By Hannah Garcia
Foley Onlooker
SUMMERDALE, Alabama – As Gov. Bentley made his rounds around Baldwin County Wednesday, he stopped at the Summerdale Municipal Complex to speak with locals from the tiny town.
Dozens of residents packed into Summerdale’s newly acquired civic building to meet the fledgling governor.
“I love small towns and I love Baldwin County,” Bentley said. “We’re going to work together to try to continue to help this area to thrive and do well.”
Bentley, who was visiting for the dedication of the new complex, touched on unemployment issues in the state.
“If I want a salary, we have to be at 5.2 percent unemployment,” Bentley said, who ran on a campaign that he would not take a paycheck until unemployment was down. “We’re working everyday to try to put people back to work. We’re making progress. We really are.”
Baldwin County unemployment is currently 8.6 percent, down from June when it spiked to 9.3 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
The Alabama Department of Industrial Relations announced Friday that September unemployment for the entire state dropped to 9.8 percent, down from 9.9 in August, which translates to 2,143 less unemployed Alabama citizens.
"In September we saw some positive indicators," Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees said in a news release. "For the first time in seven months, we are able to report a decline in the number of initial unemployment compensation claims.
Alabama unemployment benefits being paid out is at its lowest since October 2008, according to Surtees. Career Centers also reported higher numbers of active job orders.
"It is always a step in the right direction if the employment related numbers go up while the unemployment related numbers come down," Surtees said.
'It’s been exciting’
The Summerdale town council and staff are gearing up for the dedication ceremony of its new municipal complex, Mayor David Wilson said. The town had been requested a visit from the governor for several weeks.
“We’re really excited that he could come,” Wilson said. “He filmed a video for the dedication for the new building we have coming up.”
The town bought the building, which was previously owned by a bank, in June for $1.75 million. The original price of the complex was more than $8 million.
“The building came fully furnished,” Wilson said. “It’s 28,500 square feet and can resist winds up to 180 miles an hour. Two hundred people fit in the council chambers.”
All of the city’s departments are in the new building except for the public library and the police department.
“It’s been exciting,” Wilson said.
