By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — The city of Trussville has a lot of irons in the fire.
Trussville Mayor Gene Melton proved that last Thursday at the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce December luncheon, where he delivered his annual state of the city address.
He briefly discussing the completion of Husky Parkway and Hewitt-Trussville Stadium, two of the biggest projects the city has had on its plate the last year.
“It’s a good day for the city of Trussville (that those projects are complete),” Melton said.
Trussville Mayor Gene Melton
file photo by Ron Burkett
Melton said the Cahaba River enhancement project could be completed in the next 30 to 45 days. He said it will make the river “look better than it’s ever looked before.”
A nearby project, the greenways that begin at Civitan Park and reach the Trussville Sports Complex, is coming along. Paving should begin soon for the parking lot that surrounds the Veterans Memorial Monument. Melton said a fence will soon be installed to protect the construction area.
Melton said when Phase 2 begins, which includes the sidewalks being completed, the sidewalks already done won’t be accessible. He hopes the entire project is completed by the fall of 2015.
“It’s going to really look gorgeous,” he said.
Melton said the city is in the “real slow phase” of putting together its downtown redevelopment plan. He said the engineering for the right turn lane project at the intersection of Chalkville Road and Main Street is about 90 percent finished.
Melton did announce that the plan is to demolish the John C. Yarbrough Community Center so that the size of the Trussville Public Library can be increased. Melton said an architect is in the design phase of the project and he hopes that a bid package can be put together soon.
“I think we’re real close to that,” he said.
Melton also said that the potential development of a shopping mall between 1941 Gadsden Highway and 2101 Gadsden Highway is “at a standstill.” He said Blackwater Resources, the developer, is trying to develop a new plan to bring before the Trussville City Council. He said the project is “dead at this point.”
Melton said the city is finishing and developing new road connections as the city grows. The same can be said for sidewalks in the downtown area.
“There’s a lot going on,” he said.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
