By Randy Garrison

City of Hartselle employees are back up to speed, especially in the areas of keeping our city neat and clean. We are once again enforcing nuisance ordinances, along with tall weeds and grass ordinances. This was slowed down during the stay–at-home period to lessen contact with individuals. 

Our Public Works folks are hard at work picking up all the extra brush the citizens of Hartselle have trimmed and cut down during the stay–at-home order. 

Patching of potholes and street and sidewalk repair are once again in full swing; this also slowed when a reduced workforce was in place earlier.  

City crews are also working to cut grass that has grown quickly with a very wet spring. 

Several new members have joined our Hartselle Police Department, filling slots left by retirement and promotions. 

Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, a decision was made to cancel all spring recreational sports. Summer pick–up games and fall leagues are planned to make up for the cancellations. Refunds are being sent to those who had registered for softball, baseball and soccer. 

City Hall is still hard at work to bring MAPCO to Hartselle; negotiations have slowed during COVID-19, but all signs still point to this business locating in Hartselle.  

Most Hartselle businesses have reopened completely, including local restaurants, barber shops, beauty salons and other personal service businesses, which are open under the guidelines of the health department. 

An architect has been hired to design the renovations at the new municipal building on Chestnut Street, the old Wells Fargo Building. The building will be something the citizens of Hartselle can be very proud of and will also be more functional for those who come to City Hall. 

Plans are coming together for the upgrades at Vaughn Bridge Road and Highway 31 – with the improvements to include turn lanes on Vaughn Bridge and an upgraded appearance, similar to Highway 36 and Highway 31.  

Main Street East resurfacing is scheduled for this year; it too has slowed because of COVID-19. 

The City of Hartselle has received architectural drawings for the green space to be located between the downtown park and the farmers market. This will be a great addition to our city. Future plans call for a stage area for concerts, as well as a building for gatherings, more parking and areas for displays of art and concerts. This will add a new look to an area of downtown that needs a facelift. 

Funding will be sought later this year to complete sidewalks on Sparkman Street; with a large enough grant, sidewalk repair and installation will be completed north up to First Baptist and south to the farmers market area, working from Main. 

Additional paving of Hartselle streets is planned for this summer, as well. 

We continue recruiting two new restaurants that have expressed interest in Hartselle. Another newcomer, Harbor Freight tool and equipment retailer, will open in the near future in the old Rite Aid location. 

New housing growth continues off Garner Road at Magnolia Ridge and new additions of Fox Ridge. Construction of lots will begin in the future for Cain Place, a new development located on the former J.P. Cain property. 

New lighting at the airport will be installed soon, with 100 percent grant funding from FAA paying for this project. 

Hartselle is on the move and growing. Thanks to the support of our citizens who spend their dollars in our city, we are able to improve many areas of our city and make it more desirable for business to locate here. 

While many of our businesses have taken a hit during the past few months, with your support, they will be able to bounce back and move forward. 

Working, learning, worshipping, playing and supporting each other together – Hartselle’s best days are still to come.