SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Mayor Joe Bonner expressed high hopes for 2009 as he cited six projects the city plans to begin this year.

These include: 

Community center

The mayor said he looks forward to building a community center at the corner of Baldwin County 72 and U.S. Highway 31.

“We will get a master plan designed and do it in phases in the areas that we feel like attract the most numbers; the first concentration would be a community meeting area and a seniors facility and in the long term, build a complex for such services as administration and public works,” he said.

“It is something that the city has been saving for, and trying to position themselves to have a house payment that we can afford,” Bonner said. “We shall never build something that we cannot comfortably pay for.”

And the city should be able to pay for much, given its financial footing.

“November, our last reporting month, the sales tax revenue was $30,000 more than the city projected, approximately,” Bonner said, adding that the December report won’t be available until the end of January. Shoulder to drive on

The city plans to complement the department of transportation’s plans by building a shoulder along U.S. 31, east Alabama Highway 181; “ALDOT has told us that they’re going to put in five lanes to move traffic,” Bonner said, adding that U.S. 31 is always busy, and sees peak traffic during some day parts.

“There is no money in their (ALDOT’s) contract to do sidewalks, landscaping or pipes for ditches,” he said. “The city’s focus is to partner with ALDOT; the city will invest in closing off open ditches to make solid ground for future sidewalks, landscaping and serene lighting.”

The project’s timeline will depend on timeliness of federal funding; “our mission over a period of time is to create a downtown area, which Spanish Fort does not have at this time,” he said.

Public safety

The city also plans this month to hire the last of five police officers as recommended by the police department.

“We have got them outfitted; the cars are in, we should be in good shape according to the chief’s request for officers,” Bonner said.

The city furnishes the new officers with the police car, laptops, uniforms, weapons and safety instruments, Bonner said.

The city will continue supporting Spanish Fort Fire Rescue, the mayor said. “We stand to help in any manner we can to make sure public safety is done in a first-class way,” he said.

Commerce and

maintenance

In business, Bonner said he would keep a watchful eye on effects of the nation’s economic situation.

“We will continue to monitor what the retail sector does,” he said. “We will make adjustments according to what’s received, just like the average citizen does.”

He said the city takes a similar approach to road paving.

“We do not speculate with our money; we wait till that money is in the bank,” he said. “We will continue to do those (pave roads) as the (financial) situations allows us to.”

Bonner said he is proud that in 2008, and previous years, the city has avoided debt by spending money as it comes in.

“… We put the money in the bank, then spend it or invest it,” he said. “We have not obligated future mayors and city council on long-term debt.”

“It places us in a very good position in times like this; it’s more manageable when the financial markets slow down.”