“All three cities have a lot in common,” Riverside Mayor Rusty Jessup said. “Our city limits border each other, and the Coosa River is a common denominator in the way all three cities live, work, and promote themselves.”
Jessup said representatives from each city at Monday’s Tri-City Summit, held at the Riverside Storm Shelter, discussed how the cities could better work together.
“We need to promote the area as a whole, instead of competing for the same resources,” he said. “The days of cities competing against one another for advantages such as economic development, schools or transportation are over. One look at Jefferson County proves that.”
Jessup said he would like to see the three cities work together on economic, recreation, quality-of-life projects, and other projects that will promote the area and make it a better place to live, work and raise families.
“By combining our efforts, we can bring more resources than any of us will ever need,” he said.
Lincoln Mayor Lew Watson echoed Jessup’s sentiments.
“This partnership is a great idea,” he said. “It was a very productive meeting and we look forward to working together with Riverside and Pell City in the future.”
Pell City Mayor Bill Hereford said he is looking forward to the cooperative effort between the three cities.
“This will produce very beneficial results for all of us,” he said.
Among the ideas discussed were the new Federal Environmental Management Agency regulations (base water elevation) affecting lake residents in all three cities, Pell City’s new water patrol boat, the possibility of a joint Christmas Boat Parade in 2010, a bicycle lane along U.S. 78, and future meetings for the group, perhaps quarterly.
Riverside Councilman Jimmy Hollander said he would like future meetings so the council members from each city could get to know one another better and form working relationships to benefit area residents.
“We have an amazing cooperation between cities in St. Clair County and the city of Lincoln,” Riverside Councilwoman Rachelle Painter said. “Lincoln has supported us in many things, and I am looking forward to continued cooperation with both Lincoln and Pell City.”
Riverside Councilman Kenny Womack said he was proud to be associated with the Tri-City Summit, and believes a lot of good will come of it.
“The Tri-City Summit is a great idea,” Riverside Councilman Rob Hayes said. “I believe the cooperation between our cities will lead us in a positive direction.”
Riverside Councilwoman Joyce Silvers said she is excited about the Tri-City Summit.
“I think it is a great opportunity for us all,” she said.
Pell City Councilwoman Dot Wood and Lincoln Councilman Bud Kitchin both said the Tri-City Summit meeting was a success, and they look forward to working together in the future.
Along these lines, I have always thought our lake has not been well marketed. I would like to see the area become transformed into something like one sees in the Florida Panhandle along Walton County Hwy 30-A. Here one finds planned communities (Seaside, Watercolor, Rosemary Beach, etc.), bike paths, family events, restaurants and shops that integrate well with each other. This area did not always look that way. Through cooperation of several beach communities and the county the area promoted itself, sought developers to the area, and zoned/regulated the growth to keep within the vision/goals of the area. I would like to see something of this transformation come to our area (although it would be on a smaller scale). Cooperation is the first step in making it happen.
The lake has not been marketed to the outside in a way that attracts large numbers of educated, professional individuals and families, as well as retirees. Perhaps the region should take a lesson from the Florida Panhandle cities when they agreed to drop the name "Miracle Strip" in favor of "Emerald Coast". They felt this better suited the image and clientele they were going after. Perhaps, our three cities need to develop a name to use for the lake area and market it to the outside to create an "image".
So many possibilities for positive change and growth await our area (especially when the economy eventually turns around)...cooperation is the first step in making it happen. Let's hope the naysayers and those who want to "keep things like they are" will step aside and let our area (housing, retail, schools, quality of life) finally grow and develop into a place our neighbors down I-20 look at with envy!