Council Corner
Sophie Martin, Ward 1
In over 15 years of service on the Alabaster City Council, Sophie Martin, Ward 1, has seen enormous amounts of growth and change. And looking back, Martin is proud of the work that she and her fellow councilors have done. “I look back with nothing but absolute pride,” Martin says. “I have no regrets at all—I look at the decisions we’ve made and projects we’ve completed and think job well done. I can’t say enough about our team.”
When the Council approved the Alabaster Fast Forward plan last fall, increasing the city’s sales tax by a penny, Martin knew that it would make a big difference for Alabaster moving forward. “I’m so proud of the work we’ve done over the last several years,” she says. “So much progress has been made. Everywhere you look in this city, work is being done and progress is happening—our city is moving forward. Alabaster Fast Forward, our penny tax increase, is going toward major projects which positively impact Alabaster now and will for the long run.” The city is already seeing the results of Alabaster Fast Forward with the completion of the new state-of-the-art police department. “It has set a new standard for other police departments in Alabama and nationally,” Martin says.
As for Martin’s ward, she is proud of the work that has been done to improve Alabaster Boulevard. The city budgeted $7,000,000 for the project that came in under budget. “We desperately needed that to happen, and it’s made a tremendous difference for the residents who travel that way every day,” Martin says. And with her constituents’ safety foremost in her mind, Martin has sidewalks along Highway 11 in the Simmsville area high on her priority list. “One of my first platform items when I first got on the council was having additional lighting installed in that area, because it was so dark,” Martin says. “I was so happy to accomplish that, but now we still have residents who walk on Highway 11 to get to the grocery store or doctor’s appointments and even to school if they miss the bus, so working with the county to put in sidewalks is one of my top goals. The safety and well-being of our residents is my top priority.”
Moving forward, Martin is excited about the balls the council has started to get rolling. “I’m so excited about what’s set to happen over the next couple of years in Alabaster,” Martin says. “We’re starting construction on our new amphitheater and also moving forward with the rec center. It’s going to be state of the art and will bring something that our city has never had before, and there will be something for everybody. It’s going to be a gamechanger for the future of Alabaster!”
Martin is also excited about the development of District 31. “One of the things on my front burner is District 31,” Martin says. “The mayor and this council really want to see District 31 become a reality. We know that it will change the face of our city, and it will be a win-win for everyone involved. This project is seven years in the making, so it’s a long time coming.”
As Martin approaches the end of her current council term, she is optimistic about her work on council. “My philosophy is to work hard and do my very best and work for the good and not take things too seriously,” Martin says. “I want to leave this world a little bit better than I found it, and I that’s the mindset I continue to have.”
Comments from Kerri Pate, Ward 7, were not included in the Councilor Roundtable in the January/February issue of Alabaster Connection. Her comments follow in full:
- What are you most proud of? I am proud of us working to secure the land on which our future Rec Center and Library will be built. I am very proud of the
employees in the departments throughout the city and the relationship that we have with them. When you are all on the same page it contributes to the betterment and progression of our city. I take such pride in the work that this council and mayor have been able to accomplish over the last three years. We work so well together and with department heads and have a thoughtful plan for our city to operate and sustain for years to come with or without us. - What are you most excited for this year? The groundbreaking of the Rec Center and Library—have I mentioned how excited I am about this? When I ran in 2016, I ran with this project being a top need and concern for the progression of our city and improvement for our quality of life. Everyone, no matter the age, will benefit from both forever! I am also very excited to see the Veterans Park renovations completed, which should be very soon. I have heard people say, “why do you care so much about parks?” Well again—every single resident no matter what age can take advantage of all that Veterans has to offer. It isn’t just about kids playing softball, baseball, or soccer. It is SO much more, you can take a stroll along the two miles of paved, lit paths; you can sit on a bench and admire nature; you can play pickleball, and if you do not have young children, you can go take in a game on any given night in the Spring and Summer and reminisce. Family’s make up our wonderful community, and family’s need and desire a strong park system.
- Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? I am not one for resolutions, but the turning of the calendar does spark something in your soul to make a change or improvement somewhere, so my work for this new year will be joy. I want to find joy in all situations and circumstances. I count it an honor to serve our city and to meet and speak with so many of you. I want each family that lives here to feel the same way that I do now that my children are grown—I could not have raised our children in a more wonderful community that has given so much to them. But remember, you must be involved in your community and engage to find out just how great it is!