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Sardis City planning for historic celebration
Published March 4, 2010
SARDIS CITY — May 29 is less than three months away, and Sardis City leaders are preparing for an historic celebration that day.
The town is part of a statewide promotion by Gov. Bob Riley called “The Year of Alabama Small Towns and Downtowns.”
The promotion encourages towns to invite former residents back for a special homecoming weekend, to unveil a locally written historic marker, to lead a walking tour of the historic area and to dedicate a completed civic project.
Mayor Terry Stephens discussed plans for the celebration during a regular city council meeting Monday night at Sardis City Hall. He told council members that the city will need to set aside money for the celebration. He estimated $3,000 to $5,000.
“This will cost us something to do,” he said. “We’ll ask vendors to pay a small amount to be there, and we’ll have some businesses that will sponsor it.”
Stephens said the town will likely incur costs to promote the first-time event and possibly to pay entertainment acts.
Called the Return to Sardis City Celebration, the event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 29 along Church Street.
At Monday’s meeting, the mayor, council and city officials tossed around entertainment ideas for the celebration, including fun activities for children, an antique car show, tours of historic sites, a 5-mile or 5K run, and musical acts.
An historic marker will be unveiled at Sardis Baptist Church, and officials are in the midst of setting a schedule of events.
Stephens said the information on the historical marker is already set, but he would not reveal the wording on the marker until the day of the celebration. Officials said the marker’s wording will include mention of historically significant places like Sardis Baptist Church, the school and the public library building.
The city, incorporated in 1963, will be 47 years old in May.
In other discussion at Monday’s meeting:
• Fire Chief Johnny Crosson said his volunteer department’s self-contained breathing apparatuses are due for servicing. A company in Decatur will service the 18 tanks for $50 apiece, Crosson said, noting the tanks were last serviced in 2003. Councilman Larry Bryant, the councilman over the fire department, OK’d the $900 purchase from one of the department’s funds.
• The recent snow events on Sand Mountain prompted Stephens to clarify the policy on who decides when City Hall and other city facilities like the library or senior center need to close down in emergency situations. Stephens said, “It ought to be the mayor’s responsibility, and the mayor ought to be the one to make that call.” The city’s policy does not directly address who decides when to close city facilities, which has led to issues for personnel about whether or not they work in severe weather events or other emergency-type situations.
• The Sardis City Police Department report for February showed the four officers logging 7,995 miles on patrol and performing 1,480 building checks. Officers issued 46 traffic tickets and 39 warning tickets. Officers filed reports for three wrecks, one domestic violence arrest and one DUI arrest. The department processed 14 incident/offense reports, responded to 173 routine calls and performed 32 citizen assists.
• The Sardis City Volunteer Fire Department reported 29 calls in February. Firefighters responded to one structure fire, five house fires, one vehicle fire, two brush fires and three mutual aid fires. The department also logged 13 medic calls, three fire drills and one service call.
Next meeting
• What: Sardis City Council
• When: April 5 at 6 p.m.
• Where: Sardis City Hall, 1335 Sardis Drive
• Contact: 593-6492, ext. 4
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