budgeted zero dollars for training in many departments over the course of a decade,” commented Hill.
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EXPERTISE IN RECENTLY HIRED LEADERS VS. PREVIOUSLY HIRED LEADERS HIRED BEFORE 2017
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# YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD
0
# YEARS IN A SENIOR LEADERSHIP POSITION
0
INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
1
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIP
HIRED AFTER 2017
99
# YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD
45
# YEARS IN A SENIOR LEADERSHIP POSITION
6
INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
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PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS
“This is inexcusable, and we have started with basic skills like conflict management, interviewing, and customer service. We will continue to invest in and develop our people, because they are the organization,” explained Hill.
HOW IS IT WORKING? The city recently conducted a series of focus groups after which employees completed a confidential survey to help management understand the positive and negative perceptions held by employees outside the director level. Seventy-five percent of the employees indicated the city organization was better off or much better off than it was two years ago; another 16% reported the organization was the same as it was two years ago, while nine percent believe things are worse. “It’s one thing to feel like you are making positive inroads,” said DiFante; “but it’s quite another to have that knowledge validated by such an important customer – the employees.” While internal perception is important, external perception is of equal value. “Andre` Bittas (Director of Development Services and Public Works,who joined Pelham after nearly three decades with the city of Birmingham), and I recently attended a meeting with the Director of the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) and his leadership team,” shared DiFante. “After those in attendance made the transition to Andre` with Pelham, they began to speak with him as a trusted teammate. By the end of the meeting, the ALDOT director suggested Andre` get the proper people together to facilitate next steps for a large multi-municipal road project and let ALDOT know what he needed from them! It was a moment of truth for me,” explained DiFante. “I realized that in two years, I had gone from being embarrassed to meet with ALDOT to feeling proud we had a teammate so valuable even the ALDOT director placed great trust in him – what a big improvement for Pelham!” Mayor Waters is quick to point out that every senior position filled over the past two years has not come from outside the organization. “We’ve promoted our police chief, public works manager and wastewater treatment supervisor from within the organization,” he said. “The city leadership team is a mix of those who have been in their positions for a long time, those not new to the city but new to their positions, and those very new to the city,” explained Tracy Hill. “The City Manager and Mayor have assembled an energetic, collaborative and supportive team that embraces change and created a cul-
EMPLOYEE OUTLOOK FOCUS GROUP RESULTS
9% 16%
75%
Better than 2 Years Ago
Same as 2 Years Ago
Worse than last 2 Years Ago ture where open communication and integrity are woven into the fabric of daily operations, and that’s why I wanted to work here,” added Hill. “It’s been fun to build this team along with Gretchen,” says Mayor Gary Waters. “In the two and a half years she has been our city manager, I’ve watched Gretchen slam up against barrier after barrier, get up, dust herself off, and pick up another talented individual to carry with her to the next brick wall. If you want to know what collaboration looks like, watch our leadership team work. If you want to work hard, work smart and be a part of a really effective team, come on over to Pelham.” Mickey Dunnaway, Manager of Streets and Landscape Maintenance, has been with the city for 22 years and concurs with the Mayor’s comments. “There have been three major changes over the past couple of years,” Dunnaway commented. “Employees are more accountable, show more pride in their work, and there is more recognition for achievements. I’ve waited a long time to see these changes made, and it’s starting to turn things around for Pelham.”
PICTURED TOP LEFT Kneeling: Gretchen DiFante, City Manager; Gary Waters, Mayor Standing (L-R): D. Tyrell McGirt, Director of Parks and Recreation; Jenny Gray, Accounting Manager; Angie Brown, Building & Zoning Official; Patrick Cheatwood, Chief of Police; Mickey Dunnaway, Manager of Public Works; Daniel Hamlin, Sewer Plant Supervisor; Tracy Hill, Director of Human Resources; Alicia Walters, Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation; Brooke Jenkins, Executive Assistant; Andre` Bittas, Director of Development Services and Public Works Other Leadership Team Members not pictured include: Paula Holly, Executive Assistant, Chaney Mills, Director of the Racquet Club, Mary Campbell, Library Director, Danny Tate, Civic Complex Operations Manager, Hal Brown, Ballantrae Golf General Manager, Tom Seale, City Clerk/ Treasurer, Dell Ann Holly, IT Manager, and Tim Honeycutt, Fire Chief TH E BE S T O F PEL HAM
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TANGIBLE RESULTS FOR THE CITY
WHAT IS A CITY MANAGER?
DiFante and Mayor Waters can speak quickly about operational and economic results as well. The city combined fleet management operations with Hoover last year which has saved Pelham more than $200,000 in its first year; and even more importantly, the quality of service has improved tremendously. “We’ve gone from letting police cars sit for weeks to having them back on the road in less than two hours,” said DiFante. “Our police, fire, and public works employees can’t say enough positive things about the improved service levels,” added Waters. Waters and DiFante also cite examples of improved and more accurate employee time keeping and job descriptions, revised building permit applications, changes in the purchasing process for police vehicles, restructuring in emergency dispatch to help alleviate administrative calls, and consolidated purchasing of maintenance contracts as examples of improved efficiency in city operations. “We are about to introduce changes in brush collection that will maintain our current level of service while saving thousands of dollars for the taxpayers,” says DiFante. “We’ve also attracted $65 million in new development, and the feedback we’ve received from those investing in our city is very positive, but I think their investment speaks for itself.”
Even the position of city manager is a professional position. A city manager is the official appointed as the administrative manager of a city. Their responsibilities cover managing the city budget, overseeing and appointing most city personnel, and making recommendations to the mayor and council on a variety of issues. The city manager is a non-partisan professional manager, and the profession was founded in 1914 to combat corruption in local government. The council-manager form of government is the most common form of government in the country, but there are very few in Alabama. Cities with managers can count on the manager to work with departments to maintain consistency in financial and program goals especially through changes in elected bodies. “It’s counterproductive for cities to go back to zero or have major operational changes when the elected body changes; however, that is not uncommon in mayor-council forms of government,” commented DiFante. Cities with managers typically go through less change in operations and are able to maintain forward progress much more efficiently and effectively. The city manager tends to work behind the scenes leading the staff to achieve goals set by the council and the mayor. The mayor is the most highly visible elected official and helps to connect constituents to solutions and facilitate collaboration both inside the city and among other government entities. The council’s role is to set policy, approve the budget by setting priorities, and appoint a city manager who leads the staff to carry out the priorities and policies set by the council according to the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). Pelham has currently adopted a city manager by ordinance that assigns leadership of the overall dayto-day city operational responsibilities to the manager; however, the city has not moved to a council-manager government. A public vote is required to change the form of government. “I hope the citizens see the tremendous positive difference and will vote to change the form of government over the next couple of years,” said Mayor Gary Waters. “We’ve been in practice mode for nearly three years, and we need to make it official so we can continue to recruit professionals and maintain continuity of operations through election periods.”
MOVING FORWARD “This organization has seen a tremendous amount of change in a relatively short period of time,” reflects DiFante. “At times, I think it might be too much too fast, but then I recall a recent conversation with (Police Chief) Pat Cheatwood during which he told me how much value Tracy Hill and Andre` Bittas had added in such a short time. As I listened to Pat share the ways Tracy and Andre` had helped the police department, it occurred to me how simple these things were; and I told Pat that, as a department head, he should always expect that type of support. Pat reflected and said, ‘yeah, but we’ve never had that here before.’ Its comments like Pat’s that make me smile and provide energy for the next onslaught of challenges on behalf of the people of this great city in this wonderful state!”
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Find out more about Pelham professional team at www.PelhamAlabama.gov
TR AS H M A N : SERGHE I D MI TRIE V
Keeping Pelham Clean If you travel Highway 11 and Highway 52 East, you most likely have seen the signs reminding motorists not to litter. It turns out these mysterious signs have been created by a most unlikely source. Serghei Dmitriev, a Russian immigrant and longtime resident, is the man behind the signs, as well as piles of collected rubbish. Serghei rides his bike, which he modified by adding a basket on the back to hold the trash, and picks up litter that he finds on the side of the road. “I have four routes,” he stated while smiling brightly. He gestured a big looping motion with his free hand, indicating that he goes in a circle. “I am upset by garbage at the roadside,” he shared with annoyance. Most days, dressed in his reflective vest, you can spot him peddling his bike, stopping when he spots a wrapper or Styrofoam cup on the roadway. He started this endeavor because at one point his job required him to clean up. “I, for years, [was an associate] at Publix, in Hoover. I was obligated to pick up garbage in the parking lot,” he explained. This led to him starting what he calls his hobby. “I try to keep the roadside clean while I am on my road bike; it is a hobby,” he brightly shared. “I often help out the manager in my apartment complex who picks up garbage. It is a personal hobby,” he again explains. After buying his favorite drink, a Diet Mountain Dew, Serghei gets back on his bike to finish his route for the day. It is evident he does this out of concern for the beauty of his community, and he is clearly baffled by why anyone would purposely litter.
Serghei Dmitriev
TO
HELP
PLEASE
OUT DON’T
SERGHEI, THROW
TRASH OUT OF YOUR CAR, KEEP THE BED OF YOUR TRUCK CLEAN, AND SLOW DOWN NEXT TIME YOU SEE A MAN ON HIS BIKE TRYING TO LEND A HAND. OH, AND OFFER HIM A DIET MOUNTAIN DEW.
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HOMETOWN
CIT Y FAC IL I T I E S BALL ANT R AE G OL F COU RS E Designed by internationally renowned golf course architect Bob Cupp, Ballantrae is known throughout the Birmingham region as a “fast, fun and friendly� public golf course of 18-championship holes. It won national accolades in Golf Digest as the Best New Affordable Public Golf course in 2005 and as one of the Top 50 Courses for Women by Golf for Women Magazine in 2005. Ballantrae has hosted the Alabama Open four times since 2006. Holes: 18 | Par: 72 | Yardage: 7,310 www.ballantraegolf.com
P ELHAM C IVIC CO M PLE X With two NHL-sized ice arenas (one that easily transforms into 30,000-square feet of exhibition space), a Skating and Hockey School, Skating-Birthday Party Rooms, and 7,000 square feet of elegant banquet and conference space, Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena is the ideal place to showcase your special event. www.pelhamciviccomplex.com
R ECR EAT ION C E NT E R Recreation center amenities, walking track, exercise equipment and gymnasium, are available to members only. pelhamalabama.gov/542/Recreation-Center
PA R KS AND R E C R E AT IO N The city park is centrally located off Highway 31. Four neighborhood parks are located in Chandalar, Oak Mountain Estates, Mallard Point, and Fun-Go-Holler Park. pelhamalabama.gov/228/Parks-Recreation
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HOMETOWN
CIT Y FAC IL I T I E S S ENI OR C E NT E R The Pelham Senior Center provides opportunities for individuals 55 and older living in Shelby County to improve their talents, enrich their minds, give service in the community, develop meaningful friendships, and help maintain physical health and wellness. Within the past two months, senior center membership has grown over 25% alone, adding over 100 members. pelhamalabama.gov/572/Senior-Center
PELHAM R AC QU E T C LU B The Pelham Racquet Club is a public tennis facility consisting of 20 clay courts and 5 hard courts, all lit with above tournament grade lighting. The entire facility is beautifully landscaped on three tiers providing function and visibility to all courts. The number of tournaments has more than doubled in recent years. In 2019, USTA selected Pelham’s Junior Tournament as the state and regional tournament of the year. pelhamracquetclub.com
PUB LI C LIB R ARY The Library offers books, DVDs, music, books on CD, video games and downloadable resources for every age group. The brand new two story facility houses not only materials to check out but also two computer labs, meeting and study rooms. The Library offers something for every age group. Preschool story times are presented every Wednesday morning and Thursday evening. Each summer the library hosts a reading program during the months of June and July for kids and teens, and offer various special programs throughout the year for kids, teens, and adults. www.pelhamlibrary.com
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A ROU ND TOWN
S HARE D D U T Y Cheatwood recognizes the value of several things in Pelham welcomes Pat Cheatwood in his new role as the department and looks forward to working with the chief of police. “I have always loved law enforcement, and I want to watch others enjoy a rewarding career like I have team to improve others. “We need to continue our comfor the last 24 years,” he shared. munity focus on making Pelham a great place to live, After a nationwide search, Cheatwood, who was serv- work, and visit. At the same time, crime trends in every ing in the interim role, was selected as Pelham’s new chief. community are continuously evolving, and we need to The city didn’t make the appointment lightly. “We involved make sure we stay ahead of changes. There are tools like training and technology we aren’t currently utilizing, and residents and business owners in our community in helping to select our next chief of police,” explained Mayor we need to change that,” he noted. Gary Waters. “Pat stood up against chiefs from across the country, and it was clear to PROFESSIONALISM the entire selection com“ IT IS O U R H O N O R TO S ERV E mittee that he was the right One sign of the quality of PelT H E C IT IZ EN S O F P EL H A M . WE ham’s police department is a clear person to lead this department and serve the city as APPR E C IAT E TH E S U P P O RT TH AT commitment to professionalism. its police chief,” continued “In times of trouble, people expect Waters. OU R COM M U N I T Y S H OWS a professional dispatcher to answer Cheatwood knew as a the phone, and they expect a proU S, AND WE A S K TH AT YO U fessional police officer to respond. young boy he wanted to be in public service. “A friend Dressing and acting professionally JOIN U S IN KEEP I N G P EL H A M are proven ways to reduce cusof my father was a police officer when I was a child, ONE OF T H E SA F ES T C I TI ES I N tomer complaints and help officers and I always thought his gain trust on an individual basis,” job was the coolest in the Cheatwood shared. A L A BA M A .” world. Also, in the ‘70s and This professionalism extends to ‘80s, police officers on TV the approach in keeping Pelham ~ C HI E F PAT C H E AT WOO D were portrayed as heroes. I safe. “Our officers are encouraged always wanted a job where to be highly visible, whether in I could help people in need their patrol vehicle or on foot and put ‘bad guys’ in jail,” patrol. We want to identify potential problems he recalled with a smile. before they become issues. We are consistently As he moves into his new role, improving our services and patrol techniques,” Cheatwood is excited about the future noted Cheatwood, adding that “increased utiof the department. “We have great lization of crime-fighting technology will help employees here, many of whom are us improve the safety of those we serve.” early in their careers, so I’m thrilled to Communication is a key component to witness and support their growth and a quality professional police department. “We the results I know they will achieve have really focused on community relations throughout their careers,” Cheatwood the past few years, and a large part of that can shared. be seen in our social media presence. Social 16
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media, in its many platforms, is the preferred communication method for many people, so we have worked diligently to inform, educate, and engage with our citizens, as well as to respond to their questions. One thing we’ve noticed,” he said, “especially within the last few months, is that people are increasingly reporting time-sensitive issues (like traffic violations and vandalism) via social media. These are the sorts of things we need people to call us about immediately so we can dispatch officers in a timely manner. While we are thankful that people engage with us and are reporting problems, social media isn’t always the best avenue to do so. It’s a tool we have embraced wholeheartedly; however, it can’t be monitored 24 hours a day.”
THANKFUL As a seasoned officer, Cheatwood understands that being available to respond to calls at any time, about any situation, and under any condition is foreign to most citizens. “Po-
Pelham Police visting our schools lice recognize any call could be the last, and the support from the community is imperative not only to the city’s safety, but also to the safety of its officers.” While most residents don’t fully understand what a Pelham police officer faces on a daily basis, Cheatwood is humbled and appreciative of the support the community has shown to his fellow officers. “It is awesome,” he said, “to feel the support of the people we serve. Many cities across America do not have the support we do, and we don’t take it for granted. Pelham citizens and business owners often anonymously buy meals for our officers, while others take time to say, ‘thank you.’ Those acts of service make a huge difference to our officers. “It is our honor to serve the citizens of Pelham. We appreciate the support that our community shows us, and we ask that you join us in keeping Pelham one of the safest cities in Alabama.”
To learn more about the Pelham Police, visit them at www.PelhamPD.com or www.facebook.com/PelhamPoliceDepartment
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A ROU ND TOWN
The Future of
PA RKS & R EC The Pelham Parks and Recreation department has undergone many changes over the years. The expansion of City Park, the new Recreation Building, and the new Dog Park are all examples of visible and tangible expansion and change. Since this summer, a more subtle, but no less impactful, change has been taking place. This undercurrent of change has come, not in the building of facilities, but in the building of a team. D EV ELOP I N G A PASSION D. Tyrell McGirt did not always know he wanted a career in parks and recreation. “I fell into this by accident,” he shared with a smile. “My mom came home and asked, ‘What do you think about being a lifeguard this summer?’ and before I could answer, she said, ‘I already signed you up.’” From his first summer as a lifeguard at the local pool to today as the Parks and Recreation Director, McGirt, who goes by D., found a career in public parks and recreation that spans 19 years and four states. McGirt’s career path led him to take a job close to home with the Greensboro, NC Parks and Recreation department “I had always wanted to explore life outside North Carolina, and I initially took the county job while I figured out what I really wanted to do,” explains McGirt. 18 |
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“The next job offer was for a management position in Parks and Recreation about as far away from home as I could get…Alaska.” McGirt considered the Alaska job to be the opportunity of a lifetime. “Believe it or not, the job in Alaska wasn’t too different from here,” McGirt says with a broad smile. ” I was in Alaska over ten years, and it was good to me and good for me. I developed a passion for parks and rec, because I saw the benefit. The field is not just about the health benefits, but it’s equally about economic and community unity benefits,” he explained. During his ten plus years in Alaska, McGirt recognized the path he was on was not just a job but had also become a fulfilling career. “For the first time I understood parks and recreation as a
rewarding profession that had real impact on a community.” After a decade in Alaska which led to his first senior management position, McGirt made another life changing decision. “I reconnected with an old flame in North Carolina who became my wife,” he said. She was willing to move, but Alaska was off the table; so McGirt took a job as assistant director with a much larger department in Arizona. It was in Arizona that two major developments happened for D. First, he earned the nationally recognized honor of a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional, CPRP. According to the CPRP program, it is the national standard for all parks and recreation professionals who want to be at the forefront of the profession. Attaining the CPRP designation demonstrates a professional has met education and experience qualifications and demonstrates a continuing commitment to the profession as well as knowledge and understanding of key concepts within the parks and recreation industry. After two years in Arizona, D’s wife discovered the job posting for the Pelham Director position. McGirt was intrigued by the job posting. It was close to family, but was it close to his heart and passion for what a parks and recreation department could be?
As he went through the interview process, he saw that not only was the City of Pelham a good fit due to the location, but it was also a good fit for his passion. “The direction Pelham wanted to go was congruent with my experience and desire. The emphasis is on developing staff, growing programs, and really thinking about what a comprehensive parks and recreation program looks like for the community. Arts and culture, adult programing, leisure activities, outdoor recreation, and senior activities… all of these areas, beyond just youth sports, are what make an impactful department.
DEVELOPING AN EXPANDED DIRECTION The city has invested in and truly values recreation. This dedication is evident in the existence of the ice arena, golf course, racquet club, new recreation building, Dog Park, and Buck Creek Trail. There are still strong youth sports programs, ball fields, and many athlet-
Furry Friends enjoying Pelham’s Dog Park
Photo Courteous of Ashley Tommie McLure
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AC TIV E P E L H A M
Pelham’s new Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation, Alicia Walters, sits outside the new Pelham Recreation Center
ic opportunities. All these point to a strong program, but it is not the end goal. The City’s goal is to see an expanded direction for parks and recreation. “Pelham has always been great at youth sports,” commented City Council Member Beth McMillan, “and with the addition of the new recreation center, basketball and volleyball courts, new trail and green space, Pelham now has something for everyone.” “Leisure activities such as dance classes, theater, different types of art, pottery, you name it… those are the things that come to mind and are what I mean by leisure activities. If there is a need or an opportunity to introduce someone to an activity, we want to be the introducer,” McGirt shared. There have already been some changes since D’s arrival. Alicia Walters, a veteran of Hoover and Alabaster’s parks and recreation programs, has joined the team as the assistant director. Also, the senior center, formally under the supervision of the library, has been 20
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moved under McGirt’s supervision, and it has had 100 new memberships just in the first two months of the year. Pelham is creating a parks and recreation master plan for the next five to seven years. The city has contracted with Clemson University, the premiere research university in parks and recreation. The team from Clemson conducted a community survey with more than 1,000 respondents. The survey was followed by six focus groups of various stakeholder groups earlier this month. The big questions were ‘What do you want to see in Pelham’s Parks and Recreation department, what do you like and not like, what is on your wish list, and what type of programming do you want?’,” McGirt explained. The results will be ready in mid-April. “We were thrilled to have so much citizen participation in the master plan development,” said Council Member McMillan. “The
work being done at the park and nearby is truly transformational. It’s exciting to see the physical changes to the new Campus 124 site and imagine the trail connecting the new entertainment district with some of our communities. The residents along the trail will have a short walk to dinner and entertainment, and landscape along the trail will be impacted far beyond new plants and signage. This is a game-changer for Pelham,” added McMillan.
For more information about Pelham’s Parks and Recreation Department, call 205-620-6426 or visit them online at www.pelhamalabama.gov
Jennye Hadaway, Sally Fulton Daniel, and Allison Fulton Brewster
A F R IEND S HIP IN T HE WA IT IN G Sally Fulton Daniel became a member of the Pelham Recreation Center soon after it opened. “I had just retired. So after the first year, I thought I needed to exercise,” she shared with a bright smile. Several months later Jennye Hadaway also joined the Pelham Recreation Center. “I started going to another gym, but after visiting the Rec Center, I liked the family atmosphere and stopped going to the other gym,” Hadaway said. What these two retired women did not realize then is they had met 20 years prior. Daniel’s youngest daughter, Allison Fulton, was a library aide to Hadaway when she was the librarian at Riverchase Middle School. “Sally said something to me up in the weight room, and I looked at her and said, ‘I know you’. We sat there for several minutes trying to figure out where we had met before. Then we found the connection in Allison,” recalled Hadaway. Two weeks later, the two solo walkers made a walking schedule that allowed them to meet up on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. On Thursday mornings, they also attend the same bible study. From that one conversation and connection, these two women became fast friends. “It has just grown into this great friendship. Sally is always making me laugh and smile. She is just a joy,” Hadaway happily shared. As they walk their laps each morning along the indoor track, they share stories about life’s struggles, the grandkids, even their husbands. In the sharing they each find comfort. On a rainy February morning, Hadaway got to be part of another reunion. Allison Fulton Brewster, Daniel’s daughter who was the aide to Hadaway 20 years prior, came back into town for a visit. “I heard my mom mention Mrs. Hadaway, and I remembered her from middle school. When I found out they were walking together and how close they had become it warmed my heart. It was like a friendship in the waiting,” Brewster said. Daniel and Hadaway nodded in agreement. Yes, it was a friendship in the waiting. TH E BE S T O F PEL HAM
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F EATU RE Rendering of Campus No. 124
I NVES TIN G I N
Pelham is in the midst of a development boom. With over 65 million dollars in new development coming to the 119 and Hwy 31 corridor, the retail, living, and recreation space in our community will never be the same. The two largest of these projects are the Canopy and Campus No 124. T HE C AN O PY GENREV Properties and WeldenField are excited about their new joint development, The Canopy. John Benner, lead developer with GENREV, believes, “This will be an ambitious effort, which will bring something exciting to the City of Pelham and transformational to the property along Amphitheater Road. In working with City officials, our goal is to create a new entertainment district by connecting the Oak Mountain Live Nation Amphitheater and the Pelham Civic & Ice Complex to a vibrant, mixed-use residential and commercial community, focused on the outdoors, to be known as The Canopy.” Benner continues, “Not only will it be a great complement to these existing entertainment venues, but it will also be a welcomed companion and promoter of Oak Mountain State Park. During initial planning, these ideas guided our vision. Our challenge as developers is to put all these individual pieces together and make sure the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” 22
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When completed, the 40-acre development will feature a 250-unit apartment community, to be known as Canopy Park Apartments, and a food and retail hub to be known as Base Camp at The Canopy. Base Camp at the Canopy will include 22,500 square feet of food and retail space anchored by an outdoor retailer, a brewery, and some exciting restaurant concepts. Base Camp will also feature a park for family and friends to enjoy, picnic areas for outdoor eating, an outdoor rock-climbing wall for rock climbing enthusiasts, and a singer-songwriter stage for evening gatherings. To top it all off, the development team plans to connect a biking, hiking, and walking trail to the greenway system the City and County are already constructing. The trail will connect The Canopy to the recently updated State Park entrance. The remaining acreage is being reserved for a hospitality brand, small commercial office users, and additional commercial outparcel projects. Benner explains it this way, “People’s attitudes are different now than when I first started developing real estate. Everybody wants connectivity in life. Pelham
needs a place to live, work, and play and build the lifestyle so many people are currently enjoying in other areas of Birmingham. With access to great schools, a safe community, and existing amenities, The Canopy wants to be that place!” Find out more at: www.genrevproperties.com or www.weldenfield.com.
C AM PUS N O . 124 Joyce Skinner, with Schrimsher Properties, the new owners of the former Valley Elementary School on Highway 31 in North Pelham, explains the thinking and approach behind the revitalization project. “We are not going to reinvent the wheel, but rather apply the lessons learned from a similar project we have done in Huntsville, Campus No. 805. That project was the transformation of the former Stone Middle School/Butler High School property into a mix of restaurants, brew pubs, retail office and entertainment space,” she shared. Campus No. 124 came to Schrimsher Properties through a connection from 58 Inc., the economic development arm of Shelby County. “Yvonne Murray and Melody Whitten from 58 Inc. looked at our project in Huntsville, Campus 805, and in fall of 2018 they approached us, we met with them, and it was a quick deal,” Joyce relayed. The master plan in Pelham calls for a brew pub in the former cafeteria, office space, retail space, entertainment space, and cafe space. There is even an outparcel that can be built up to 15,000 square feet. Another characteristic of Campus No. 124 will be the greenspace in and around the property. “It is vital,” she shared, “to have greenspace. The City of Pelham has retained three acres in the back where the old playground is. The intent is to develop it into a park or greenspace.”
Rendering of Canopy Park Apartments
The new venture will be created with Pelham and the community in mind. “Just going through this, a lot of questions we get center around families. ‘Can I bring my kids?’ People might get the impression that it is not a family friendly venue. That is not the case. The whole concept is that there is plenty to do. For example, there might be an arcade, axe throwing venue, or an art studio. It will be a family-oriented facility and complex,” she said. If anyone is interested in leasing, contact joyce@ schrimshercompany.com. To find out more, visit their website: https://schrimshercompany.com/projects/campus- no-124/ schrimshercompany.com.
“Economic development is the backbone that supports everything we strive to do as city leaders for our residents and in all aspects of Pelham. Through vision and planning, solid business partnerships, and city and county relationships, we are blessed to have two major developments taking place simultaneously. The Canopy and Campus 124 are solid economic developments that create great opportunities to increase new businesses, expand our footprint as a destination location, and add to our community gathering spaces. We have so much to be thankful for in Pelham,” - Council Member Mildred Lainer. TH E BE S T O F PEL HAM
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F EATU RE
3 n o Seas
s e com WE ‘BU L L -IE VE ’ IN H OC KEY WATC H B IR M IN G H AM B UL L S HOC K E Y IN PE L H AM The Skinner family, Brandon, Kimber, McKenzie (10), and Weston (5), moved to Pelham in March of 2019. Kimber says they have enjoyed Pelham so far. “The schools are great and we have some great neighbors. We enjoy going camping, watching football, and watching hockey.” The addition of hockey as a favorite pastime came as a surprise to Brandon, “Before we went to our first hockey game, I had the perception that hockey was boring and that it was just a Northern sport. I thought it would be just watching guys skating around and hitting a puck... I was completely wrong!”
LOVE AT TH E D RO P OF TH E PU C K The Skinners were invited by friends to the Birmingham Bulls vs. Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs hockey game at the end of last season. After that game, they immediately became season ticket 24
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holders and have not missed a single home game. “I couldn’t believe how tough these guys are! They play their hearts out and while watching it, you become part of the Birmingham Bulls. Alabama has some of the best hockey in the Southern Professional Hockey League,” Brandon enthused.
A RRI V E EA RLY, S TAY L AT E The Skinners have a hard time identifying a favorite part of the games. “It’s just a great time the whole time. There is always something going on,” Brandon said. “The only thing I would like to see added is to have a mic put on some of the players during the game – I think it would be cool to hear what they say!” Many families choose to get to Bulls games early to watch warmups. Sometimes, while the players are on the ice practicing pre-game, they will toss a puck over to kids watching with their noses pressed up against the glass. During the game, Brandon and Kimber’s children enjoy the breaks with special camera activities shown on the big screen. After the game, the family waits on the players to come out of the locker room. “If you have a young girl like I do, she will pick her favorite boys and it’s so much fun to take her to meet and talk with them,” shared Brandon. “They will talk to anyone who is there and will sign anything you have,” McKenzie grinned at her dad. “They are really good guys and you can tell they appreciate you coming out and supporting them. They will talk to you as long as you want to talk.”
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BULL S HOC K E Y OVE R F O OT BA L L The Skinners feel the Birmingham Bulls have become a part of their family. Brandon’s business, Buckets Away Waterproofing, has become a sponsor of the team, and he now wears more Bulls shirts and hats than he does of Alabama football! They have even redecorated their basement room from a football room to a hockey room. “But as an Alabama football fan, I will say it does make things better knowing that Eli Gold is the voice of the Birmingham Bulls that I can listen to on the radio at 960 WERC!” Brandon said with a laugh. The family agrees the atmosphere at hockey games is completely different than at football games. “Like, when the Bulls score, you can tell the other goalie that it was his fault! I just couldn’t imagine the crowd telling the defensive player who messed up on a play that it was his fault. But it’s funny to watch people’s faces when we do it. They are always laughing,” Brandon explained. “Another thing that I thought was awesome is that everyone stands for the anthem. Most of the players aren’t even from the United States, but they show respect to our country.”
just a wonderful family entertainment experience. The second thing that impresses me is the number of people coming from all over the metro area, and they get to see a little slice of what we have to offer here in Pelham. The Bulls entity is very positive for our image and reputation,” Scott shared. Brandon hopes to see attendance at home games continue to rise and is confident it will as more people give the sport a chance. “I see the Birmingham Bulls as our town, our team,” he emphatically stated. “GO PANTHERS and GO BULLS!”
E N JOY A ‘N ORT H E R N SPORT ’ I N T H E S UNNY SO U T H Brandon is quick to encourage everyone in Pelham to consider going to see a Birmingham Bulls game. “We are lucky to have such a great team this close to us. I don’t think you can understand how much fun it is unless you come out and experience it for yourself. I don’t know half of what they call, but I am starting to figure it out! So even if you don’t know anything about hockey you will still enjoy it.” Council Member Ron Scott is thrilled to have such a great commodity in the Birmingham Bulls. “I am most impressed by the number of families, from grandparents down to the grandkids, that come to take in a hockey game. It is
McKenzie with Birmingham Bulls Player Josh Harris TH E BE S T O F PEL HAM
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F EATU RE THE
NEXT GENERATION
OF
HOCKEY
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YOUTH H OC K E Y PROG RA M AVAI L AB LE IN PE L H AM Kyle Richards began working with the University of Alabama hockey program in 2016. He eventually became associated with the local Pelham Hockey Development Academy (PHDA) and got involved in all things related to Pelham hockey, including the youth leagues, house leagues, learn-to-skate programs, and adult programs. By 2018, he began working with the Birmingham Bulls, a travel program for higher-end players and teams, as their Director of Skill Development. In 2019, he became Executive Hockey Director for the Bulls. He admires and enjoys the existence of youth hockey programming available in Pelham. “It’s remarkable! I never would have thought hockey would be this big in Pelham, Alabama. But it gives young kids a new sport to try outside the typical ‘southern’ sports and opens their eyes to a whole new experience.”
I N VES T IN G IN YOU T H THROU G H H OC K E Y
Since his youth-playing days in Nova Scotia, Canada, Richards has always looked up to those who gave back and helped out with youth hockey. His own father has been a volleyball coach for many years, providing Richards with an up-close look at the difference a good coach and mentor can make. From an early age, he purposefully worked with younger teams throughout his time in Canada, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, and now, Alabama. “I want to teach the youth all the great lessons hockey taught me and hopefully make an impact in their lives like so many have done for me,” he explained. “Coaching is my profession and something I take very seriously. So the greatest thing for me is seeing a young kid or adult accomplish something they didn’t think was possible.” The concept of sharing lessons learned for the purpose of accomplishing a goal can be seen in the way all programs in Pelham are
connected. The Birmingham Bulls Travel kids help out with PHDA and the house league. The Birmingham Bulls, SPHL team and the University of Alabama teams help out with both Travel and House hockey leagues.
EN TERI N G TH E WO RL D O F IC E H OC KEY Hockey is unlike many sports in that before you can play it, you have to learn how to skate. Although that frightens some in the beginning, coaches find it rewarding to see a youth transition from learning to skate to scoring their first goal in a relatively short time frame! “I think what attracts Southerners to hockey is the opportunity to try something new. People see a game on TV and see how fast-paced and fun it looks. Once you step on the ice, whether it’s your first time or you’re a pro, there is no better feeling in the world than skating on the ice. It’s like your own little world, free from distractions,” shared Richards. The coaches aim to leverage the sport of hockey as a means of helping young players learn many other valuable life lessons such as being a part of a team, discipline, accountability, leadership, and self-motivation. “You name it, you’ll learn it in hockey,” Richards added. “Your kids will gain so much confidence once they learn how to skate and then learn how to play. Before they learn to skate, they learn perseverance; they learn to not give up even if you fall down. Get back up and try again. Even the pros fall!”
F I N D I N G S U C C ES S ON TH E ICE One of the many success stories of players who came up through the Pelham youth hockey program includes that of Mia Mugavero. “Mia started in Pelham in our youth learn-to-plays, progressed into our house league, and eventually the travel program playing against boys! She is the most enjoyable person I have ever had the opportunity to coach… a true perfectionist in her craft,” Richards enthused. Mugavero has participated in numerous National and Regional selection camps in the USA, and last year she was named one of the top 200 fourteen-year-olds in the whole country. Over the past few years, she started playing AAA hockey in St. Louis for the Lady Blues, a top-end women’s program in the US. She also still participates in TH E BE S T O F PEL HAM
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PHDA skills clinics, Bulls Travel skills clinics, and helps student-coach the U12 travel team, all while being a first-year captain on the St. Louis Lady Blues. “The sky’s the limit for Mia and her hockey career, and we truly believe with her work ethic and dedication, she will become an NCAA D1 player,” Richards affirmed. “Pelham Hockey,” shared Mugavero, “has had a huge impact on my development over time, and I would like to thank all the coaches I’ve had. I’m still progressing and learning, and I am glad to have made Pelham Hockey part of my story!”
H OC KEY F OR ALL Richards explains that his favorite part of the youth hockey program is the wide range Mia in action of activities that are offered. “There is literally a program for everyone at every age and skill level. Having the opportunity to work with so Southern Elite. This is a spring program for high-end AA/ many different people, both male and female, is AAA travel players throughout the south. Players particiso rewarding to me and our coaches,” he pointpate in a few weekends of high-intensity practices and skill ed out. development, and then the teams are taken to two different The coaches for these programs bring tons tournaments that travel all throughout the United States. The of hockey experience to the rink and include a Ice Arena offers hockey programs all year. number of former pro hockey players, ex-college players, college coaches, junior hockey players, and high-end youth players. They All sign-ups and information on the programs ensure the youth hockey program provides kids offered are available at pelhamhockey.net a chance to attend weekly skills clinics to learn all hockey has to offer. They also get the opportunity to play on a team in games and meet so many new friends, compete, learn ABOU T K Y L E RI C H A RD S valuable life lessons, and • Executive Hockey Director, Birmingham Bulls Travel Program have a blast playing what • Head Coach, University of Alabama, ACHA D1 Richards believes to be the • Coach, Pelham Hockey Development Academy (PHDA) best game in the world! • Played NCAA D3 College hockey at Castleton University (4 yrs) An exciting new • Head Coach at West Virginia University, ACHA D1 (2 yrs) program has been recently • Associate Coach for Alabama (1 yr) added to the offerings called
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How the 2020 Census will invite everyone to respond Every household will have the option of responding online, by mail, or by phone. Nearly every household will receive an invitation to participate
in the 2020 Census from either a postal worker or a census worker.
95% of households will receive their census invitation in the mail.
Almost 5% of households
will receive their census invitation when a census taker drops it off. In these areas, the majority of households may not receive mail at their home’s physical location (like households that use PO boxes or areas recently affected by natural disasters).
Less than 1% of households
will be counted in person by a census taker, instead of being invited to respond on their own. We do this in very remote areas like parts of northern Maine, remote Alaska, and in select American Indian areas that ask to be counted in person.
(This is separate from our follow-up efforts; census takers will visit all households that were invited to respond on their own and haven’t.)
Note: We have special procedures to count people who don’t live in households, such as students living in university housing or people experiencing homelessness.
C VID Share Facts About COVID-19 19 CORONAVIRUS DISEASE
Know the facts about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and help stop the spread of rumors.
C FACTVIDDiseasesShare You can help stop COVID-19 can make anyone sick About COVID-19 FACT Facts
1 19regardless of their race or ethnicity.
4
CORONAVIRUS DISEASE
by knowing the signs and symptoms:
People of Asian including Chinese Know the facts aboutdescent, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and help stop the spread of rumors. • Fever Americans, are not more likely to get COVID-19 • Cough than other American. Helpsick stop fear by FACT anyDiseases You can help stop COVID-19 can make anyone FACT letting people know that of Asian descent • Shortness by knowing the signs of breath regardless of their racebeing or ethnicity. does not increase the chance of getting or and symptoms: Seek medical advice if you spreading COVID-19. People of Asian descent, including Chinese • Fever Americans, are not more likely to get COVID-19 • Develop symptoms • Cough
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than any other American. Help stop fear by letting people know that being of Asian descent does not increase the chance of getting or spreading COVID-19.
FACT
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FACT
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• Shortness of AND breath Seek medical advice if you
• Have been in close contact
• Develop symptoms with a person known to have
The risk of getting COVID-19 in the U.S. is currently low.
AND
The risk of getting COVID-19
Some people whois currently live in orlow. have recently in the U.S. traveled to places where many people have gotten sick with COVID-19 be monitored Some people who live in or havemay recently to officials places where many people have bytraveled health to protect their health and gotten sick with COVID-19 may be the health of other people inmonitored the community. by health officials to protect their health and the health of other people in the community.
FACT FACT
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COVID-19 or if you live in or have recently • Have been in close contactbeen in an area with with a person known to have ongoing spread of COVID-19.
For up-to-date information, visit CDC’s
There are simple things you can to help keep yourself and There are simpledo things you can othersand healthy. do to help keep yourself FACT
FACT
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Someone who has completed Someone who has completed quarantine orbeen has released been released quarantine or has from doesdoes not pose of a risk of fromisolation isolation nota risk pose infection to other people. infection to other people.
For up-to-date information, visit CDC’s coronavirus disease 2019 web page. coronavirus disease 2019 web page.
COVID-19 or if you live in or have recently been in an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19.
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others healthy.
• Wash your hands often with soap
• Wash your hands withfor soap andoften water at least 20 seconds, and water for at least 20 seconds, after especially afterespecially blowing your nose,blowing your nose, coughing, ortosneezing; going to coughing, or sneezing; going the bathroom;the and bathroom; before eating and or before eating or preparing food.preparing food.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with •unwashed hands.
mouth • Stay home when you arewith sick. unwashed hands.
• Stayorhome when • Cover your cough sneeze with a you are sick. tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. • Cover your cough or sneeze with a
tissue, then throw the tissue in For more information: www.cdc.gov/COVID19 the trash. CS 315446-A 03/04/2020
For more information: www.cdc.gov/COVID19 For more information: alabamapublichealth.gov/infectiousdiseases/2019-coronavirus.html CS 315446-A 03/04/2020
STOP THE SPREAD OF GERMS Help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases like COVID-19. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information: www.cdc.gov/COVID19 alabamapublichealth.gov/infectiousdiseases/2019-coronavirus.html CS314915-A
CITY COUNCIL RICK HAYES
205-263-1588 rickhayes@pelhamalabama.gov
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 311 PELHAM, AL
MILDRED LANIER
205-540-5216 mildredlanier@pelhamalabama.gov BETH MCMILLAN
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES GARY WATERS, MAYOR
MAURICE MERCER
205-620-6400 mayor@pelhamalabama.gov
205-937-3092 mauricemercer@pelhamalabama.gov
GRETCHEN DIFANTE, CITY MANAGER
RON SCOTT
205-620-6520 gdifante@pelhamalabama.gov
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205-620-3909 bethmcmillan@pelhamalabama.gov
| T H E BE S T OF PE L H AM
205-837-1451 ronscott@pelhamalabama.gov
POSTAL PATRON