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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Alabaster Mayor Scott Brakefield gave an update on a variety of big projects that have been recently completed and provided a look to the future during the city’s last virtual town hall.

Every quarter, the city of Alabaster livestreams a town hall meeting on its Facebook page to maintain transparency with the public and to answer any questions residents may have with the latest installment being held on Monday, Dec. 2.

“This is just another effort we’re trying to do to reach you, to keep you informed, so that you feel like you understand what your municipal government is doing to work for you,” Brakefield said.

During the meeting, Brakefield highlighted multiple large projects that have been recently completed, including the city’s new amphitheater and senior center expansion.

“We’ve had a lot of projects that have been going on throughout the city for a number of years now and we have been very excited about those projects and now a lot of those projects are coming to completion,” he said.

The new amphitheater will serve as the venue for a variety of future city events and is complimented by the senior center expansion’s new open porch which faces the stage. The Alabaster City Council approved a bid for the construction of the new amphitheater and expansion to the Alabaster Senior Center during a meeting on Dec. 11, 2023. Now, nearly a year later, both projects have been completed in time for the city’s annual water tower lighting.

“This will be our first event in it, but we hope to continue to grow and offer more arts to this area,” Brakefield said.

Another recently completed project by the city is the setup of a fully-operational traffic light on Industrial Road at Patriots Park. The purpose of the light is help get traffic out of the park and off of Industrial Park Drive. Brakefield said it’s not intended to keep traffic stopped on Industrial Road. A camera sensor system is installed in order to help facilitate traffic.

“(We) can’t thank the county enough for this partnership,” Brakefield said. “That lights been operational for a few weeks now and… we’ve heard a lot of positives about it.”

During the virtual town hall, Brakefield also shared updates on a variety of projects that are in progress, including lights that are being installed at the intersection of Highway 119 and Veterans Park.

(It’s) another situation where we’re not trying to stop traffic on (Hwy) 119 on a regular basis,” Brakefield said.  “We’re trying to keep (Hwy) 119 traffic flowing but it had become a safety issue with people trying to get out of Veterans Park.”

Thanks to a Shelby County Parks and Recreation grant award of $100,000 the city of Alabaster will also be able to improve and enhance the bathrooms on the backside on Veterans Park.

The following projects were also highlighted during the city’s virtual town hall:

• The old Thompson High School building on Hwy 119 is set to be demolished
• The city is continuing to make plans for its new recreation center and library on Hwy 119
• The city is planning a commercial development at the corner of Hwy 119 and Thompson Road
• Work will begin in Spring 2025 on a right turn lane off of Hwy 119 onto Thompson Road
• The Shoppes at District 31 development in under construction on U.S. 31 and will be completed by the end of 2025
• Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant and Bar is under construction at the south promenade and is planned to open shortly after the turn of the year
•  Alabaster is continuing to work on creating an interconnected trail system throughout the city.

Those who wish to view the virtual town hall in full or want to keep up to date with the city of Alabaster may follow its official Facebook page at Facebook.com/alabastercityhall.