Jan. 26, 2011 — Fultondale officials are paving the way for some major improvements in the city.
On Monday, the Fultondale City Council adopted a resolution authorizing Mayor Jim Lowery to enter into an agreement with Iberia Bank for financing for a new fire hall, library, tennis courts and other capital improvements in the city.
Lowery said the new fire station will be built on Walker Chapel Road on the west side of Interstate 65, and should be under construction by the spring. It is projected to be finished by the end of 2011 or in early 2012.
“We will have better coverage,” Lowery said. “It should also help our insurance rating.”
In October 2010, the council voted to purchase 11 acres near the Winn Dixie shopping center as a location for a new library and for tennis courts. Another eight acres of adjoining property had been donated to the city.
The council also adopted related resolutions on Monday to issue general obligation warrant funds in the amount of $3.9 million for financing the capital improvements; to open an account at Iberia Bank for the placement of the bond funds; and to allow Lowery to enter into contracts for engineering and architectural services for the new fire hall, library and tennis courts.
“Everything we did has been in a process for two years,” Lowery said. “We said we were going to do those things, and this is the culmination of it.”
In other business, the council:
• approved a business license application for Fultondale Flooring, to be located at 1725 Hwy. 31 N, No. 111A
• set a public hearing date of Feb. 28, 11:30 a.m., for condemnation fo an unsafe building at 1909 Hyche St.
• approved the use of funds previously borrowed through the sales tax warrant tax increment financing (TIF funds) to promote economic development in the TIF area. Lowery said the plan is to add more restaurants in the city.