Mayor David O’Mary spoke to members of the Jasper City Council earlier this week, urging continued solid financial management in the city.
“A rock solid plan for managing our finances is essential for our survival in this city,” O’Mary said, while bringing up news reports concerning cutbacks to take place globally by McDonald’s. “The hamburger chain has been around all our lives and is about to do a major staff reduction at the corporate level globally.”
O’Mary talked about a report quoting the McDonald’s CEO as saying people are buying fewer items and less expensive items.
“They believe this trend will continue to impact their earnings. Everything is driven by consumer spending,” O’Mary said.
The mayor said the city has done a great job of managing its finances, and has had impressive sales tax growth this year.
“What I would call on you as we look at the second half of fiscal year 23 is that we temper our thinking with the importance to get what we need and to think about things we want and ask is it the right time to do it.”
O’Mary added, “We need to keep a tight reign on our finances. We’ve been able to do things that absent solid financial position we couldn’t have done. We don’t want that to change. We want to be able to continue on.”
During his comment time, O’Mary also welcomed Cordova Mayor Jeremy Pate and Nauvoo Mayor Terry Burgett as guests at the council meeting.
In action from the meeting, the council:
• Held a public hearing and approved a retail liquor license for on-premise consumption for Big Daddy T’S, LLC, located at 2004 Birmingham Avenue.
• Approved a request for JPD Officer Cody Harbin to attend a firearms instructor training class April 2-7 and April 9-14 in Locust Grove, Ga.
• Approved accepting $3,300 in grant funds from the Swimming Saves Lives Foundation to provide adult swimming lessons at the Memorial Park Natatorium.
• Approved the reappointment of Jack Allen to the Walker County Board of Equalization.
• Approved city purchasing agent Jessica Cook’s request to send out bid invitations for physician services; baseball, softball, basketball and volleyball officials; concrete ready mix; grounds maintenance at North Jasper Park; and portable toilets for use in the city.
• Approved Cook’s request to renew the contract for dual-wall polyethylene pipe with J&G Culverts based in Fayette.
• Authorized council member Jennifer Smith to vote on behalf of the city at the Alabama League of Municipalities annual business meeting on May 12.
• Introduced an amendment to the budget to provide funding for additional parking at Gamble Park. That will be voted on at the council’s next meeting on April 18.
• Adopted a resolution to place three properties under the city’s nuisance abatement ordinance after they were deemed an unsafe structure or for having overgrown grass and weeds.
