City of
Pelham
Newsletter Embrace the Outdoors – Southern Style
September 2018
Official News from the City of Pelham, Alabama
Love Matters
“I love my city.” What does that cities loveable are the people that statement mean, and do we have love the cities they are in. These are any idea how rare it truly is? not the elected leaders or the people The Gallop Company partnered on city staff. Kageyama refers to with the Knight Foundation to these individuals as Co-creators – conduct a two-year, “Soul anchored people that make of a Community Survey,” cities go. to find out. These are the people The survey included who start initiatives, revive 40,000 people in 26 cities traditions and add creative and took the temperature and interesting twists. of relationships between These are the people who cities and their citizens. purchase and rehab old Forty percent of the buildings and create respondents said they were restaurants, art unattached to their experiences and gathering DiFante communities, and only places. 24% reported being I read a Facebook thread attached to where they live. The this morning from a community remainder are apathetic. where I used to live. In the thread, The real key to the survey results a woman wrote that her husband is that cities with the highest level of was considering a job offer that engagement and attachment also would have them relocating to that had the highest corresponding GDP city and she wanted some feedback and economic vitality. from people living there. She In his book, For the Love of Cities, specifically asked about the school Peter Kageyama asserts that the district, parks and feeling of safety correlation between love and in the community. success should not surprise us. She posted this question to a local To illustrate this point, Kageyama Mom’s Facebook group, and 90 draws an analogy to our attitude of percent of the posts were horribly automobiles and suggests if we negative about the city. simply view our vehicle as a means Two days later and after several to get from point A to point B, we “posting debates” during which are much less likely to keep it clean posters criticized and put each other and maintained. down, the woman with the original Contrast that with an individual inquiry wrote that, based on the who sees his/her car as a valuable enormous amount of negative collectible, washes it and polishes it feedback both about the city and weekly, keeps it in a garage and between its residents, her husband immediately buffs out every tiny had turned down the job. They were scratch. The latter vehicle in this not interested in raising their kids in example will no doubt maintain its such a negative environment. value much longer. This is a city with a very low crime According to Kageyama, when rate, a good school district and the people are asked what they love most public parks per square mile of about their cities, they tend to any I’ve seen. respond about the small things…a The members of the Facebook place to sit and people watch, group clearly don’t love their city, interactive public art, walking trails, and their city will be negatively a park where one can watch the impacted by their lack of attachment, sunset, dog parks, play grounds, engagement, grace and tolerance for farmer’s markets, etc. one another. Notice all of these provide You will have an impact on your opportunities for purposeful and city, but what kind of impact will it accidental human interaction. be? Start something small and bring Community traditions are another somebody along with you. thing people report loving about Love what you do and love the their communities. city in which you do it…you will reap Ultimately the things that make the benefits.
Pelham Panthers
Upcoming Events LOST AND FOUND TREASURES OF AMERICA
CONTRIBUTED
Sign Faces is a wholesale manufacturer of custom signs. The business relocated to Pelham in 2011.
City’s business climate invites economic growth Since relocating to Pelham in May of 2011, Sign Faces president and co-owner Troy Crocker said the business’s production and workforce has increased. Crocker said the positive business climate in Pelham helps facilitate growth. Sign Faces is a wholesale-only manufacturer of custom signs; including channel letters, custom cabinets, pole covers, thermo-formed vinyl, polycarbonate faces, architectural signage and routed aluminum faces with push-through letters. Prior to moving to Pelham, the business was leasing a facility in downtown Birmingham near the airport, but Crocker said he was interested in moving because the lease was expiring. “We wanted to be in an area with an approachable city government and more room for growth,” Crocker said. “We also wanted to be located in an area that was more affordable to do business.” After looking at multiple locations, Crocker said the company was drawn to Pelham and decided to purchase a facility that sits on 10.5 acres in Pelham Industrial Park. The business is located at 652 Stuart Lane and fronts 200 Parker Drive. “Shortly after moving in, Mayor (Gary) Waters was elected and he spoke at an event we had at our facility, and we’ve been very good acquaintances since then,” Crocker said. “Mayor Waters, along with [city officials], are very responsive and willing to listen. It’s nice to work with a friendly city government.” In addition to a receptive city government, the city is also backed by the resources offered by Shelby County’s newest economic development initiative, 58 Inc., which works with city leadership and staff to recruit new businesses and cultivate business climate in various ways. “We provide existing business assistance including workforce development initiatives, support for
expansion projects and working through any issues that may come up in regards to infrastructure or services,” said Yvonne Murray, managing director of 58 Inc. “We conduct at least three visits with different existing businesses each week to identify areas where we can be of service.” 58 Inc. was recently able to assist a newer business in Pelham with gaining access to nontraditional financing for some of its start-up costs by helping them package their financial information and business plans to apply for funding. The entity is also working with a few existing businesses in Pelham to help them achieve expansion goals that include hiring, new equipment and new physical structures. Since 2011, Crocker said Sign Faces has added 15-18 new employees and continues to look for good employees. Because the city of Pelham is located south of Birmingham, it draws employees from as far north as Warrior, as far south as Clanton, as far west as Tuscaloosa and as far east as Pell City. “Being near I-65 gives us the ability to get employees from all over,” he said. “It helps that most people don’t have to deal with the type of traffic congestion associated with downtown Birmingham.” For businesses owners considering Pelham, Crocker advised them to contact City Hall to coordinate a meeting with the mayor and city manager. “The city helps business owners get in a room with key people needed to move, like the building and fire inspectors, and they let you know what steps to take. They don’t bend the rules but they are very clear in their communication. It’s not a difficult process. “The city leaders are dynamic,” Crocker said. “They’ve taken on a school system, built new schools, built a library and a rec center. They’re a progressive group and it shows both residentially and commercially.”
Sept. 7 - 7 p.m. Sept. 14 - 7 p.m. Sept. 21 - 7 p.m. Sept. 28 - 7 p.m. Oct. 6 - 7 p.m. Oct. 12 - 7 p.m. Oct. 19 - 7 p.m. Oct. 26 - 7 p.m.
UNDERSTANDING MEDICARE SEMINAR
Thurs, Sept. 20th 12-1 pm Does Medicare confuse you? Get answers at this seminar provided by a Medicare advisor from Physicians Mutual. The seminar is free and open to the public. For more information, please call the library at 620-6418.
MANGA ART CLASSES
Tues. Sept. 25th and Thurs. Oct. 9th 6 pm. Pelham Library Local manga artist, Alyssa L. Harleman, will be sharing her manga art knowledge this September in 2 classes. Her classes will revolve around the basics and the advanced techniques of the manga community.
CITY OFFICES CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF LABOR DAY
September 3, 2018, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM City offices are closed and Advanced Disposal will not provide trash or recycle service on this day. Advanced Disposal will run one day behind.
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AND COUNCIL MEETING
Varsity Football Schedule
at Homewood vs. Minor at Chelsea vs. Oak Mountain at Carver vs. Jackson-Olin vs. Northridge vs. Helena
Mon. Sept. 17th 6:30-7:30 pm Come listen to local historian Jim Phillips as he tells stories of incredible riches that have been lost and sometimes found in the United States. Mr. Phillips has produced numerous videos and travels around the state to share his passion about history. If interested, please call the library at 6206418 to reserve a seat.
September 4, 2018, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM @ Pelham City Hall
PATRIOT’S DAY - CITY OFFICES CLOSED September 11, 2018 Advanced Disposal runs as scheduled.
#IHeartPelham The City of Pelham has been awarded several designations over the past few years was most recently named, “The Best Place to Live in Alabama” by Money Magazine. Pelham continues to create public gathering spaces with the Pelham dog park opening this fall along with the park’s new outdoor pavilion and fully lit
basketball and sand volleyball courts. Show us what you love about Pelham by posting a photo and/or tagline representing what you love about this city using #IHeartPelham on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The most creative will be featured in a future newsletter. Happy tagging!
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AND COUNCIL MEETING September 17, 2018 @ Pelham City Hall
Pelham City Council Members
Rick Hayes
Mildred Lanier
Beth McMillan
Maurice Mercer
Ron Scott
Gary Waters
Council President rickhayes@ pelhamalabama.gov
Council President Pro Tempore mildredlanier@ pelhamalabama.gov
Council Member bethmcmillan@ pelhamalabama.gov
Council Member mauricemercer@ pelhamalabama.gov
Council Member ronscott@ pelhamalabama.gov
Mayor mayor@ pelhamalabama.gov
CITY OF PELHAM 3162 Pelham Parkway Pelham, AL 35124 205-620-6400