Town to dedicate park as part of Bicentennial kickoff

By John Underwood / john@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 2/21/18

LOXLEY, Alabama — The Town of Loxley will host a kick-off event for the Alabama Bicentennial on Saturday with the dedication of a Historic Marker, Bicentennial Tree and Flower Garden at Cedar …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Subscribe to continue reading. Already a subscriber? Sign in

Get the gift of local news. All subscriptions 50% off for a limited time!

You can cancel anytime.
 

Please log in to continue

Log in

Town to dedicate park as part of Bicentennial kickoff

Posted

LOXLEY, Alabama — The Town of Loxley will host a kick-off event for the Alabama Bicentennial on Saturday with the dedication of a Historic Marker, Bicentennial Tree and Flower Garden at Cedar Street Park on Relham Street.

At the Loxley Town Council meeting on Monday, Feb. 12, officials invited the public to attend the event, which will celebrate Loxley’s first park, honored by the Town of Loxley and Friends of Cedar Street Park.

According to a release issued earlier this month, the park was established in 1958 with a beautiful pavilion and playground and has provided residents a tranquil site for family reunions, picnics and birthday parties.

The ceremony will include Mayor Billy Middleton presenting a proclamation, Girl Scouts flag presentation, the introduction of a new neighborhood association called the Friends of Cedar Street Park, a musical program by the Loxley Elementary Glee Club and refreshments provided after the ceremony in the pavilion. A focal point of the celebration will be the Bicentennial Covered Wagon selling the Bicentennial Cookbook (a reprint of a 1925 United Methodist Church of Loxley cookbook) and Bicentennial T-shirts.

The Girl Scouts will be earning points for their badges as volunteers and will have an exhibit which includes how they earned their Bicentennial Badge. Of course, since it is “cookie time,” they will be selling their Girl Scout Cookies.

“With this event, we are not only celebrating Alabama’s 200th Birthday, but honoring a special park,” Middleton said. “We have the opportunity to re-connect with our neighbors, revitalize Cedar Street Park and the community of Loxley.”

In other business, the council voted not to approve a two-year continuation proposal from The Retail Coach, a national business recruiting firm.

According to a release issued in April of 2017, The Retail Coach, founded in 2000 in Tupelo, Mississippi, is a national retail consulting, market research and development firm that combines strategy, technology, and creative expertise to develop and deliver high-impact retail recruitment and development strategies to local governments, chambers of commerce, and economic development organizations.

The town contracted with the firm in 2017 at a cost of $15,000, payable in three $5,000 installments. An additional $15,000 would have been required to renew the contract.

“For what we’re paying them, I just don’t see that we’re getting anything out of it,” said Council member Kasey Childress. “If there was some way that they could show us a value for what we’re paying for, I would reconsider.”

Also on Feb. 12, the council:

• Approved applications for two 5K fundraisers, April 14 for the Loxley Strawberry Festival 5K, organized by the Loxley Church of God; and the Mad Dash 5K/Fun Run hosted by Odyssey Church on April 21.

• Approved a sponsorship request for the Loxley Optimist Club’s Youth Appreciation Awards, which will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Loxley Civic Center.

• Authorized the purchase of a Kubota utility vehicle for the Utilities Department at a cost of $13,062.01.

• Tabled a donation request from the Jace Waters Foundation asking that founder Julie Waters come before the council at its work session, which will be held beginning at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26.

• Mayor Billy Middleton announced that he had authorized the purchase of three garbage cans at Cedar Street Park at a cost of $1,226.