Rick Ellis, Ward 2
Rick Ellis has served on the Alabaster City Council since 2016, representing Ward 2 on the north side of the city. He is proud of the work that he and his council colleagues have done, but he is most proud of building Patriots Park for his constituents in Ward 2. “I feel really good about what we’ve done,” Ellis says. “Especially this last year where we’ve made some transformative decisions on projects that will affect Alabaster for years to come. But I’m so proud of Patriots Park, which has made life better for the residents in Ward 2. We built a park on the north side of town where there was nothing before, and it’s so great to see all the people enjoying the park now.”
Ellis is also proud of the ongoing renovations at Larry Simmons Stadium and Jim “Peanut” Davenport Field and the new pickleball courts at Veterans Park that opened in March. “I’m also excited to see work start on the Rec Center and the new Library,” Ellis says. “It is something that the city has needed for a long time, so it will be fun to see that happen.” Another thing Ellis is excited for is his older daughter Nora’s graduation from Thompson High School. A THS senior and member of the Thompson varsity softball team, Nora is headed for Troy University to major in public relations and broadcast journalism. As a part of THS TV, Nora won first place in a state competition for a story she did on longtime Thompson broadcaster Jerry Young. “It’s fun to see her on camera,” Ellis says.
On March 25th, Ellis and his colleagues voted unanimously to approve an $84.85-million-maximum incentives package for the District 31 development. The agreement covers sales, property, and construction tax rebates over a maximum 30-year period based upon project performance, and only applies to a portion of new tax proceeds created by the development. “I’m so excited to see District 31 become a reality,” Ellis says. “It’s going to a gamechanger in terms of job creation and sales tax generation for the city.”
Along with the Alabaster Fast Forward plan, the projects that are underway and planned will change the face of Alabaster for the future. “If it wasn’t for the penny sales tax increase, we wouldn’t be doing all the renovations we’ve started,” Ellis says. “It was a good thing, and at the end of the day, it will really enhance the standard of living for the people of Alabaster.” Many thanks to my council colleagues for supporting Alabaster CityFest and the scholarship and grant program through funding for the Alabaster Arts Council. Congrats to the scholarship and grant recipients!
Jamie Cole
Alabaster City Council
Ward 5