Dear Friends,
It’s that time of year again—graduation time! It’s the time of year when one very important era ends, and another begins. This year is particularly bittersweet for my family as my twin sons graduate from Thompson High School. We are so proud of them and their classmates and wish nothing but the best for all the students moving on to the next phase of their life. See some of the amazing kids graduating with my sons in the Super Seniors feature.
I’m so excited that the pickleball courts and playground at Veterans Park are complete and were opened to the public on March 9. We know that these courts and playground will be loved by residents and will be packed with pickleball players and families for years to come.
At the March 25th City Council meeting, the Council approved an $84.85 million incentive package to support the District 31 project. This transformative development will bring approximately 600,000 square feet of new retail, restaurant, and hotel space and nearly 75 new businesses to the U.S. 31/ Interstate 65 corridor. District 31 will create hundreds of new local jobs and generate an estimated $2.8 million per year in new city sales taxes and an estimated $1.4 million in new school sales tax.
If you’ve driven past the new Police Department, you’ve no doubt seen the new Siluria Mills sign that has been erected at the front of the property. A nod to the historic mill that existed on the City Hall site in the nineteenth and early twentieth century, this sign provides a cohesive welcome to the city’s municipal center.
Be on the lookout for information on the next Town Hall virtual meeting (held once quarterly) on the city website or social media outlets. And be aware that all city offices will be closed on June 19th in recognition of the Juneteenth federal holiday.
Good luck to the Class of 2024 and thank you Alabaster for your support!
Sincerely,
Mayor Scott Brakefield