GARDEN CITY, AL —The Town of Garden City’s long-awaited plan to upgrade and extend its water system into Blount County is closer to fruition with the town securing more than $1 million in federal grant money to fund the project. Mayor Tim Eskew said the town has been working toward extending the water system across the Mulberry River for several years. On Monday, April 15, the town entered into a contract with St. John and Associates to design and engineer the project. The Garden City Volunteer Fire Department already provides service to a small portion of Blount County, but the lack of an adequate water supply on the other side of the county line made that task more difficult. “Right now, they don’t have any fire hydrants over there and this will give us at least two,” he said. St. John and Associates engineer David Haynes said current plans for the project would upgrade the existing water system and extend the service nearly a half-mile across the river and is estimated to cost roughly $1.2 million. The town had previously received notice from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management that it had been awarded $657,860 in unspent American Rescue Plan Act funds available for eligible programs which improve drinking water and sewer infrastructure throughout the state. Congressman Robert Aderholt’s (R-Alabama) office informed the town in January it would be receiving the additional funds in the form of a $520,000 State and Tribal Assistance Grant, administered through the Environmental Protection Agency. The grant was included in the FY2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act which Aderholt voted against. An estimated start date was not available, but all ARPA funds are required to be expended no later than December 31, 2026. A public hearing to allow residents to weigh in on the project is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., May 20, at Garden City Town Hall.

CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman City Council on Monday evening approved supplemental engineering services for the city’s new Sports and Civic Complex, to be performed by St. John and Associates. The contract modifications are for both the complex itself and a new parking lot to accompany the complex. According to Councilman Johnny Cook, the complex, originally slated for the old Marvin’s on Main Avenue between Heritage Park and the Cullman Wellness and Aquatic Center, will be relocated to an undeveloped site between the Aquatic Center and the Donald Green Active Adult Center. The new parking lot addressed in Monday’s resolution will be for the complex and will open onto Field of Miracles Drive. The council also passed a resolution to authorize Mayor Woody Jacobs to apply for Consolidated Rail Infrastructure (CRISI) grant funds for improvements to the railroad crossings at 9th Street Southeast, 8th Street Northwest and Arnold Street rail crossings, all crossings in downtown Cullman without viaducts. The city seeks funds in the amount of $546,676.20 to construct “improvements to the 9th Street SE, 8th Street NW, and Arnold Street Rail Crossings which will provide supplemental safety measures and improvements in the form of additional gates for access control, electrical upgrades and warn time upgrades.” The city will provide a local match of $234,289.80 of the total project cost in support of this project.

CULLMAN — The Cullman City Council on Monday evening received a good report from Cullman City School Superintendent Dr. Kyle Kalhoff and responded with some good news of its own for the system’s chief educator. Kalhoff reported that: The system will bid out projects at Cullman City Primary School and Cullman Middle School in December and open bids in January and February. A new gym floor has been installed at Cullman High School, and the gym’s bleacher project should be completed before the start of the season in November. The high school softball field should be re-turfed before the team’s first game in February. The central office is receiving security upgrades. Kalhoff reported that the system recently partnered with Wallace State Community College to offer a career exploration event for students and parents. The superintendent said that he hopes to ensure that: The system’s career tech program align with area workforce needs. The middle school offers an exploratory program corresponding to each of the high school’s career tech programs. Students in each high school career tech program have an opportunity for dual enrollment at Wallace State. Kalhoff also shared the results of Cullman’s performance in the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program, which assesses language, arts and math in grades 2-8 and science in grades 4, 6 and 8. The system scored: In the top 15 in all categories Third in 6th grade English Language Arts Sixth in 8th grade English Language Arts Fifth in 8th grade Science Kalhoff reported, “Our administrators, instructional coaches and teachers are working relentlessly to move forward in all categories to achieve our goal of being in the top five in everything we do.” Following the superintendent’s report, Mayor Woody Jacobs and the council presented Kalhoff a check for $600,000, the first payment in a 10-year, $6,000,000 city commitment to the system. The money will help fund numerous construction and improvement projects among the city schools. Other council business The council approved an agreement with MXI Environmental Services LLC for the disposal of household hazardous waste materials. The city will hold a hazardous waste disposal event for the public from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Nov. 13, 2021 at Heritage Park. The council also approved the following resolutions: No. 2022-04 to enter into contract with St. John & Associates for design and engineering services for Streetscape Improvements on Second Avenue NE from Arnold Street to Clark Street. No. 2022-05 to enter into a contract with St. John & Associates for engineering services for the sewer collection improvements program for screen refurbishment at the South Pump Station. No. 2022-06 to amend the professional services contract with Cohen, Carnaggio & Reynolds Inc. due to an increased scope of work for the Civic Center Complex project. The civic center design was expanded from 101,000 square feet to 125,000 square feet. No. 2022-07 to award a bid for a crew cab flatbed truck to Eckenrod Ford in the amount of $43,503.00. No. 2022-08 to award a bid for black and gray pipe to Bear Concrete Products, the lowest responsible bidder. No. 2022-09 to amend the Cullman Fire and Rescue Fair Labor Standards Act Work Cycle Policy. The council voted to rezone property owned by Shelby Hankey located at 101 Main Ave. from R-4 Residential District to CBD Central Business District, to annex property owned by Sherry Rutherford located at 1240 County Road 1422 as a residential district and to annex properties owned by G.A.P. Properties LLC., located on County Road 770 as a residential district. The council also suspended its regular rules of procedure to pass on its first reading an ordinance to adopt Emily’s Law regarding dangerous or vicious animals, updating its existing policy to current standards. Special events ahead The council approved special event permits for: Keith Varden of the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce for Christmas Open House in the Warehouse District on Nov. 12-14, 2021. Andy Palys of the Cullman County Wranglers Club for a trunk or treat in Depot Park on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021 from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The Cullman City Council meets at 7:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month in the City Hall auditorium. The public is invited to attend.

GARDEN CITY — The Garden City town council terminated two office employees and the town attorney Monday night and hired a new attorney and town clerk. The council unanimously voted to relieve Leslie Johnson and Shannon James as utility clerk and town clerk, respectively. The council also terminated Roy Williams as town attorney. Amy Black, who had been serving as interim town clerk, was officially hired to the position and Heath Meherg of the Griffith, Lowry & Meherg law firm was approved as the new town attorney. The council did not give a reason for the personnel changes. At the town council meeting in August, the council placed the office staff on administrative leave after a nearly two-hour closed door discussion. Afterwards, Councilman Michael Black offered a statement from the council saying, “After discussion and advisement from the town auditor, office staff has been placed on administrative leave pending further notice.” Monday night the council also gave approval to ask for a loan from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). David Haynes with St. John and Associates told the council the town had been pre-approved for a $195,250 loan from the state’s Drinking Water State Revolving Loan program. Haynes said the fund provides low interest loans at 2.2% over a 20-year period and the town qualified to receive principal loan forgiveness of 50% of the principal. The loan will be used be used to replace approximately 275 water meters and add monitoring equipment as part of its ongoing project to improve the technology of the water system. The council also heard form representatives of Garden City Congregational Church who requested the use of a building owned by the town. Senior Pastor Bo Garrison told the council they would like to use the building as a meeting place for its grief support group and 12-step support group and as a place to operate its food bank out of. “That will free up our space in our fellowship hall,” he said. The council agreed to table the request until next month so they could get more information.

CULLMAN — The Cullman Planning Commission approved site plans for a new duplex apartment complex on Cleveland Avenue and for Jack’s to build a new building at its current location on Alabama 157 during Monday night’s meeting. The site plan submission for the apartment complex from architect Jock Leonard said the complex will include four buildings with eight apartment units. The site plan was approved contingent on requests from the city’s departments, including the addition of water meters for each unit, revising the dumpster’s enclosure to add bollards and the addition of parking spaces to provide two spaces for every unit. The site plan for Jack’s on Alabama 157 was approved for the restaurant to build a new building at its current location. Engineer David Haynes, with St. John & Associates, said the new construction will be for a restaurant that follows Jack’s updated building design and will allow for better entry and exit from the restaurant with the upcoming expansion of Alabama 157 into four lanes. In other business, the commission: Approved a short form subdivision on John H. Cooper Drive SE to create two lots. Approved a short form subdivision at 4th Street SW (Highway 278 West) & Ward Avenue SW to create one lot. Approved a short form subdivision for Miracle Field at Main Avenue SW/Miracle Field Drive SW/Lessman Street SW to combine lots. Recommended the approval of a rezoning request for 101 Main Avenue SW from R-4 to CBD. Recommended the approval of an annexation request at 160 Golf Course Road SW. Recommended the approval of an annexation request at 471 County Road 1466 and 550 County Road 1467. Recommended the approval of an annexation request for Childhaven. Recommended the approval of an annexation request at 100 County Road 497. Recommended the approval of an annexation request at 155 County Road 497 and 173 County Road 497.

CULLMAN — Back in early of 2019, the City of Cullman revealed plans to construct a new, multi-use sports and civic center complex in southwest Cullman, only months before announcing the $3.1 million sale of its old civic center closer to the center of town. This week, the Cullman City Council took a big official step toward realizing that long-term vision. The council approved the hiring of both an architecture and a civil engineering firm to begin preliminary planning on the new facility. The council agreed to contract with Birmingham-based Cohen, Carnaggio & Reynolds, Inc (CCR Architecture and Interiors) to develop construction documents for the project, as well as Cullman’s St. John & Associates, LLC for civil engineering work. The complex will be located at the site of the former Marvin’s hardware center across from Heritage Park on Main Avenue. The council agenda made no mention of the complex’s previously-announced sports-hosting function, referring instead to the new facility as the “Cullman Civic Center Complex.” But mayor Woody Jacobs said Monday that the project’s wish list still includes all the features and amenities that originally were attached to the project when it was first announced in 2019. From the beginning, the new facility was projected to have 100,000 square feet of space, up from the old civic center’s 30,000 square feet. City leaders said the project would feature six courts with seating and space for large regional and national tournaments, as well as local sporting events. Rooms inside the venue, they added also would be configurable to accommodate a variety of civic functions of different sizes. In other business at its regular meeting Monday, the council: Approved the abatement of non-educational taxes on an economic development project with the codename MBEQ. The council declined to comment on the specifics of the project — including whether it will represent a business tenant new to the Cullman area or one that’s seeking to expand — but said the project comes with a $50 million capital investment and the promise of 125 new jobs. Heard a Parks & Recreation update from director Zac Wood, who said major outdoor events like the Strawberry Festival and 2nd Fridays — all of which were canceled last summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic — would be returning to Cullman for the spring and summer. The Strawberry Festival is scheduled for May 1. Repealed Ordinance No. 1158, which contains language relating to police jurisdictional coverage that, prior to repeal, was inconsistent with the ongoing manner in which the Cullman Police Department responds to calls within its jurisdiction. Approved the establishment of Cullman’s reserve police force in what police Chief Kenny Culpepper described as a routine formality that does not change the manner in which the city currently utilizes the services of reserve police officers. Approved the purchase of approximately 1 acre of property near the Cullman Wellness & Aquatics Center to be used for stormwater drainage. Declared surplus a miscellaneous variety of inventory, equipment, and other assets no longer needed by the city. Granted a request from Rita Dean to hold a Warehouse District Street Sale at the First Avenue NE block on March 19, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Approved a resolution to accept Brownstone Way SW, a road within an existing subdivision, into the city street department’s maintenance system. Approved a resolution to contract with Emergency Reporting for Rover Responder Services for the Cullman Fire Department. Approved the rescheduling of two upcoming city council regular meetings; one in June and the other in July, due to scheduling conflicts. Council president Jenny Folsom said the new meeting dates would be posted to the city’s website within the next few days. Approved the reappointment of three current members of the city tree commission to new terms, as well as one member of the city zoning board of adjustments. Heard a reminder from council member Johnny Cook, the council liaison for sanitation and streets, that this year’s Spring Cleanup will be held the week of March 29. Heard a public comment from water customer Mitchell Beshears of Cullman concerning recent changes some customers have seen in the way water fees are itemized on their monthly billing statements. Various council members said they also had noticed the changes, as well as heard from other customers confused by the new method. City clerk Wesley Moore said the city is collaborating with Cullman Electric Cooperative, which includes the water bill on some water customers’ electricity billing statements, to revise the way the fees are itemized to make understanding them less confusing. Council member David Moss was out of town on business Monday, and was not present at the meeting.

GOOD HOPE — Plans for Good Hope’s expansion of its Municipal Park are underway, and the Good Hope City Council got an early look at how some of the park’s trails could look during Monday night’s meeting. The city approved the purchase of a 33-acre plot of land adjoining Municipal Park in June, with the purpose of providing additional trail space for city residents and a possible venue for high school cross country events. David Haynes, an engineer with St. John & Associates, presented a preliminary plan for the park to show members some of the possibilities for trail layouts and facilities that could be built on the land. The plan presented to the council included a 3.2-mile long trail loop and a .69-mile short trail loop that would be open for the public, along with a disc golf course, a centrally-located bathroom facility, a facility for local scouts and four pavilions spread out along the perimeter of the park. There is also a space that could be used for a splash pad and an area for a playground if the council wanted to install either one of those, Haynes said. The land already has some development on it that can be used for parking, but it also has a small creek running through it that will require work to navigate, he said. “You’ve got a couple of obstacles that you’ve got to work around,” Haynes said. Good Hope Mayor Jerry Bartlett said the city is looking to apply for grants to help pay for the work, and he has reached out to the city’s schools to ask them to support Good Hope’s efforts in bringing them a new cross country venue. “We’re going to get letters from them for our grant that say how much they need it,” he said. While Monday’s plan is just a concept for the park, City Planner Corey Harbison told the council they can take a look at some of the things they liked or things that they would like to be different in future discussions. “This is all just concepts that we’ve all talked about over the past couple years,” he said. “It just kinda gives us an idea of what we can do where.”

It took nearly 22 years for the Duck River project to come to fruition — nearly the same amount of mileage that wraps around the reservoir today. Without this impressive 640-acre lake, the city of Cullman wouldn’t have the assurance of a steady water supply for the next 75 years, possibly more. In many ways, it can be argued that while searching for the solution to the community’s water supply problem, the city and county inadvertently built a new pathway that serves locals in multiple ways. It’s an outcome that agriculturists, avid anglers and fitness enthusiasts can all get behind. Building the Duck  Before the bikers came and hikers traversed through the trail’s meandering 21.8-mile path, the Duck River Dam and Reservoir was an idea birthed out of sheer need — the need for water. The river’s story can be traced back to the early 90’s when the Appalachian Regional Commission gave the city a $5 million grant to study the community’s water shortage problem. “We only had Lake Catoma (as a water source) at the time, which provided 20 million gallons of water a day,” said Susan Eller of the Cullman Economic Development Agency. That dwindling water supply coupled with a drought had the community using 24 million gallons on some days — exceeding what Catoma could provide. Calling on the Nashville Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Utilities Board of the City of Cullman launched a study to look at potential emergency water sources like Flint Creek, Smith Lake, the Tennessee River and multiple other groundwater sources. All ideas came up dry, however, and only one prospect was left standing at the end — Duck River. At this point in the reservoir’s story, the emphasis was all on water supply. It wasn’t until the city applied for its 404 permit that a recreational requirement came into play. That’s when local civil engineering firm St. John & Associates stepped in to write the next chapter, which called for a single-track, multi-use trail system that would eventually become the Tim Scott Recreational Trail. In an effort to jumpstart the trail’s construction, the city commenced with the first phase of the trail while completing the application for funding assistance from the Recreational Trails Program. The phase included 8.8 miles of trails built by the International Mountain Bike Association under contract with the Cullman Utilities Board. Multiple trail access points, boat ramps, fishing piers and ample parking were just some of the pillars of the plan. Taking full advantage of the reservoir’s required 100-foot buffer zone, the engineering firm worked with the reservoir’s verdant landscape dotted with rolling streams and rocky terrain to build a trail system that would attract community members and outsiders alike. “As soon as we opened the trails, people started coming from all throughout North Alabama,” Eller said. Taking to the Trails The first time Bethany Story stepped foot on the Tim Scott Recreational Trail, there were no mile markers and the reservoir hadn’t been bestowed with the famed Christmas rainfall of 2015. “I ran six miles in the fresh mud and loved every minute of it,” said Story, who is about to embark on her second marathon. “I heard about Duck River from a friend. I had only been living in Cullman for three months, so I wasn’t too familiar with the water supply need for a new reservoir.” All Story was seeking was some trails where she could get her heart rate up and some dirt on her shoes. She found that and more at Duck River. “I have run and mountain biked there several times in the past four years, and the trails seem to be much better maintained lately with clearly visible distance markers,” she said. “It’s nice to have such a great trail system right here in Cullman — whether you want to leisurely walk along the trail, crank out a 15-mile run or bike the entire loop.” Story is one of many North Alabama residents who have taken to the trails for recreational enjoyment. Anglers can often be spotted lining the reservoir, waiting for the bite of largemouth bass or simply enjoying the serenity the reservoir offers. Surrounded by Alabama pines and the steady hum of nature, the reservoir has come to represent the life-giving resource that it was intended to accomplish since day one. Although it’s doubtful that visitors rarely sit and ponder how many gallons of water the reservoir is supplying the community, it’s nice to know that a city project meant to address a need has grown into an asset that benefits the area in more ways than one. And the city, county and utilities board (which owns the reservoir and surrounding buffer zone) is far from finished looking at ways to improve the evolving trail system. “We’re possibly looking at doing a triathlon out there,” Eller said. On paper, the reservoir accomplishes a human need — more water. To the mind and soul, however, it plays a much larger role. It’s an oasis for anglers to escape their nine to five travails. It’s a pathway for runners to break free and remember what fresh air smells like. It’s a place where aspiring mountain bikers can coast down hills and pedal higher toward their goals. It’s Duck River.

Officially named the Tim Scott Recreational Trail, in less than a year it has gained national recognition by the Coalition of Recreational Trails (CRT), which was reported at Monday’s Cullman City Council meeting. Suited for hikers and cyclists, groups are arriving for short and long hikes as well as trail rides at the recreational area off U.S. 278 East. “I think we’re already seeing economic benefits for the community because people are coming from out of town. The words is spreading that it’s worth the drive in to take advantage of it,” said Susan Eller, special projects coordinator for the Cullman Economic Development Agency. Duck River trail map CEDA A Facebook page — Duck River Hike & Bike Trail Head — has already emerged with positive reviews for the trails and scenery for those who enjoy walking or riding bicycles. “We’re seeing people posting pictures on Facebook just about daily of the fish they’ve caught, or of groups riding the trails. The bike groups are spreading the word well because this is 21 miles of trails and that has a lot of appeal to those groups,” Eller said. “This was a local project and the permit for the reservoir included recreation. A lot of agencies and individuals played a role along the way in making this possible. It can be another driving force in tourism with what we are seeing now.” Cullman civil engineering firm St. John & Associates designed the recreation system for Duck River, working off the natural landscape. “The area was already beautiful and that gave us something nice to work with. The trails are all very nice,” said Bill St. John of the engineering firm. “The area below the dam is particularly appealing, which is part of the natural ravine.” St. John, who has hiked on the trail, said plenty of wildlife is in the area, including a variety of birds. “I think anyone who enjoys birding may find it interesting,” St. John said. “One thing to remember is there are no shortcuts off the trails. So you have to plan on the fitness level and how far you want to go.” The fishing includes largemouth and spotted bass, bream and crappie. All bass are catch-and-release, while bream of any size are limited to 20 to keep. Crappie must be a minimum of 9 inches in length and have a limit of 30, Eller said. Duck River also has piers, restrooms and a handicap accessible area. Fishing at Duck River requires a license that can be obtained by visiting https://cullmanal.gov/ The area is opening daily from dawn until dusk. Tim Scott Recreation Trails at the Duck River Recreation Area won in the category of Engaging Public-Sector Partners. The follow individuals and agencies collaborated on creating the recreational area: — Utilities Board of the City of Cullman — Cullman City Council — Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism — Cullman County Commission / Cullman County Economic Development Office State Delegation — Rep. Corey Harbison — Rep. Randall Shedd — Former Sen. Paul Bussman / Sen. Garlan Gudger — Alabama Department of Community & Economic Affairs (ADECA) — Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Federal Delegation · Rep Robert Aderholt · Former Sen. Jeff Sessions / Sen. Doug Jones · Sen. Richard Shelby Other entities — St. John & Associates – Designed trails and assisted with grant applications — FlowMotion Trail Builders / Preston York – Trail Builder — Rob Werner w/ Werner’s Trading Company – assisted with public clean up day of trails David Palmer may be contacted at 256-734-2131, ext. 116