Observations and Bessemer news!

[Historic Bessemer]

The Western Tribune was the only paper to have a reporter at the Bessemer Council meeting last night, so here is the scoop.

The Western Tribune reported this week that a deal has been struck between Bessemer’s Mayor Ed May and the City Council to approve a $25 million bond issue to complete a water project to Alabaster.

Well, the council voted Tuesday night 7-0 to do just that.

It was quite a night for the mayor. He presented three checks totaling $3.5 million to be signed and sent to the Bessemer schools getting the city caught up with its obligation.

Also, May presented his 2007-2008 budget to the council.

It calls for a spending plan of $39.4 million, up from this year’s $35.7 million.

The mayor said the budget has a $52,580 reserve.

More on all of these stories in next week's print edition of The Western Tribune.



(written by Joe Openshaw of Bessemer Opinions)

[Southlander]

Seems like that's a really low reserve. It wouldn't cover the weekly payroll, that's for sure.

[Historic Bessemer]

A couple of corrections from yesterday. First, it seems the Mayor is paying the schools only $2.5 million, not 3.5 million. Oh well, it's still a bunch of money.

And Dale (who yesterday claimed he never called my blog illegitimate in a comment he posted on Dec 4 blog) tells me that The Western Star did have a reporter at the council meetings, and I need to get my facts straight. Let's see, that's two mistakes for me, 8,764 for him. Just a joke.

I got to thinking about the $52,000 reserve the mayor says the city has after the payments. That's not much for a city to have in the bank, and it won't come close to paying Herman Lehman what the city is going to owe him after he wins a well deserved judgement against the mayor.

And isn't payroll coming up?


(written by Joe Openshaw of Bessemer Opinions blog)

[Historic Bessemer]

Arlington school declared surplus

The school board Tuesday voted unaminously to declare the former Arlinton school building surplus property.

Why: The land must be declared surplus before the board can sell it.

History: The building, constructed in 1908, housed Bessemer's first high school. It was later an elementary school and closed in the 1980's. Since then various groups have proposed uses for the building, including converting it into apartments for senior citizens.








Now we just have to hope that whoever they sell it to realizes the historical significance of the building and restores it to be used in way that benefits our historic southside community as well as the entire city. Alabama Heritage magazine described the property in this way, "A fine example of classical revival school building from the turn of the last century, the Arlington School, built in 1908, was Bessemer's first high school. Its most distinguishing features are the decorative brick and stone facade, interior sky-lighted basketball courts, and an auditorium in the form of a jewel box theatre with a raked floor, proscenium stage, and horseshoe balcony. Once a part of a thriving middle class neighborhood, the Arlington School was abandoned in the early 1980s.

Stay tuned.

[Historic Bessemer]

Arlington school declared surplus

The school board Tuesday voted unaminously to declare the former Arlinton school building surplus property.

Why: The land must be declared surplus before the board can sell it.

History: The building, constructed in 1908, housed Bessemer's first high school. It was later an elementary school and closed in the 1980's. Since then various groups have proposed uses for the building, including converting it into apartments for senior citizens.






Now we just have to hope that whoever they sell it to realizes the historical significance of the building and restores it to be used in way that benefits our historic southside community as well as the entire city. Alabama Heritage magazine described the property in this way, "A fine example of classical revival school building from the turn of the last century, the Arlington School, built in 1908, was Bessemer's first high school. Its most distinguishing features are the decorative brick and stone facade, interior sky-lighted basketball courts, and an auditorium in the form of a jewel box theatre with a raked floor, proscenium stage, and horseshoe balcony. Once a part of a thriving middle class neighborhood, the Arlington School was abandoned in the early 1980s.

Stay tuned.