According to assistant city manager Brian Muenger, representatives of the U.S. Environmental Management Agency, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Alabama Revenue Department and local officials will all be on hand to give presentations and answer questions. The public is encouraged to attend.
“During 2009, in open competition against cities of all sizes nationwide, our city was awarded $400,000 in Brownfield Assessment Grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,” a flier included in the council packet said. “Brownfields are abandoned or underused properties where the buying, selling or redeveloping of property can suffer from real or perceived environmental issues. Environmental issues can be obstacles hindering redevelopment, and the new business, economic recovery and jobs it brings. These can often be cleared away by environmental assessments where public health and property specific environmental risks can be evaluated.”
The grant awarded to Talladega actually covers two types of environmental impact, one from closed industrial sites and the other from garages and mechanic shops with underground storage tanks. Both grants will focus on the Battle Street Corridor, extending three blocks north and south.
“Come learn how all citizens and community groups can participate in our brownfields program to improve our city,” the flier said. “From developers to businesses and cultural groups, architects, neighborhood groups, retirees, youth groups and faith-based groups…all can play a role in brownfields restoration through our program. We welcome and encourage all our citizens and businesses to attend this informational kick-off meeting about the new Brownfields Assessment Program. Meet state and federal program representatives. Learn what Brownfields are. Learn what is involved in different types of assessments. Come see how the program might apply to you, give us your ideas and comments for building our program.”
Council President Horace Patterson said Wednesday is a church night for many Talladega residents, which might lower attendance.
City manager Michael Stampfler was absent Monday.
Also Monday night, the council:
• Agreed to Councilman Jimmy Davis’s proposal to hike Porter’s Gap with the new forest ranger March 6 starting at 10 a.m., weather permitting.
• Heard Davis compliment the city’s Web site.
• Agreed to make the paving of Asberry Street a top priority.
• Awarded the Top Gun Employee of the Month award to Kendrick Calhoun, Anthony Coleman and Michael Garrett, horticulture crew for the Community Appearance Department.
• Appointed Beth Lumpkin and Carol Moore to two vacant seats on the library board.
• Tabled discussion of two applicants for a vacant seat on the historic preservation commission.
• Approved a resolution to participate in the Alabama Department of Education’s Summer Food Program, which Patterson called “a great program.” Councilman Lance Grissett said last year the program provided lunches to 17,000 people.
• Approved the water and sewer invoices by a vote of 4-1, with Councilman Eddie Tucker dissenting.
• Heard Mayor Brian York remind the council that their annual Fair Campaign Practices reports are due.
• Heard York and all of the council members welcome Grissett back. Grissett had missed several meeting due to serious health problems.
• Heard Community Development director Chris Stone report that advertising for the renovation projects next to the Ritz Theater would be sent out in February.
• Were told that the paving project and the renovation of Veterans Park would both be on the agenda for a meeting today.
• Heard Tucker commend the city’s various departments for doing what they were supposed to do.
• Heard Patterson express gratitude to Tucker, the state Fire Marshal’s Office and the administration of Talladega College and their engineers and contractors for resolving the problems at Shores Hall.
• Reassured Grissett that a $200,000 change order on the Coleman Circle Sewer Project would be paid for using funds already in the Water and Sewer Department Construction Fund. The extra funds are carried over after the city decided to seek grant funding rather than pay for the entire project.
• Decided to move a budget work session from March to April, in order to get more reliable figures for the first half of the fiscal year.
• Agreed to start advertising a pending vacancy on the airport board.
• Heard Parks and Recreation director Parvin Neloms say that renovations on the Spring Street Recreation Center could begin as soon as April.
i still havn't got an answer for my water bill being 25% above city residences for water when the water was run in this area by grant money to supply lincoln ,Honda, the speed way and indistrial park on speedway blvd. with water.
My ground water was contaminated by the city dumping in the county dump (Brownsfeild eligible property?) what makes it cost more in the surounding territory than in the city limits? the lift pump for sewage i dont have, but is given to ppl on hwy 77 north at the top of the hill? Lack of proper regulation on a monopoly?
I don't undestand the praise for the Talladega web site. It seems to never be up to date.Check out the minutes,16 July is the last entry for the council minutes, Where are the city ordinances. ? Mr. Davis I sure hope that you stay up to date better than this in your line of work. What was the result of the dormitory at Talladega College? Were any students at risk if so there is no room for politics! Before any more work is done on new sewer prjects Talladega needs to take care of problems at hand! How was the number misreprsented and why should there be another two hundred thousand be spent on the Coleman Circle project to cover yet another blunder? Be there Talladega at the Ritz and lets get answers.