By Sherri Blevins
Circuit Judge Andrew Hairston spoke to the Fort Payne City Council about an upgrade to the Boom Days stage area. Judge Hairston has served on the Boom Days Committee for the past sixteen years. He thanked the Council for the support the event had received over the years and said that the committee would not make a habit of asking the Council for money. Still, for the first time in his tenure on the Boom Days Committee, the committee seeks additional help with the relocation of power lines.
Hairston explained that the event had grown so much in the past few years that they had run out of space. The first Boom Days event drew in approximately 2,500 people. Boom Day crowds have run between six and eight thousand for the last several years. The power lines that run from Fifth Street, through the parking lot to where the main stage is across from the Rotary Pavilion and to the back of the parking lot behind the pavilion interfere with the setup of the stage. The $48,000.00 stage (the cost of stage, sound, and light crew included)is on a transfer truck, and it isn’t easy to find a level spot for the stage. The stage is unfolded and must be raised, coming dangerously close to the power lines. To address the safety issue, allow for more crowd space, and provide needed electricity for the stage and vendor area, Hairston asked the City to run all the utilities underground through the Rotary Pavilion. Hairston said this move would allow for better stage placement with the ability to grow using different stages that could potentially be cheaper. It would also allow for more crowd space and the addition of a box at the corner of where the power pole is now that would give the needed power instead of depending on a generator as they do now.
The Council thanked Hairston for his work on the committee and agreed to allocate $30,000.00 for the project.
John Dersham, Director of the DeKalb County Tourist Association, also addressed the Council to update it on tourism in DeKalb County and across the state. Dersham introduced the Tourism Board members that were present and expressed his and the Board’s appreciation to the Council for its support over the years. Dersham said that the income from tourism has doubled over the last eight years. He said the statistic included tourists coming to DeKalb County and paying lodging tax at least one night. Dersham stated, “In 2021, DeKalb County alone had an income of expenditures from tourism of $149 million, which was a 54% increase over 2020.” Dersham added that statewide and nationally, 2020 was a poor year for tourism; however, in 2021 in Alabama, $910 billion was spent by out-of-state visitors. Alabama was the fourth largest state to be researched on Google. Dersham said many return visitors came from the far west, New England, and the mid-Atlantic, and DeKalb County was the second most visited county in the state, following the Gulf Shores area. Dersham attributed part of the success to the social media and print advertising efforts made by the Tourism Association and funded by the City.
Mayor Baine updated the Council during his Mayor’s report. Baine started his report by stating he felt Boom Days had been a tremendous success, and he had received several positive comments about the day. He said Boom Days could not be possible without the tremendous efforts made by the committee, city workers, department heads, sponsors, and all other volunteers that make it happen.
Baine reported that all the turf for the sports complex had been ordered, and he had received the quotes for the lighting. He said the police department upgrade bids would be ready by mid-October and the Alabama Walking Park fence was ready to install. He asked the Council to consider extending the fence. Mayor Baine made another request. He said that the City had the maintenance crew involved in many projects, and it was time to add another member to the crew or consider contracting out some of the work. The department could have two, four-person work crews with another crew member. He said an added budget adjustment of $20,000.00 to $30,000.00 would be required to pay the member.
Mayor Baine had two other announcements. He said the Hussle for Heroes 5-K would be on November 5, starting at Patriots’ Park, and a celebration for his recent marriage would be on October 29 between 4:00 and 6:00 pm. (More information about the reception will be on the City of Fort Payne website.)
The Council approved the following items:
• Set November 1 as the public hearing date to receive comments about a proposed right-of-way vacation for Vicky Kirby on Grand Avenue and 7th Street North
• Resolution 2022-31 authorizing the application for an Airport Improvement Project grant
• Tabled Resolution 2022-32 authorizing an increase from $12 to $14 in the cost of a business license issue fee
• Annual one-time pay adjustment of $1,000.00 for full-time employees and $500.00 for full-time probationary employees
• Activity permits for First Baptist Church Halloween Party at 2nd Street and Grand Ave. South on Sunday, October 30 at 4:00 pm; Family Services of North Alabama, Sherrie Hiett, 5Krun/walk at the Rotary Pavilion Route, on Saturday, November 19, at 9:00 am
• Streetlight request for Pat Tcherneshoff, 1402 Rice Blvd N.W. at Airport Road and Rice Blvd intersection
After the regular business was concluded, the Council went into an executive session to discuss potential litigation. The next meeting will be on October 18 at 12:30 pm.