Town meeting gives residents chance to speak up

SHEFFIELD - Sheffield residents are invited to learn more about the city's latest equipment, discuss their concerns with a department head or just enjoy a free hot dog and cold drink at Monday's Town Meeting and Fair.

The meeting is designed to give city residents a chance to communicate with their council members and the heads of many of the departments that provide essential services, like garbage collection, police and fire protection and utilities.

Musical entertainment will be provided by the Sheffield High School ensemble band.

"This will be a good idea," Councilman Gary Scales said. "We've gone to some lengths to make it appealing and interesting."

The city will have a variety of vehicles on display, including the fire department's new ladder truck, a robotic arm garbage truck, a clam-boom truck used in trash collection, a utility department bucket truck, police cars and other vehicles.

Vehicle and equipment demonstrations will be conducted by the various departments.

Scales said library personnel will be on hand with information about services they offer and how to obtain a library card.

"The housing authority will have some information about how they work," Scales said.

Scales said there were some smaller meetings in individual council districts earlier in Mayor Billy Don Anderson's term, but none the size of Monday's planned event.

Carole Driskell, the mayor's administrative assistant, said door prizes will be given away after the city council meeting. Residents must be present to win, she said.

"Each district was responsible for providing a door prize," Scales said.

He said he hopes people leave the event knowing a little more about how the city operates.

After town fair activities wind down, council members will hold their work session from 6-6:30 p.m. in the recreation center's first floor conference room. The council's regular meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the gymnasium.

During the meeting, Anderson plans to deliver a "state of the city" address.

The mayor said he will review significant accomplishments in the Shoals during the past year and how they affect Sheffield.

He also will discuss topics relating to city operations, including transportation, technology, education, inter-governmental relations, finance and personnel.

Anderson said similar meetings in individual council districts are beneficial, "but we can do some things at this one fair that we couldn't do at five individual meetings."

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@timesdaily.com.