Photo: Good Hope Mayor Jerry Bartlett signed a proclamation declaring April 2016 Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness Month. Bartlett is pictured with Cullman Caring for Kids Assistant Director Nancy Bryant and Executive Director Javon Daniel.
GOOD HOPE – A regular Good Hope City Council meeting was held on Monday night, March 28, where Good Hope Mayor Jerry Bartlett signed a proclamation declaring April 2016 “Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness Month” in the City of Good Hope. The Cupp Road and AL Highway 69 improvement project was also again an issue.
In signing the child abuse proclamation, Bartlett took the opportunity to encourage and citizens to commit themselves to getting involved in the fight against child abuse and neglect and to become more aware of the problem in the community.
At the last council meeting, on March 14, an amendment resolution for the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for modifications to the intersection of Cupp Road and AL Highway 69 was discussed and approved. The resolution changed the scope of the CDBG grant project to only the north side of the highway; instead of a new traffic signal, the existing traffic signal at Cupp Road will be modified.
Community member Kolby Lawrence, owner of Cabin Fever Beverages, addressed the council with his concerns about the Cupp Road and AL Highway 69 intersection CDBG grant project.
“I now own the pawn shop business next door to me (Cabin Fever Beverages), so I own all that property that is being affected,” said Lawrence. “I just came here to make sure you guys understand and have my best interests and the business’ best interests there for that project, even though you don’t have much say so with ALDOT, I hope you guys understand how much that is going to affect my business in the way that we run there.
“I just want to make sure we are all on a similar page and that I am brought to attention before things start happening because, again, it will affect us,” Lawrence continued. “My business is open Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. until midnight, and I think you guys understand the amount of tax revenue we provide to this community. I want to make sure I get my voice heard. Whatever happens there could hinder the development of that property, which I plan on doing in the next year to two years.”
Councilwoman Susan Eller presented a letter from Grady Parsons, general manager of Living Water Services, LLC to Nicholas Caraway of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. The letter updated Caraway on activities related to the repairs and modifications to the Good Hope Wastewater System over 2015 and through the first quarter of 2016.
It was reported by Councilman Taft Dillashaw that the school’s can drive will be finished by Friday, April 1.
Dillashaw also spoke on behalf of Councilman Matthew Glover, who was not present. Dillashaw reported that the Good Hope ball park’s opening day is Saturday, April 2. The parade will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the first baseball game will begin at 9:30 a.m. Alabama Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview, will throw the first pitch of the season.
Follow the City of Good Hope on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CityOfGoodHope/.
