SOUTH VINEMONT, Ala. – The South Vinemont Town Council on Tuesday night voted to dedicate the pavilion at the town’s sports complex to the late Tyler Walker, who also funded the pavilion. Walker, who perished in a plane crash along with his 10-year-old daughter Brooklyn in January, invested much of his time, energy and money in developing new businesses and jobs in South Vinemont.
Councilwoman Shirley Arnett presented the idea at Tuesday night’s council work session, and prior to the council approving it, Mayor Radginal Dodson said, “The gentleman helped us out a lot. I can’t, there’s no way I can repay him for all he’s done and what he tried to do for the town. I know that for a fact.”
Walker invested in the town by constructing many of the buildings where new businesses are located today including the Strike Zone, 10-41 LLC, Jack’s Radiator and Rad Works.
Walker’s sister, Wendy Smithson, expressed her appreciation to the council for honoring her late brother. She and Walker’s close friend, Jeremy Harbison, were in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting.
Harbison said of his friend, “He was a great guy. He was my best friend and we grew up together. He came up here with me the night I gave them my pitch to tell them I wanted to start my weld shop. So many memories.”
Harbison owns Vinemont Welding and Fabrication. He bought the property from Walker.
In other business
The council approved its 2020-2021 Transportation Plan under the Rebuild Alabama Act. The plan will include the completion of Park Drive with any leftover funds going toward the planned repaving of Tillery Road.
South Vinemont Public Works Director Mike Graves explained, “The reason we haven’t completed it yet, we want to wait until the construction is complete on the building (for The Shaddix Company) and all that construction traffic is done before we build that road up. I project it will be later in September or October before we are able to build that road.”
Funding for these projects will come from the Rebuild Alabama Act fuel tax.
The Rebuild Alabama Act requires that each municipality adopt an annual transportation plan no later than Aug. 31, and provide a detailed list of projects for which expenditures are intended to be made in the next fiscal year, based upon an estimate of the revenues anticipated from the fund. These funds can only be used only for maintenance, improvement, replacement and construction of roads and bridges maintained by South Vinemont.
The council also passed resolutions recognizing Sonya Mabry Adams (Place 2), JD Marcum (Place 3) and Bonnie Goodwin (Place 4) as being elected without opposition. Places 1 and 5, along with the mayoral seat, will be on the Aug. 25 Municipal Election ballot.
The council approved the hiring of a part-time person to assist residents in the completion of the 2020 Census.
Before adjourning, Mayor Dodson took the opportunity to address the council prior to the upcoming election, saying, “I appreciate you, each and every one. Whether I end up being the mayor or not, you have been pleasant to work with.”
Copyright 2020 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
